An essential part of the discovery and adventure (and sometimes the delight) of travel comes from sampling the unusual foods the locals eat, foods they’ve been eating for hundreds of years without noticeable harm. Dining on the indigenous fare helped me better understand the local culture and economy.

Ciao! Michelle Wass is a senior at the University of Pittsburgh and about to graduate with a Bachelor’s degree in Natural Sciences (with concentrations in biology, chemistry and psychology); an Italian minor, and a Global Health Certificate. She made the best decision of her life to study abroad in Rome, Italy, in the spring 2013 semester.