May 2013 – DEV – The Umbra Institute – Study Abroad in Italy

Almost 100 percent of the Summer 2013 General Studies attended last night's Welcome Aperitivo. — Students bond at the Welcome Aperitivo.

Il Birraio — Italian for brewery — was bustling with Umbra faculty, staff, and students at last night’s Welcome Aperitivo.

Sitting on plush cushions or under exotic umbrellas, the group enjoyed refreshments while trading plans for the summer semester.

The aperitivo was a success, according to Umbra staff member Marco Bagli, who organizes student events.

“It was the real first time when students and visiting faculty members could meet after they had already settled into their apartments,” Bagli said. “They could get to know each other in a less serious situation and meet the staff when we’re wearing ‘other hats.’”

Students enrolled in Elementary Italian will return to il Birraio tonight for the very first Tandem, a language exchange with local Italians, at 7:30 p.m.

With a clap or five of thunder (Perugia is experiencing a strange bout of spring weather), the Umbra Institute’s Summer 2013 session kicked off to a great start this weekend.

The recently-arrived Summer 2013 students smile from their velvet seats in the Santa Cecilia auditorium during Sunday evening's Safety and Academic Information Meeting. — The recently-arrived Summer 2013 students smile from their velvet seats in the Santa Cecilia auditorium during Sunday evening’s Safety and Academic Information Meeting.

Saturday, students from across the U.S. flew into Rome, where staff members met and accompanied them to Hotel Giò in Perugia. That evening, the students ate a delicious multi-course meal at the hotel before sleeping their jet lag away. Sunday morning saw the housing coordinator direct students to their new apartments before they took a practical walking tour of the city center, learning where to buy groceries, send mail, and go to class. Classes began this morning, officially starting the General Studies program.

The favorite Welcome Aperitivo will be held at il Birraio tomorrow night, so meet at 7:15 p.m. at the fountain to walk over together.

Benvenuti!

It’s caffè shakerato season in Perugia again.

Cafés have spilled out onto the cobblestone streets, serving classic Italian iced coffee under stretching umbrellas; the central piazza’s steps ebb and flow with waves of people soaking in the sun; and Umbra staff and faculty are preparing for this year’s summer sessions.

On Friday, General Studies students will land in Rome, kicking off the short but full program. Students enrolled in Intensive Italian will soon follow suit, arriving May 31. Over the next two weeks, check your email for the Umbra handbook, which will answer questions you may have about what to pack or what to anticipate as you prepare for your stay in Italy.

Upon your arrival, expect a warm welcome at the airport, followed by a bus ride through Italian countryside and a dinner that will make you forget your jetlag. The next day, Umbra staff members will conduct a comprehensive orientation session detailing your stay in Perugia, an Umbrian city rich with culture, history, and adventure. Get excited for summer weeks packed with gelato nights, day trips to Umbrian and Tuscan villages, wine tastings, aperitivi (Italy’s much-improved version of happy hour), pizza workshops, historical walking tours, and more.

See you soon — arrivederci!

Champan University film student Stephen Doyle has combined his newly learned skills and exceptional talent to produce a moving video of the city and people of Perugia and his experience this spring at the Umbra Institute. Congratulations Stephen on this moving and artistic piece!

CLICK HERE TO WATCH

Note: This video contains copyrighted material is for demonstration purposes and may not be used or sold in any manner without the express permission of its owner.