Emma Smith has been living and working as an intern at the UW Rome Center since last summer. She will continue her journey in Italy in the fall as an intern with the Environment, Science, Technology, and Health Department at the U.S Embassy in Rome. Below Emma reflects on the year she has spent abroad, and gives advice about balancing your personal, work, and social life while employed in a foreign country.

"While being in such a romantic city can be distracting, I have spent most of my time working on creating a future for myself. I have taken this opportunity abroad to not only expand my cultural awareness, practice Italian, and enjoy the dolce vita, but to also start creating a network of contacts, apply for jobs, and combine the experiences gained working and living in Italy, with what I am currently studying or have learned from previous Italian courses.