Bollettino n
Spring 2013 Issue 1
Cooking Like Italians To finish off their first week in Arezzo, students took a trip to the supermarket with faculty-inresidence Jason Houston and Monica Sharp, who showed them how to shop for food in Arezzo’s butcher shops, fruit stalls, gastronomies, and supermarkets. That evening, students took turns cooking for each other. The faculty-in-residence helped host a progressive dinner where students traveled to each other’s apartments for different courses throughout the night. The delicious dishes included toasted bread with tomato and liver spreads, fettuccini with homemade sauce, cooked rabbit, and marble cake with pear slices.
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Letter from the Director One of the hot topics in the world of education abroad is, how can returning study abroad students translate their unique international experiences into a resume builder. This semester OUA students will partake in a professional development meeting guided by Kaydee Dyer the OUA Resident Graduate Director, as well as Gina London, former CNN correspondent and now career consultant and author. In this meeting Kaydee and Gina will help students to identify what they have learned while abroad and importantly, how to use the information as leverage in getting noticed in the professional world. Recent studies have demonstrated that employers value a study abroad experience. In fact, almost 70% of HR directors stated that a study abroad experience was enough to push that students' resume to the top of the call-back list. Strategic international understanding and cross-cultural experience rank high on the list of skills that new employees must have to be able to communicate in a global economy and students who study abroad have those skills. Add to the resume life-skills learned while overseas, such as independence, flexibility, adaptability, selfconfidence, and living on a limited budget, and it is easy to see why employers give students who have studied abroad an advantage over their less adventurous peers. As the Director of OU in Arezzo, it is my sincere hope that students initiated their study abroad experience simply for the sake of experiencing a world that is beautifully different than their own - just to see the view from the mountain top, as Arezzo native, Francesco Petrarch might have claimed. However, for those students who are positioning themselves for the global market place, OUA is more than just a venue for personal growth and enlightenment, it is the perfect starting point for professional happiness and success.
Kirk Duclaux Director of Italian Programs in Italy 2
Art History in Arezzo On their first day of Art History class, students paused during their tour of the bell tower for a group shot.
Professor Profile: Monica Sharp Living abroad is nothing new for Professor Sharp. She spent a semester in France and a year in Spain during her studies the University of Oklahoma, where she ultimately earned her Masters degree in Spanish. Now a Faculty-inResidence for OUA with her husband Dr. Jason Houston, she teaches “Italy at the Crossroads,” a course she designed due to her passion for immigration advocacy. Professor Sharp says, “I like having students in class when they feel scrutinized,” so that they better understand the experiences of immigrants moving to and from Italy. Her main advice for her students abroad? “Get out of your comfort zone. Meet people. Make friends.” Years after her time in Spain, Monica still communicates with her friends there. On immigration, life abroad, and Italian culture, Professor Sharp clearly has a lot of wisdom to share. OUA Bollettino – January 2013
SAC Corner Student Advisory Council
To prepare for Carnevale, SAC provided paint, glitter, and other supplies for students to make their own masks. SAC offered hot apple cider and cookies at OUA on the final night of Carnevale for students who wanted a break from the festivities. To celebrate Valentine’s Day, students gathered to eat gelato and watch the Italian film L’Ultimo Bacio. SAC worked in a bit of fitness with a game of volleyball (or “pallavolo”) between OUA and Arezzo locals. Thunder fans enjoyed a SAC watch party. For next month, SAC has begun planning a community event Kid’s Fest for young Aretini, and have planned an American night/Thunder watch party with UNISI students.
Exploring Florence Adventurous OUA students have been catching the train to Florence to spend a day in the heart of the Italian Renaissance. Here they have seen the Duomo and the David, crossed the Ponte Vecchio over the Arno River, observed musical processions near the Piazzale Vecchio, and browsed many souvenir stalls in the leather market. For an unbeatable photo op, many stopped by the Piazzale Michaelangelo for a breathtaking view of the city.
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OUA Bollettino – January 2013
Student Spotlight
Around Arezzo Welcome Dinner - To celebrate the start of the semester, students and faculty got to know each other over a full Italian meal. The many courses included appetizers, two types of pasta, meat, cake, and—to finish—a shot of
Major: Anthropology and Communication Most Memorable Moment: This old man at a wine tasting in Montepulciano. He was so excited to show us a page from an American newspaper about his winery. What’s the best thing you’ve eaten here? Black truffle pasta at the Welcome Dinner. But usually I stick with margherita pizza.
Boomer Sooner – Athletic OUA students have been taking to the field to play soccer—that is, “calcio” with the locals. They’ve managed to win a few matches so far and, more importantly, make friends with sporty Arezzo residents.
Major: International Studies with a minor in Business Why Arezzo? Italy is a crossroads for different kinds of culture, and a perfect place to experience all of Europe. For me, this semester is a gateway into human rights law, which is what I want to do. Most Memorable Moment: Seeing the whole city from Piazzale Michelango. I felt like I was on top of the world. 4
OUA Bollettino – January 2013
Wine Tasting For their second Getting to Know Arezzo class, faculty-in-residence Jason Houston and Monica Sharp led a tour of local vineyard Fattoria la Striscia, treating students to an up-close look at each step of the winemaking process. The tour included explanations of which wines are called Chianti, why wines get particular labels, how grapevines are pruned to get the strongest grapes, and how storing wine in barrels adds flavor. Afterwards, students enjoyed samples of three different wines and learned how to savor their color, smell, and taste alongside a delicious array of cheeses, meats, and the traditional Tuscan soup Pappa al Pomodoro.
Pasta Making Class What could be more Italian than learning how to make pasta from Tuscan restaurateurs? Students cooked tagliatelle, ravioli, and gnocchi from scratch—and got to eat the end result!
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OUA Bollettino – January 2013
Around Arezzo Antique Fair - On the first weekend of every month, Arezzo’s many antique shops fill streets and piazzas with their best wares. Other vendors sell handbags, toys, and balloons.
Inside the cathedral, Aretini wait to enter the chapel devoted to the Madonna del Conforto.
Madonna della Conforti For a Getting to Know Arezzo class, students visited Arezzo’s Duomo to learn about the Festa della Madonna del Conforto from a family who lives in Arezzo. This holiday celebrates a miracle that took place hundreds of years ago, when someone prayed to a dirty statue of the Madonna to stop a series of earthquakes. As the story goes, the earthquake ended and the Madonna statue turned pure white. To commemorate this day, Arezzo’s citizens stand in line to leave flowers at the statue and pray there. Catholics from all over Tuscany attend the crowded Mass on Friday evening. Meanwhile, candy vendors set up shop in the street to accommodate the sweet tooth of these devoted churchgoers.
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Meeting the Locals- Student Services Coordinator Lucio organized an evening of pizza, tiramisu, and games for OUA students and Aretini to get to know one another. Afterwards, OUA students spent a night with their new Italian friends out on the town.
OUA Bollettino – January 2013
Carnevale This February, OUA students experienced Carnevale, one of Italy’s biggest celebrations. In order to enjoy their last night before Lent season begins, Italians take to the streets in costumes for a wild evening of dining and dancing. Some festivities begin up to two weeks before Ash Wednesday. To see the world’s most famous Carnevale revels, some students ventured to Venice for a weekend on the canals. Everyone gathered at OUA on the Tuesday of Carnevale to drink hot apple cider, eat cookies, and show off their costumes before joining all of Arezzo’s citizens in a noisy procession up and down Corso Italia.
Students Say
Here are some recommendations from Sooners for eating well in Arezzo.
For gelato, try Soft:
“Soft is open later than other places, so it’s convenient when you’re craving gelato at night.” - Karin Cockran 7
For a cappuccino, try Emilio’s:
“Their cappuccinos are cheap, and you get a great view of Piazza San Augustino while you drink them.” - Brynne Frauenhoffer OUA Bollettino – January 2013
Weekends in Italy Whether they stay in town or set out for new sights, OUA students make the most of their free time abroad. Here are some of their best pictures from Arezzo and elsewhere.
Karin Cockran taking in Cortona, the scenic setting of Under the Tuscan Sun.
Lindsey. Dom, TJ and Audrey contemplating an Etruscan tomb from 500 B.C. in Montepulciano
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Jordan Acock. Bryce Rowand, and Cale Curtin leaning in Pisa Katy Metz and Michaela Tomalin relaxing in Arezzo’s park.
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