I’ve cried a lot in the past nine days. Am I homesick? No. Well, maybe a little.

But my tears aren’t a product of yearning for American normalcy — though I do miss free water at restaurants. Curse you, European tap water.

I come from a family of overly emotional people. We cry in the movie theater, we cry during goodbyes, and we cry at hopecore videos. This sensitivity is in my blood, which means the fact that I have the privilege of studying abroad in a city I’ve dreamed of visiting for years moves me to tears on the daily.

Many of my professors refer to Rome as a “global city,” a city lusted after from across the globe. From Audrey Hepburn’s iconic “Roman Holiday” (1953) to “The Lizzie McGuire Movie” (2003), generational media has continuously depicted the ancient city as a center of cuisine, culture and love. As a result, fantasies of Vespas, gelato, pizza and pasta occupy the minds of those who idealize Italy, hoping that one day, they, too will have their very own Roman holiday.

I’d be lying if I said I haven’t bought into most of these stereotypes already. I do, in fact, eat pizza and pasta almost every day. I am planning on finding myself a local Italian man to take me on the back of his Vespa (I’ll keep y’all updated on this). But, more importantly, the art and architecture of this historic city have me utterly captivated.

Rome was founded in 753 B.C.E. For those who aren’t good at quick math — it’s okay, I had to Google this — that’s over 2,700 years ago. Of course, the city has undergone some changes since then, but no passage of time could ever wash away the rich history infused in Rome. Everything here is centuries old; any random building might’ve been the site of historical significance. Even the building that houses my cohort’s study center is older than the United States.

As someone who used to be an aspiring archaeologist and art historian, sometimes I wish I had majored in one of these fields — the past week has been a formative experience. There’s nothing quite like retracing the footsteps of iconic ancient figures, admiring the artwork and architecture of legendary masters, and reading carefully chiseled Latin inscriptions — especially for a lover of classical antiquity. Am I pretentious? Yeah, a little.

I’ve already visited numerous historical sites and structures since arriving in Rome. The Colosseum, the Spanish Steps, the Pantheon and the Trevi Fountain all had my jaw on the floor. But, what had me seriously awestruck was St. Peter’s Basilica in Vatican City.

From the moment I walked through the Holy Door — yes, I’m now absolved of my sins — I was immediately entrusted by the sheer scale and beauty of the Basilica. Photos cannot possibly do this church justice, as no camera could truly capture its magnificence in something as fleeting as a photograph. Caught in a devout deluge of pilgrims and tourists, I couldn’t help but feel entirely insignificant, belittled by the greatness of the Basilica.

Walking through St. Peter’s Basilica, I openly wept at the beauty housed within. The “Pietà” was devastating, so I cried. The choir’s singing was fervent, so I cried. The dome was glorious, so I cried. The experience was overwhelming and cathartic. Needless to say, I will be returning to the Basilica many times throughout the semester. I truly cannot believe that there are people who live this experience I’m borrowing every day.

I can’t help but feel a perpetual sense of appreciation for my opportunity to study here in Italy. I’ve been making an active effort to stay conscious of how lucky I am to be where I am. I know this semester will fly by, so nothing is more important to me than learning to live in the present and practice gratitude.

After all, I don’t know another point in my life when I’ll be able to quash my boredom by taking a reflective passeggiata to a spot that overlooks the Rome skyline.

All roads really do lead to Rome. So many cultures, countries and customs stem from the influential history of this city. And, just as Rome sculpted the world into what it is today, I cannot wait to be molded throughout this once-in-a-lifetime semester. Ciao!

Aubrie Cole is a junior writing about her experiences abroad in Europe. Her column, “Notes from Abroad,” runs every other Friday.