Navigating the Ups and Downs of Study Abroad
an opinion piece by Katharine Wells, Umbra Reps Fall ’25
When you picture studying in Italy, you imagine cappuccinos, cobblestone streets, fun weekend trips, and maybe a few minor inconveniences like seasonal sickness or a missed train. What you may not imagine is your medical device failing, losing your purse with your passport inside on a train in Rome, or filing a police report in a town you’ve never been to. But if studying abroad teaches you anything, it’s to embrace and find joy in the unexpected. Throughout every challenge, I found steady guidance and reassurance that helped transform stressful moments into stories I now look back on with gratitude.
A Classroom That Felt Like a Community
My weekly anchor became my Italian class with my teacher Livia. She made my tiny seven-person Italian class feel like a family. Italian can be intimidating, especially on the days when your brain feels slow and words aren’t coming out the way you want them to. Livia consistently engages in our struggles, asks good questions, and encourages us to speak. Her classroom was a constant reminder that language learning is not just about grammar, but about shared connection—and that it’s okay to show up exactly as you are.
Navigating Health Challenges Abroad
Earlier in the semester, something I hoped would never happen happened. I was diagnosed with type 1 diabetes when I was ten, and going abroad with a chronic condition felt intimidating. I brought backup equipment and enough supplies for probably an entire calendar year, but one of my biggest fears was that my insulin pump might fail while abroad.
Life abroad has a sense of humor, and one afternoon, while walking with friends, my pump stopped responding—and my backup device wouldn’t turn on.
Eleonora, Coordinator for Health and Safety at Umbra, supported me through international shipping, contacting medical providers in Italy, and asking the right questions about what I needed. She checked in regularly, showing genuine care for how I was feeling, not just the logistics. That experience taught me that being far from home doesn’t mean being alone. Sometimes, asking for help is the bravest and most necessary thing you can do.
A Travel Mishap With a Silver Lining
Just a week ago, while traveling back from Switzerland, another major inconvenience occurred—this time entirely my own doing. I accidentally forgot my purse on a train from the FCO airport to Roma Tiburtina. Inside: my passport, cash, and cards.
I realized it moments after the train departed and completely panicked. Every study abroad student’s nightmare suddenly became mine.
After reaching out to the Umbra emergency line, Elvira, student services advisor at Umbra, answered with a steady, grounding voice. She met me at the police station in Assisi the same afternoon to file a report and followed up in the days after to see how I was doing. Using my AirPods, I was able to track the bag, and thankfully someone returned it to the FCO Airport lost and found the very next day.
Getting it back was a huge relief, but what stayed with me most was feeling supported every step of the way.
Building “Home” Through Connection
Looking back at my semester, these moments—the scary ones, the overwhelming ones, and even the ones caused by my own forgetfulness—taught me a lesson I didn’t expect: home isn’t just a place you arrive at, but something people help you build.
What shaped my time abroad was not only Perugia’s beauty, but the sense of stability and trust created by the people around me. They turned challenges into learning moments and helped a foreign city feel familiar.
A Message to Future Students
To Livia, Elvira, and Eleonora—thank you. My semester would not have been the same without your support.
To future Umbra students: don’t be afraid to ask for help. Trust the people around you, and remember that challenges abroad aren’t signs that you’re doing something wrong; they are opportunities to learn, grow, and discover just how capable you truly are.