Settling In
Monday, October 8th arrived and along with it our first day of classes; over one month later than our peers back in St. Paul. The beginning of classes also means that after the initial, frantic excitement of arriving in Rome, we are coming down off that high to settle into a more regular routine. We are approaching the period of time in which many Catholic Studies Rome students enter a frame of mind which Sister Helen, the British Dominican who runs our program at the Angelicum, affectionately referred to as the “slough of despond”. This is not a part of studying in Rome that most people hear of from their friends – and rightfully so as it is not representative of the overall experience – but it is common for many of the students to go through each semester.
I doubted this when she first mentioned it shortly after our arrival. How could anyone ever be depressed where there is gelato (an Italian ice cream that I believe has been blessed by Almighty God, Himself). Yet, between classes the other day, I found myself reflecting on that thought and suddenly become aware of not only how it might happen, but how it was happening to our very group (I think the statue of St. Joseph next to me must have been whispering in my ear). Rome is a beautiful city in which you’ll find a concentration of beautiful art and architecture that is unparalleled across the world. But it is also, like any big city, dirty and chaotic. There are also many things we take for granted at home like meat, free refills, bathrooms and driving that are simply not available to us here. None are major irritants; but add them up, toss in a longing for far-away family, and garnish with the helplessness of being unable to speak Italian and you have yourself a nice helping of the “slough of despond”.
This is not something unique to the St. Thomas program. Rather it is universal across study abroad programs and is one of the most valuable experiences of going abroad for an extended period. Because in order for us to drag ourselves from depths of despair, we will be forced to find those aspects of the life in the States which are in fact essential to our person (i.e. Mass, prayer, sleep, study, baseball) and ensure that they are provided for. The other things we take for granted (i.e. Meat) we must simply let go of and find other ways to satiate ourselves according to the local culture (Please read – “eat lots of gelato”). After all, we are in Rome. There are an infinite number of things to do, see, and eat. We would have to make a concerted effort to be bored during our time here. This is why people who hit the “slough of despond” invariably recover and return after four months to tell anyone who will listen about the amazing time they had in Rome. I know that we will as well.
