January 2020
Ciao, amici miei!
Welcome back to the Center for International Program’s study abroad blog, where we explore new countries and give updates on fun, upcoming study abroad related events and activities each month. I hope everyone had a nice winter break and is ready to jump right back into the first post for the spring 2020 semester!
As per usual, the greeting at the beginning is a variation on the phrase “hello, my friends,” this time presented in Italian. Naturally, this means the next featured country will be Italy! So why don’t we sit down and get cozy while we take a closer look at Bel Paese (the “beautiful country”) and everything it has in store for us.
Monthly Country Feature: Italy w/ Nicholas
A country as famous as Italy hardly seems like it needs its own introduction. From its architecture to its film, and especially its world-famous cuisine, Italy has been a powerhouse of global culture for centuries. With all of the popularity in mind, it seems prudent to hear directly from the CIP office’s global ambassador Nick to see how his own experience studying in Italy went.
Why don’t you start by introducing yourself and your study abroad experience.
Hi, I’m Nicholas Marino, and I’m a senior at West Chester University. This past summer I studied abroad in Florence, Italy for three weeks with the International Studies Abroad program. As a kid, my family always told me stories of our rich Italian culture and I was excited to visit the country my ancestors came from.
What kinds of things did you learn while abroad; about the country, about the world, about yourself, etc.?
While I was in Italy, I took a Photoshop class at Florence University of the Arts. I learned a lot from the Photoshop class that I took. In my opinion, having a firm grip on technology is an important aspect of modern communication. Not only that, but being able to be immersed in a culture that is not my own has helped me become a better and more sensitive communicator. I helped to create many of the magazine covers and pamphlets that the school used throughout their campus buildings. I also learned that I could travel alone, as this was my first time traveling all by myself. I took a few weekend trips to places like Rome, Venice, Pisa, and it was such a rewarding experience.
What was your favorite landmark or attraction you got to visit?
I saw so many interesting landmarks and places in Italy. My absolute favorite place was Venice. I took a train to this amazing city and stayed in a hostile with friends from the trip. It was by far the highlight of the entire experience for me. The city is built on 118 different islands with waterways used for traveling. While I was there, I was in complete amazement that this entire city was built upon water and still standing today.
Was there anything about the country you visited that felt very different or strange compared to your home country?
The language barrier, by far. It’s shocking how many Italians know English, but it was still hard to communicate with each other. I was just finishing up my final Spanish class so I thought maybe that would help, but I was very wrong. I can vividly remember getting my haircut and not one person understood what I was saying, so I ended up showing people pictures of what I wanted. This opened my eyes up to how important it is to be bilingual and what it’s like to be an outsider in another country.
Describe the tastiest piece of foreign cuisine you tried while abroad.
No one ever likes my answer, but I wasn’t a fan of the foreign cuisine in Italy. I just wanted American food the entire time. I think I’m one of the few people who came home from Italy and actually lost weight. Everything is just so different (and healthier) that I just wasn’t used to any of the food options. One night I woke up at 3 in the morning craving a Wawa hoagie and walked two miles to the closest McDonalds just to try and get something remotely American in my system. If I ever go back, I think I would pack all of my favorite snacks and have those just in case.
Is there anything else you want to talk about your study abroad experience that wasn’t addressed in any of the previous questions?
The whole trip was extremely eye opening for me. Americans live such a different lifestyle compared to Europeans. In Florence, having a dryer for clothes was considered a luxury. Cleaning clothes was almost a three-day process from start to finish. The whole trip just really put into perspective the amount of waste and excess that we cause. Italians use much fewer natural resources and have less impact on the environment. I constantly find myself using skills that I learned while in Italy all the time. I’m always amazed that three short weeks could have such a lasting impact on the rest of my life.
Upcoming Events/Deadlines
With a new semester comes a new calendar of great study abroad events to attend, so why not check a few of them out before wrapping up this blog.
Welcome Back to WCU: A lot of students have only just gotten back from their fall and winter study abroad trips, so the CIP office thought it would be a great idea to offer a welcome back party for all returning students. Food will be provided! Don’t miss this great way to mingle with fellow study abroad folks on Wednesday February 5th, from 10am to 12pm in Mitchell Hall 301.
Fulbright Information Session: Fulbright is an amazing program that allows students to research and study abroad while teaching English to students in other countries. Lisa Drusedum of our very own CIP office plans to hold an information session for any students who are looking at the program, which will help answer any questions they might have and can even start them on the path of applying. This event will take place on Friday February 7th, from 11am to 12pm in Mitchell Hall 301, so try to keep your schedule open if you’re interested!
Additionally, I’m sure a ton of folks have already departed on their spring semester study abroad trips, so good luck to you in your traveling endeavors!
Conclusion
This concludes the first edition of the WCU CIP blog for the spring 2020 semester. It feels great to get back into the swing of things in the new year, and I can’t wait to see what the rest of the blogs for this semester will have in store for us. Until next time,
Salve!
West Chester University Education Abroad 