Italy: A Semester Experience from Megan Fowle

Posted on November 24, 2013

My name is Megan Fowle. I am a junior at Gettysburg College, and I am a history major with a minor in education. Eventually, I hope to attend grad school to study library science. This semester, I am studying at the Syracuse University of Florence.

1.Where have you been in Italy?

I am living in Florence, so I have been all around the city, but I have also traveled to Ravenna, Assisi, Sienna, San Gimignano, Pisa, Venice, Perugia, and Rome.

2.What’s it like?

Wow, I can barely begin to describe how awesome it is. At first, it was a little scary. I had taken Italian, but I would always be a little nervous when I had to use it in a real situation. I am living with a host mom, and that is one of the greatest experiences. It really gives me a chance to practice my Italian, and to get a better understanding of the culture, more so than if I was in an apartment. Now that I have been here for three months, the city is definitely beginning to feel like home. It was weird when I realized that, because I had been traveling over fall break for ten days, and I came back to Florence, and realized that I had really missed it, and that it felt like I was coming home.

3. Favorite place in Italy?

My favorite place in Italy is definitely Florence. That is the city that I have seen the most of, obviously, but I really love the feel of it.

 

4. Least favorite?

My least favorite that I have seen was probably Venice. When we went, it was raining and the square was flooded (which was a little cool, but kind of a nuisance after a while.) Also, the only way to really get around is the vaporetto (watertaxi), and it is super crowded. Plus, a gondola ride is actually around 70 euro, so we did not get to do that. (Sorry that sounded like a rant, Venice is beautiful, just not everything I thought it was going to be. )

 

 

5. What have you been doing over the semester in Italy?

 

I am taking classes at the Syracuse University of Florence. Aside from studying, I have been traveling a lot. Our school has free weekend trips to all of those towns that I mentioned earlier. If there is no weekend trip, I have been trying to see as much of Florence as possible. During the week, I have class, but the school offers a lot of other activities that I have been taking part in. There are cooking classes, and those are definitely my favorite extra activity that I have taken part in.

 

6. Favorite thing that you’ve eaten?

My favorite thing that I have eaten is definitely gnocchi. It is potato pasta. I learned how to make it at one of the cooking classes, and it is relatively easy to make. I also have a great love for balsamic vinegar. Italians put that, and olive oil, on everything!

 

 

 

 

7. Most amazing thing that you’ve seen? 

 

Wow, there have been so many, it is going to be hard to choose one! I think that the most amazing thing I have seen was when I was in Rome, and I watched the sunset over the Colosseum and the Roman Forum. It was absolutely beautiful!