Loyola University Chicago Rome Start Program

"We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness." - Thomas Jefferson, The Declaration of Independence
Wishing you a peaceful and safe 4th of July.

The year has come to an end faster than what we expected, and Rome Starters are starting to feel nostalgic about saying good-bye to the city that has given us so much. Rome gave us new memories and experiences, added up the pounds on our bodies with its pizza, pasta, and gelato, gave us new friends, and brought together this wonderful Rome Start 6 FAMILY.

As finals approach, Rome Start students are stressed and studying. As a de-stressor, they all enjoyed walking down to the nearest gelateria to eat some good gelato! We will sure miss all the gelato after this year.

Michael went to visit Sicily during the Easter Break, as well as the region of Calabria where his family is originally from. He ate some famous Sicilian cannoli, arancini, and Sicilian pizza!

The Student Activities Committee decided to end the semester with a Talent Show. The JFRC students and Rome Starts were able to show all their best talents in front of the student body and SLAs. We all discovered everyone’s talents, such as singing or playing a musical instrument.

As a sign of gratitude, the Rome Starts and the Dr. Evers decided to surprise Sam, our advisor, in her favorite restaurant! The restaurant was where we all had our first dinner here in Rome as a family. We enjoyed the delicious food and laughed about all the memories we’ve had during this year.

Rome Starters Nina and Lexi went to Slovenia to discover its beautiful mountains! They went on hikes to see the breathtaking views this country has to offer.

Katherine, Alejandra and Diana had fun in the sun while it lasted! During their Easter vacation they went to Santa Marinella, Anzio, and Maccarese, three beautiful beaches right outside of Rome!

The End of the Semester Banquet was this past Thursday, and it was the last dinner with all the JFRC students, staff, and faculty members. Many awards were given during this wonderful night such as superlatives, academic awards, and calcio awards. P.S.: The Rome Start students dominated the award distributions.

During the Easter Break, a bunch of the Rome Start students decided to take over Nice, France. This beautiful city had so much to offer, including rocky and relaxing beaches, where the girls enjoyed in their vacation!

This past weekend Michael went to Lisbon, Portugal. He went to see the soccer game between Sporting and Boavista. He also visited the Stadium of the Benfica team and ate typical Portuguese meals.