Endicott spring 2015

CULTURAL INTRODUCTION TO ITALY

Florence Italy

SPRING 2015

Travel diaries

endicott!

FUA Florence University of the Arts & Endicott College

endicott

college A note from the staff: Olimpia Bozza

Each year it is a wonderful opportunity to travel with the students and discover my own country through their curious eyes. Each time, when we reach Tuscany and I recognize its familiar landscapes, the hills, the olive and cypress trees, I can not help but to feel at home. Students stare at those unfamilar shapes for the ďŹ rst time with surprise, but for me it is a magic moment to know that -in a matter of a few monthsthey will too recognise those, once foreign, places and forever call them their home.

Spring 2015 Cultural Intro Pre-Semester Field Learning January 21st - January 28th

Betsy Albiani Hospitality Management GARDENS OF BOMARZO

VILLA FARN ES E - C APRARO L A

CAPRAROLA, VILLA LANTE AND BOMARZO. ARCHITECTURE COMBINED WITH NATURE.

PERUGINA. THE BEDROCK OF ITALIAN ECONOMY: FAMILY RUN BUSINESS.

A PERSONAL GROWTH EXPERIENCE THAT I WILL FOREVER REMEMBER WAS...

Traveling to Caprarola and Bagnaia after Rome really showed me two different sides of Italy ranging from a large crowded city to these gorgeous gardens and villas. The shrubs and flowers in the gardens were all trimmed perfectly. After touring the gardens, we walked inside and I was speechless. Every inch of the walls and ceilings in each room were covered with beautiful paintings. I couldn’t believe the history behind all of it.

I soon realized that Perugia was known for chocolate after checking into our chocolate hotel. One of my favorite stops during the week was definitely having a tour at the chocolate factory. Being a chocolate lover and someone who loves to cook, I enjoyed learning about the different types of chocolate and the process in making all of it.

Trying many new foods. I am definitely more willing to try new things after this week.

SPRING 2015

SOMETHING THAT AFFIRMED MY PERSPECTIVE ABOUT ITALY WAS...

How fresh all the fruits and vegetables are.

endicott COLLEGE

Stacy Castelli H o t e l M a n a g e m ent VILLA LANTE - BAGNAIA

ITALIAN APPE TIZE R S

ROME, 3000 YEARS OF ART AND HISTORY. REFLECTIONS OF AN AMERICAN IN ROME. I found myself continuously amazed by all of the history and architecture throughout Rome.

When we first arrived and took the train to get to the hotel, I was a little nervous, as the city seemed quite intimidating. Fortunately, once we started our first walking tour and arrived at the Colosseum, I found myself indulged with excitement. From the Colosseum to the Vatican, I fell in love with everything we saw and learned.

MUVIT: THE MEANING OF WINE AND FOOD IN ITALIAN CULTURE. I loved learning about the food and wine culture of Italy. I find it very interesting how much it can differ

from region to region. Also, I gained a much greater appreciation of wine after seeing how much time and effort go into making even just one bottle. It is nice to know how much people in Italy take pride in their food and have many guidelines and rules when it comes to the Italian cuisine.

MY NEW HOME FOR THE SEMESTER. THE PREPARATORY TRAVEL WEEK HELPED ME FEEL LIKE A FLORENTINE LOCAL BECAUSE… I felt that the pre-semester field learning week helped me learn important tools and information about Italy in general. By the time I arrived in Florence I had already felt comfortable saying ciao, grazie, buongiorno, and more!

A PERSONAL GROWTH EXPERIENCE THAT I WILL FOREVER REMEMBER WAS...

I will definitely always remember the trying of new foods. In Orvieto I had tried chicken liver, which I would never think of doing in a million years. I have always been picky when it comes to food, so this opened up a whole new world of foods for me!

Gabrielle Chinigo Hospitality Management T HE VAT I CA N

ORVIETO C ATHE DRAL

PERUGIA AND ORVIETO. SIGNS OF ANCIENT DOMINATIONS IN CENTRAL ITALY

MUVIT: THE MEANING OF WINE AND FOOD IN ITALIAN CULTURE.

A PERSONAL GROWTH EXPERIENCE THAT I WILL FOREVER REMEMBER WAS...

Orvieto proved to be one of my personal favorites during the preparatory travel week. It was an incredibly charming town that also had a sense of liveliness and excitement. I fell in love with small winding cobblestone streets and breathtaking hilltop views. The façade of the Orvieto Cathedral can best be described as stumbling upon a tapestry hanging from the sky –it never looked real.

Learning about Italian wine and food as a cultural experience was one of the most rewarding occurrences. Food in the United States differs greatly from Italy as, there is a cultural and historical piece.

Each ingredient coincides to geographical and historical context. The production process of wine is one of great expertise and passion and because of this I have gained a new level of respect and appreciation for a glass of wine.

Having to get from the Vatican City back to the city center of Rome using Italian public transportation.

SPRING 2015

ONE SENTENCE/PHRASE THAT IN MY OPINION ILLUSTRATES ITALY AND ITALIAN CULTURE IS...

A place of rich history, breathtaking artwork, and unmatched culture.

endicott COLLEGE

Aine Cole Marketing Communications AT THE COLOSSEUM

A VIEW OF ROME FROM THE TOP OF ST PETER’S BASILICA IN THE VATICAN

PERUGIA AND ORVIETO. SIGNS OF ANCIENT DOMINATIONS IN CENTRAL ITALY

PERUGINA. THE BEDROCK OF ITALIAN ECONOMY: FAMILY RUN BUSINESS.

MY NEW HOME FOR THE SEMESTER. THE PREPARATORY TRAVEL WEEK HELPED Perugia and Orvieto are both from Etruscan origins. Perugina chocolate! Much like when we learned ME FEEL LIKE A FLORENTINE LOCAL BECAUSE… Although both were beautiful in their own way, I must say Orvieto was my favorite; a quaint town on the top of the hill with beautiful hidden side streets and friendly locals. It was a little fortress; looking up at it from the road I never would have guessed. The Duomo was absolutely breathtaking, so immense and intricate. I still think today it’s the most beautiful Duomo I’ve seen.

about how wine was made, I didn’t realize how many steps were involved in making chocolate.

Touring the factory was so interesting. Majoring in Marketing, I think my favorite part was watching the old advertisements and the story behind the Baci kiss.

I enjoyed learning about the transformation of their image and their brand. Of course, I didn’t mind the chocolate tasting either!

It prepared me for my four month stay here in so many ways. I felt completely immersed in the culture. Everything from walking the streets, seeing the beautiful cathedrals and duomos, visiting the Roman remains, eating the food, drinking the wine, and hearing the beautiful language prepared me.

I loved delving into this foreign culture head first. I think something I realized during the travel week that changed my perspective on life was how Italians live: they seem to enjoy life and they seem to live deeper; they take time to enjoy all aspects of living and they love themselves as we all should.

SPRING 2015

endicott COLLEGE

Samantha DiStefano Marketing Communications AT THE COLOSSEUM

TH E TIB ER RI VE R IN RO ME

ROME, 3000 YEARS OF ART AND HISTORY. REFLECTIONS OF AN AMERICAN IN ROME.

MUVIT: THE MEANING OF WINE AND FOOD IN ITALIAN CULTURE.

Rome, Italy was the first place I stepped foot outside of North America. I have lived in a very small town in Massachusetts all my life, where there isn’t art, culture, or hardly anything to even look twice at.

Going to Rome and seeing how much Italians love to admire and preserve art was refreshing and extraordinary. Everything exceeded my wildest imagination and for once looking down at my feet was impossible.

Italians hold very strict rules to their food and wine.

Much like their art, every plate must be presented with the utmost delicacy and with the most integrity.

Cooks and restaurants are very proud of the food and wine they serve. Everything is made to last. Nothing is hastily thrown together like in America, food is made to taste of the best quality and wine is supposed to be smooth and deep. This element of Italian culture reminds me of how passionate Italians are.

SPRING 2015

MY NEW HOME FOR THE SEMESTER. THE PREPARATORY TRAVEL WEEK HELPED ME FEEL LIKE A FLORENTINE LOCAL BECAUSE… It helped adjust to the culture early and allowed us to start practicing our communication skills as well as our navigating skills.

ONE SENTENCE/PHRASE THAT IN MY OPINION ILLUSTRATES ITALY AND ITALIAN CULTURE IS...

“Andiamo!” Italians know there is so much to see and reminds us all that life is precious and the world is ours to explore, therefore, “Let’s Go!”

endicott COLLEGE

Meghan Foley Marketing Communications AT THE COLOSSEUM

CAPRAROLA

ROME, 3000 YEARS OF ART AND HISTORY. REFLECTIONS OF AN AMERICAN IN ROME.

CAPRAROLA, VILLA LANTE AND BOMARZO. ARCHITECTURE COMBINED WITH NATURE.

ONE SENTENCE/PHRASE THAT IN MY OPINION ILLUSTRATES ITALY AND ITALIAN CULTURE IS...

Looking back, when I was flying into Rome, I was underestimating the amount of history, culture, and art I was about to see. Being from Boston, we do have a lot of history but nothing that compares to what I saw in Rome. I have read about the colosseum in numerous history books, but seeing it and walking through it for the first time was mesmerizing. Putting everything I have previously learned about ancient Rome together with what I was seeing was amazing.

The change from Rome to Caprarola was drastic.

Being in Rome and seeing enormous historic monuments and then going to Caprarola and seeing the architecture and nature together was interesting.

I found the Villa Lante to be breathtaking. The detail that went into each room of the house to the beautiful fountains and gardens behind the house were spectacular. It was amazing to see what time has or hasn’t done to the Bomarzo gardens. They looked more modern than anything else we saw.

“Live in the moment”, I believe that Italians appreciate everyday and every experience in their lives.

SOMETHING THAT CHANGED OR AFFIRMED MY PERSPECTIVE ABOUT ITALY WAS...

That many Italians don’t speak any English. I got lost one day and a woman who barely spoke any English got out a piece of paper and drew directions for me.

Alexandra Godlewski B u si n e s s A d m in i s trati o n R OME

ASSISI

PERUGINA. THE BEDROCK OF ITALIAN ECONOMY: FAMILY RUN BUSINESS. Perugina was such a great stop along the way. As a business major, I found it interesting to hear the stories behind Perugina’s family business. The tour of the factory was a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for me as well. With the smell of chocolate in the air, it was nice to not only hear the history behind such a successful business, but to also see the creation of their chocolate in the process.

ASSISI. SPIRITUALITY IN ITALY. Around every corner, Assisi was filled with unbelievable beauty. Although I was initially stunned by the view after arriving, the churches throughout Assisi just seemed to amaze me more. It was really neat to walk the quaint streets, explore its churches, and hear the legacy of Saint Francis of Assisi.

A PERSONAL GROWTH EXPERIENCE THAT I WILL FOREVER REMEMBER WAS… The countless amounts of times that my friends and I had wandered a new city only to get lost and have to navigate our way home. With no

SPRING 2015

Wi-Fi access or Google Maps to guide us back, we quickly acquainted ourselves with paper maps and public transportation. After getting home, we were always filled with feelings of independence and accomplishment.

SOMETHING THAT CHANGED OR AFFIRMED MY PERSPECTIVE ABOUT ITALY WAS… The importance placed on spending quality time to chat with friends or enjoy a meal. While Americans are always in a rush or taking food to go, it was refreshing to take the time to really appreciate where I was, who I was with, and what I was doing.

endicott COLLEGE

Lindsey Sneider Hospitality and Event Management ITALIAN GARDEN

MONSTER GARDENS - BOMARZO

ROME, 3000 YEARS OF ART AND HISTORY. CAPRAROLA, VILLA LANTE AND BOMARZO. MY NEW HOME FOR THE SEMESTER. REFLECTIONS OF AN AMERICAN IN ROME. ARCHITECTURE COMBINED WITH NATURE. THE PREPARATORY TRAVEL WEEK HELPED After visiting Rome, the saying “Rome wasn’t built Villa Lante and Bosco di Bomarzo perfectly captured ME FEEL LIKE A FLORENTINE LOCAL BECAUSE… in a day” understates anything I have ever compared that sentence to. The detail of the architecture is not only breathtaking, but also almost unimaginable of how it was completed during a time period without the resources that we have today. I fully enjoyed thinking that I was in a more modern part of the city, to then turn the corner and see a beautiful historical monument.

the combination of architecture and nature. To me, Villa Lante’s most impressive element was the use of detailed architecture to support the use of water for fountains. The monster park expended the element of surprise by building the monuments into the existing land.

We were able figure out the barriers between American and Italian culture that we would face throughout the semester.

ONE SENTENCE/PHRASE THAT IN MY OPINION ILLUSTRATES ITALY AND ITALIAN CULTURE IS...

“Simplicity is the ultimate sophistication.”

– Leonardo Da Vinci

Emily Wadman Hospitality Management VAT I C A N C I T Y

ST. FRANCIS BASILICA - ASSISI

MUVIT: THE MEANING OF WINE AND FOOD IN ITALIAN CULTURE. Coming to Italy, myself, and the others on the trip, had some misconceptions about the meaning of food and wine in Italy. Italians look at food and wine as an art and pair the two carefully, making sure the details of the food are prepared to perfection.

Even the ways in which the ingredients are harvested or made are taken very seriously to ensure the best experience possible.

ASSISI. SPIRITUALITY IN ITALY. The city of Assisi was beautiful! It was incredible to see something so full of spirituality and religion.

The town was quiet, but in the streets you could spot various figures of the church, and practicing brothers and sisters. I don’t think there are enough words to describe the beauty of the churches, scenery, and people.

MY NEW HOME FOR THE SEMESTER. THE PREPARATORY TRAVEL WEEK HELPED ME FEEL LIKE A FLORENTINE LOCAL BECAUSE… Before exploring the city, I already had some knowledge of the culture, expectations, and I was aware of the independence needed to live in a foreign country.

SOMETHING THAT CHANGED MY PERSPECTIVE ABOUT ITALY WAS… Italian-American traditions are very different from Italian traditions.

SPRING 2015

Spring 2015 Cultural Intro Pre-Semester Field Learning January 21st - January 28th

CREDITS Photo Credit: Endicott Students Spring 2015 Group picture: Spencer Sisselman (2 nd year Photography career student) Production Coordinator: M. Olimpia Bozza

En di cott Sp ring 2015 Endicott 2 015 C Cla lass: ss: Betsy Albiani Stacy Castelli Gabrielle Chinigo Aine Cole Samantha DiStefano Meghan Foley Alexandra Godlewski Lindsey Sneider Emily Wadman