Q & A Session!

You asked, I answered. Well, tried to answer.

So what exactly are you doing?

In about twelve days, I’ll be flying to Italy for three months for a study abroad program called “Florence: Arts, Humanities, & Culture.” Study abroad has been a dream of mine for a quite a while (just ask my parents, who patiently sat through many meetings with college admissions counselors where I grilled said counselors on study abroad options).

Is this a Coe program?

Nope! The semester I’m doing is through the Associated Colleges of the Midwest, a consortium of liberal arts colleges that collaborate mostly for study abroad programs, like the one I’m attending in Florence.

Are you the only one going?

No I am not! There are plenty of other people who have also signed up for the ACM Florence program — I believe it’s about 29 people total, including one other girl from Coe.

Where are the other people coming from?

Other ACM schools! I’m not sure of the breakdown yet (mostly because I haven’t met anyone face to face), but the majority of the students I’ll be with this semester are from other smaller, liberal arts colleges located in the Midwest. 

What exactly are you doing there?

Well, studying. And eating. And traveling. I’m there to learn and to soak up the culture. I plan on traveling as much as I can, so that I can see as much as I can, but I will have classes and a full semester’s workload. Also, I plan to eat my weight in pasta.

Do you know what classes you’ll be taking?

Right off the bat, I’ll be taking an Italian language class. That class will continue for the whole semester (at which point I hope to be able to stumble through a conversation with random people on the street). In October, I’ll start three other classes (so I’ll have four classes total). I’m taking “The Early Medici as Patrons of the Arts,” “Power, Protection, and Commerce: Divine Figures in Early Renaissance Florence,” and “Patronage, Gender, and Power in Early Modern Florence.” Yes, I’m a little too excited.

Are you only studying with those people or is this through a larger university in Florence?

I’m sure I’ll run into other students studying abroad in Florence, but the only people in my classes will be the other ACM students (those other 28 people I talked about before). Our school is an ACM site, not a larger college or university in Florence, and we’ll be spending our class time there and “in the field” — getting the full Florence experience.

How did you decide on Florence?

For as long as I can remember I have loved classical civilizations; in college, my “specialty” has become ancient Rome. Where better to study the Romans than in Italy? Plus, let’s be honest, think about all that food… why wouldn’t I choose Florence? Kidding, of course (but not completely). I am excited to go though; the artwork, the architecture, the history, the culture, and, yes, the food — what’s not to like?

What was the process of actually getting into the Florence program?

First I had to discuss things with the study abroad coordinator at Coe. Then I had to apply at Coe for approval to study abroad (with a December deadline). After being approved to study abroad, I then had to apply to the actual ACM program. After I was accepted to that, I began the paperwork for both Coe and the ACM — logistical work, mostly — and now here I am! Twelve days away from living the dream. (If you’d like to hear more about this process, please contact me and I’d be happy to share more details with you.)

Are you going to be staying just in Florence?

I’ll be staying with a host family in Florence, so, yes I’ll be living there and spending most of my time there. However, we’re taking some groups trips (to Rome and places like that) and a number of us students are talking about traveling around Italy together. It promises to be an adventure-filled semester!

Are your parents coming to visit you?

No. They don’t love me that much.

But seriously, I’ve asked them not to visit — this is still school for me. While it’d be really cool to share some of this experience with them, this is 100% for me. Thankfully, I have great parents who respect me and (most of) my wishes, and they’ve told me that they’re happy to let me have this adventure all to myself.

Do you plan on snagging an Italian guy while you’re there?

For the sake of my dad, I’ll say ‘no’ to this one. You’re welcome, Dad. Honestly though, I’m more excited about the food than I am the men. This should come as no surprise to those of you who have met me.

What Italian phrases are you going to learn to keep Italian men away from you?

Thanks to my Free Kindle Italian Phrasebook, I’ve already learned to say “leave me alone” (“mi lasci sola”), “don’t touch me” (“non mi tocchi”), and, in case things get really bad, “I’ll call the police” (“chiamo la polizia”). Best free download I’ve gotten yet.

How are you going to pack three months worth of stuff into one suitcase? Is that even possible?

The short answer: I’m not sure. At all. The long answer: my inimitable packing skills will be put to the test. The plan is to pack a suitcase within a suitcase so that I might be free to shop (it’s a rough life I lead). My family keeps pushing for this plan, but I think it may be because I’m coming home right before Christmas…. Jury’s still out.

I’m getting down to the wire. Twelve days! The next post will probably deal with my packing extravaganza, but if you have questions that I haven’t addressed here, put them in a comment and I’ll do my best to fill you in.