Ciao a tutti! I am back at Naz after an incredible semester abroad in Pescara, Italy. I am so happy to have returned to my second home with all of my friends and wonderful professors, but I’d be lying if I said I didn’t miss Italy, Naz’s exchange program, and my new friends. Due to laptop difficulties, I wasn’t able to blog as much as I was hoping to (you can read my first abroad blog here), so this semester I am starting a blog series called “La Mia Vita in Italia- My Life in Italy.” I want to reflect upon and share my study abroad experience with you all to give you a taste of what it is like to be an international student and just how well-structured Nazareth College’s exchange programs are. Seriously, I would not have dreamed of studying abroad in the first place had it not been for the Center for International Education and my advisors working with me every step of the way. As clichè as it sounds, studying in Italy last semester really transformed my perspective on the world. In this first blog of my series, I am going to focus on travelling as a golden flyer- how I was able to explore Italy while still putting my best effort forth in the classroom.
Through the Italian exchange program in Pescara, students are provided three trips covered by the school to Rome, Florence, and Venice. This includes hotel accommodations, money for meals, and travel expenses. Being an international student with limited funds and means of transportation, these trips were all truly blessings. My first Naz trip was to Rome. I was in awe of the fact that you could see buildings that were thousands of years old while being surrounded by metro stops and businesses. I made a wish at the famous Trevi Fountain, walked the Spanish Steps, and stumbled upon a free concert of “Mozart’s Requiem” at a gorgeous basilica. As a music major, it was a profound experience to hear this piece of music that I have studied extensively at Naz come to life in such a sacred place. I left the concert feeling at peace and in complete gratitude for my musical education at Naz.
The second trip I took through the school was to Florence, another beautiful Italian city that has a rich history. Thanks to Naz covering the costs of the trip, I could afford to buy a ticket to the Galleria Accademia Museum, home of Michelangelo’s famous David Statue! Seeing the statue in person was mind-boggling. I had only seen it in a textbook before that moment, so I was pretty amazed to discover that the statue itself was 25 feet in real life! In Florence, I also got to see the Duomo and just wander around the city – pretty great study breaks if you ask me.
My last trip through Naz was to Venice, which ended up being my favorite Italian city. I had spoken at a student music therapy conference that day at my conservatory and literally ran to catch my train on time, but my heart was so full. Venice is known for its iconic canalways that connect the city that appears to float on water. I was taken aback by its beauty and unique architecture. In Venice, I got to live out my lifelong dream of riding in a gondola; it was such a unique way to get a new perspective on the city. I also was pretty excited that my boatsman was singing songs that I had used in my music therapy sessions with my clients back in Pescara. Yet another perk of being an international student are the discounts that are offered at most museums and public spaces. I went to a Leonardo da Vinci museum for only 6 Euros (about 8 US dollars) when I showed my student ID. These trips have taught me so much not only about the beauty of Italian culture but of what I am capable of as a student in a place that I am unfamiliar with.
No matter where I travelled to in Italy, I always brought my backpack with my homework in it. While I was at a lower course load because most of my classes, including my music therapy clinical, were in Italian, I still prioritized being a representative of Nazareth College. Busses, planes, and train stations – you name it, I found a way to get my homework done. Ironically, I had my first ever 4.0 when I was in Italy which was a pleasant surprise considering how much of the language I learned when I was there. I want to emphasize that not all of my homework was writing clinical documentation or reading textbooks. If you have ever studied a language, then you know the best way to learn it is to put it into practice. Travelling to these cities (and several others) allowed me to put the skills I had learned in the classroom at Naz and in Pescara to work. I would order my meals in Italian, make conversation with my waiter or barista, and, in some situations, ask frantically for directions. These interactions are why I now have confidence in my ability to speak Italian and why I continue to study the language at Naz. I look forward to sharing more of my adventures with all of you. Until then, arriverderci!