An American in Rome – Ep. 1

In this first episode of An American in Rome, we explore the diversity of Rome through the eyes of an American student. By Andreah Gratol

A City Shaped by Migration

After arriving in Rome, I was immediately struck by the many languages I heard throughout the city. Coming from Bentonville, Arkansas, I was familiar with diversity, but Rome felt different because it is woven into everyday life.

Rome has grown from a city of 200,000 people to nearly 2.9 million residents. Many migrants from countries such as Romania, Bangladesh, the Philippines, China, and Peru have settled in the city.

Their contributions have helped shape Rome’s workforce and cultural identity. Comparing Rome to Arkansas made me realize that migration looks different depending on where you live.

Finding Home Far from Home

I also spoke with Jesse Smeal, an American who moved to Rome 26 years ago. Originally from Buffalo, New York, he came to Italy for graduate school and decided to stay.

Jesse reflected on the differences between American and Italian ways of life. He explained that Americans often focus on achieving goals, while Italians tend to appreciate the process itself.

Even after decades in Rome, he says he continues learning about Italian culture. His experience showed me that moving abroad means more than changing locations.

Living in Rome has changed how I think about migration as a human experience. Ultimately, Rome taught me that migration helps shape both cities and the people who call them home.

Andreah Gratol was born and raised in Arkansas.
She is going into her senior year of college, studying multimedia journalism
and she will be in Rome for a few weeks.
She loves a good book, any conversation about music and her cat.

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