Orientation and First Weeks
Prior to leaving, we had to complete various orientations either through Zoom or on Canvas. We had two weeks of virtual programming before we met in Rome to get familiar with one another and ask all the questions we needed to. It was a great way to ease into the program.
Accommodation and Living
This was also completely handled by the field school. The only prep you might want to do is reach out to someone you know is going on the program if you would like to be roommates with them. I personally did not do this and it worked out great for me because my roommate and I are great friends now.
Day to Day
The day-to-day of the program was diverse and constantly changing. Our schedules were only given for the present week and even then it was subject to change. The days usually consisted of briefings from various professionals and military personnel. We would often take field trips to historical places and receive tours of highly-secure institutions. After about a week, we would have an afternotes session all together which consisted of us discussing what we saw, heard, and learned.
Expect long working days with no free time during the week. We usually had one free weekend in each place we stayed to travel and explore. During the week, we made the most out of our evenings with dinners and going out!
Learning and Adaptation
I had to learn how to be very flexible during this program as things were often changing and happening on the fly. As someone who likes things very structured, learning to put my faith in others was difficult but ultimately beneficial. Being able to adapt to new circumstances is a key soft skill that is valuable in future careers.
Additionally, I had never lived with roommates before so it was a learning experience to do it with two others for six weeks! I had a great time with my roommates and loved living with them.
Accomplishments and Challenges
It was challenging for me to meet fourty-four other new people and spend all of my time with them. I sometimes struggle in social situations so making so many new friends so fast was difficult and really put me outside of my comfort zone. Eventually, I became comfortable with everyone around me as I learned that we were all in the same boat.
I really enjoyed our simulations during the field school because I felt like it was an opportunity for me to contribute academically in a way that I was comfortable with. Most of the academic work during the field school is done with groups, so this was a fun time to show your personal abilities.
Cultural and Environmental Observations
We visited six different countries, each with their own cultures and languages. Italy had the best and cheapest food, although it was crazy busy with tourists. Latvia and Estonia were less popular, but incredibly beautiful. Both countries gave a slightly medieval, old-town vibe with very culturally important histories. Belgium was by far the most diverse which was fun and familiar to see. More importantly, the waffles and chocolate were amazing! We were in Germany and Luxembourg only briefly, so I wasn't able to really experience the cultures in both countries.
Social and Extracurricular Activities
During the week, there wasn't free time during the day to explore since we were crazy busy. To make the most of our time there, we would often go out for dinner or drinks in the evening and explore the city like locals! We usually had one free weekend in each place that we stayed, so we would use this time to do day trips to neighbouring cities. In Rome, I visited Tivoli and in Brussels, I travelled to both Ghent and Bruges.
The field school arranges lots of field trips and cultural/historical visits during the week as well, so it's not entirely all work during the days.
