We recently visited the ruins of Ostia Antica, which thousands of years ago was the harbor city of Rome. When I woke up on the morning of our field trip I was excited to be getting the chance to see the ancient ruins. But our tour guide, Francesca, taught me so much more in just a few minutes than I ever could have imagined possible.
One of the first things Francesca brought up to our group was the importance of memories in history. She talked about how in Ostia, people were buried right beside the busy Roman roads of the city because they thought they could then “live on” by being remembered by the people who passed their gravestones. I think I always enjoyed history classes because I wanted to learn from those who came before me. But thinking about how I was standing right next to the graves of the people who wanted so badly to be remembered seemed so much more tangible than sitting in a history class learning about the people of the past.
We have such a unique opportunity with this program not only to learn about Italy and its history, but to actually experience the memories of those who lived here and apply them to our own lives and careers. Although the girls on this trip come from a variety of backgrounds and majors, we each have a chance to gain all we can from the memories of those who have been a part of this country.
Personally, I look forward to being able to use my memories of my time in Italy in my daily life as well as when I enter the physical therapy profession and work to better understand the needs of different people. And maybe, just maybe, I’ll also be able to leave some of my own memories behind in the process, just like the people buried beside the roads in Ostia Antica.

This is the Roman road leading into Ostia Antica. The graves of ancient Romans are nearby.