Study Abroad: Italy
Before I began college, the idea of studying abroad intrigued me. During my sophomore year, when I received an email from Christ College — The Honors College about the opportunity to travel to Italy over winter break, I immediately knew I wanted to apply. Going to Italy in general was beyond exciting to me, but the content of what we would be studying while we were there was also a huge contributor to my wanting to go.
The program was an international trip that qualified as a three-credit upper-level Christ College seminar. We would be studying the question, “What is the Good Life?” by interpreting Italian art “in situ”, or, in public spaces and churches rather than museums, to answer this question. Upon getting accepted into the program, I learned more exciting details like how we would be staying in a renovated and repurposed monastery in Orvieto and we would be going on day trips to Siena, Florence, and Rome.
In order to fulfill our three-credit course requirements, we had class each day we were there from 9 a.m. until about noon. Although we spent a good amount of time reading and having discussions in class, we had our fair share of time to explore and sightsee too. We stayed in the small, medieval town of Orvieto in Umbria, Italy. In Orvieto, they kept all of their festive decorations up in the city until Epiphany, so even though we arrived there after Christmas, we didn’t miss out on the beautiful lights. We also got to celebrate New Year’s there. My absolute favorite memory in Italy was watching all of the fireworks shoot into the air down below us.
The historical part of Orvieto we stayed at is perched high up on the cliffsides, so our view was unbeatable. Studying abroad allows you to immerse yourself in a new culture firsthand, and for me, it had an invaluable impact on my studies as an arts student. In my freshman year, I took art history courses where I learned about specific pieces and art movements. During my time in Italy, I quite literally saw paintings with my own eyes that I had previously only ever seen in slideshows or on Google photos. Not only this, but as a Christ College scholar, getting to see my studies in Humanities work hand in hand with the arts was stunning as a student. We witnessed how the great Italian masters of art portrayed virtues and vices seen in Dante’s Purgatorio and implemented them into real-life architecture and public spaces.
For anyone considering studying abroad, I would definitely recommend it! For me, when I travelled to Europe it was my first time flying ever! It’s okay and normal to be nervous, but it will be an experience you won’t regret. One thing I love about the Office of Global Education is the variety of Study Abroad Programs that work for students and their needs. Getting to go on a shorter trip was perfect for me and a spectacular opportunity that allowed me to experience being abroad while earning credit I could put toward my minor. If you’re unsure, at the very least, take a baby step and go to a meeting about studying abroad, talk to students who have studied abroad before and ask about their experience, or meet with one of the staff in the Global Education Office. It is a Valpo offering you do not want to pass up!