Katie Putnam: Blog Post #3

Most of my weekends have been spent traveling to different cities and countries across Europe, while my weekdays are dedicated to schoolwork. This has made me more intentional about exploring my home city, because if I’m not careful, I fear I’ll leave Rome without truly knowing the place I’ve called home for four months.

The biggest challenge I’ve faced is guilt over how little time I’ve actually spent in Rome. Coming into this experience, I had unrealistic expectations that I’d be able to sightsee during the week, but between school, an internship, and travel planning, that just isn’t my reality. To compensate, I try to elevate the mundane parts of everyday life by adding a Roman twist, reminding myself how lucky I am to live here. For instance, on my walk to work, I take the longer route through Vatican City, soaking in the history all around me. When I grab my morning coffee, I choose to drink it at the bar instead of taking it to-go, giving me the chance to observe locals and chat with my barista a little longer.

A month and a half in, I only just made it to the Trevi Fountain and the Spanish Steps. Looking back, it even took me a full month to visit the Colosseum and Vatican—and my list of museums, parks, and restaurants to explore still feels endless. With it being a Jubilee year, the lines are long, and the streets are packed, which only tempts me to stay in my neighborhood and stick to my favorite restaurants. To push myself past this, I’ve set small weekly goals: try one new restaurant and explore a new neighborhood each week. This helps me plan ahead and carve out time to experience Rome outside of my daily routine.

Much of my exploring happens solo because of conflicting schedules with friends, but I’ve found that refreshing—especially since my weekends are entirely spent with others. Having this time to myself lets me move at my own pace and reflect on my time in Rome.

So far, my favorite place has been the Roman Forum. Right next to the Colosseum, it offers stunning views of the city, and since it’s so big, it doesn’t feel as crowded as other tourist spots. Walking through its ruins was a much-needed break, especially after the congestion of the Colosseum.

I’m learning so much in Rome, and I can’t wait to continue exploring this incredible city!