News and Blog – Page 10 – DEV – The Umbra Institute – Study Abroad in Italy

Are you planning to study abroad in Perugia, Italy this fall? We at the Umbra Institute have constructed a list of 6 things you shouldn’t forget to pack for your fall abroad in Perugia.
This list is not everything you need, but rather a selection of some of the most common items that our students forget each fall:

A winter coat
Italians often spend September soaking up the sun on the beach and tourism easily paints Italy as the ideal location for sun-bathing warmth. However, November and December in Perugia can get chillingly cold. It won’t snow, but snow can be seen on the distant mountain tops as the wind carries a cold breeze into the city. Winter coats can be quite expensive in Italy so we advise that students bring one from home.
Ciabatte or pantofole
That’s right, Italians wear shoes in their homes. This is primarily because most Italian apartments do not have carpeted floors. In warmer months, ciabatte (which are like flip-flops or… crocks!) are worn to keep your feet clean and comfortable. In colder months, pantofole (winter slippers) are worn to keep feet warm as they step along cold wood or tile floors.
Warm clothes to wear at home
Italian homes and public buildings are often cooler than what the average American is used to in the winter. This is because energy is much more expensive in Europe than it is in the U.S., so Italians don’t keep their heat blasting all day, every day. Instead, in part due to Italian law, Italians turn the heat on for a limited number of hours each day, and walk around wearing sweaters and warm pants. Italian law even dictates the range of dates during the year when heat can be used (a period that typically doesn’t start before early- or mid-November).
Rain boots
Winter in Italy doesn’t mean snow, it means rain. Students will find that their main method of transportation in Perugia and throughout Italy and the rest of Europe will be with the use of their own two feet. Rain boots can help keep students warm and dry (while Umbrellas can be purchased at the Institute or throughout Perugia).
Comfortable walking shoes
There are three characteristics of walking in Perugia: uneven cobblestones, stairs, and hills. Perugia is a beautiful hill-top city with postcard-like panoramic views around nearly every corner. However, while abroad, students find that walking is their most comfortable and commonly used way of getting around town (or Europe). Comfortable walking shoes are not flip-flops, and sometimes not even sandals. Students often find that the most comfortable shoes are shoes designed for running or walking.

Note for those of you who may enjoy high-heels: Be careful wearing heels in Italy! It is easy for a stiletto to get caught in a cobblestone crack, and though Umbra staff is available to help you seek medical assistance, no one wants to see you fall or twist your ankle on your way to enjoy a nice evening walk. Our students usually avoid heals during the semester, especially after their first night out; and many ask us to warn others about how uncomfortable such shoes can be.
Cold and flu medication*
Perugia is beautiful year-round, though it is important to know that winter can bring rain and cold wind. Not all students get ill as the seasons change, but for those of you who choose not to bring items 1 through 4, we suggest bringing something to treat a cold or the flu. Italian winters can get cold, and the altitude makes a difference. Choosing not to bundle up or dress appropriately for winter rains, can cause illness. Italian pharmacy instructions will be given to all students in the Guide to Perugia, provided during orientation weekend. Umbra staff is available to make arrangements with a doctor.

*be sure to follow all travel guidance for transporting medication overseas. Consult your pre-departure documents, travel.state.gov, or the CDC (special note about prescription medicines)

From playing soccer with local Italians, to doing research on sustainable wineries, to being speakers at the Food and Sustainability Studies Conference, Mackenzie Nelsen and Jared Belsky took full advantage of their time studying abroad at the Umbra Institute. Mackenzie is an Environmental Science and Interdisciplinary Food Studies double major at University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, and Jared is an environmental studies major at Hamilton College. During the Spring 2018 semester, they took the Anthropology of Food and Sustainability and Food Production in Italy courses, taught by Professor Elisa Ascione, coordinator of the Food and Sustainability Studies Program (FSSP) at the Umbra Institute.

Nelsen and Jared said they enjoyed class discussions revolving around food. “Academically, it has been very intellectually stimulating,” Mackenzie said. “There’s not a stress associated with learning—it’s learning for the excitement and joy of it, and I’ve learned so much while being here.” Jared added that the anthropological aspect of Professor Ascione’s courses was enlightening and crucial for deciding to spend an extra two months in Perugia researching sustainable wineries in Umbria.

The Research
The research conducted by Jared and Mackenzie focused on the figure of Umbria’s alternative and sustainable vignaioli, an Italian word indicating both winegrowers and winemakers. “Our research is basically travelling to different wineries around Umbria and meeting with their owners to interview them about their specific viticulture practices and perceptions of terroir, sustainability, farmer identity,” Jared explained. As far as the research methods are concerned, students recorded, transcribed and analyzed every interview, and every observation that they made. According to Jared, this was helpful because it was possible to go back and find answers to questions they did not even asked, and even answers to some new questions they did not think of. “We did qualitative research, analyzing sustainability through the point of view of our informants: we collected the data through Theoretical Sampling.” He said. “We have also used Snowball Sampling, which means some of our fieldwork has been determined by the participants themselves; in this case, some of the winemakers we visited recommended that we go see another winery that wasn’t on our previous list.” Jared said.

The research allowed both students to deepen their knowledge about sustainable agriculture and about the motivations behind a farmer’s choice to produce sustainable wines. “One of the most memorable moments was when we saw a rally in the center of Perugia with lots of tractors,” Mackenzie said. “Most of the people we interviewed during field research were there, demonstrating for better regulations in the agriculture sector. We talked to them and they were so passionate about their work, so we understood their way of thinking. It was great to be there with them and share their concerns.”

Speakers at The Food Conference
Jared and Mackenzie had the opportunity to present her research at the Food and Sustainability Studies Conference, an event organized every two years by the Umbra Institute, which sees the participation of renowned academics. “It was very exciting,” Mackenzie said. “Although it was a bit intimidating to present our research in front of other professionals, we felt the support of Elisa and the Umbra Institute.” This experience as speakers allowed the students to develop some new skills. “In college you write many essays, but here it was different because when you focus on one topic for so many weeks, you get so much material from your readings and the fieldwork. Having to synthetize all of that has been a learning experience that is important for my future.” Mackenzie said.

The impact of the Umbra experience on their studies

This research, together with the above-mentioned courses, has had a significant impact on the students’ approach to their studies. “I’ve always focused on environmental sciences and this was my first time doing anthropology,” Mackenzie said. “When I took Elisa’s classes, I really fell in love with her anthropological approach. I think it shifted my direction quite a bit because, coming from a food studies and sustainability perspective, I learned that anthropology is a great method to explore those ideas. So, this research experience gave me the opportunity to share what I’ve written and seen and, beyond the practical aspect, it reframed my way of thinking and the kind of the path of what I want to follow.”

Jared has also some ideas about how to take advantage of what he has learned. “This is very much in the works, but I hope to develop this project as one half of a senior thesis for next year.” He said. “It would be interesting to do some sort of comparative analysis with terroir between wine in Italy and cider in the US.”

To learn more about Food & Sustainability Studies at the Umbra Institute, click here.

The Umbra’s summer 2018 Archeology Field School ended last week with surprising results and great premises for the continuation of the diggings in the next years. Umbra study abroad students spent six weeks in the field, on the shores of Lake Chiusi (a smaller lake nearby Lake Trasimeno), in the territory of the charming town of Castiglione del Lago. They received a comprehensive overview of up-to-date theories and methods of archaeological research, studied the impressive historical legacy of the region, and uncovered the remains of a Roman villa complex from the 2nd c. BC to the 3rd c. AD, contributing to bring back to light its ancient physical, economic, and cultural environment.

The balance of the 2018 campaign was presented during the usual press conference held at the end of the excavation, on Friday, July 6^th in Castiglione del Lago. Among the speakers were the mayor of Castiglione, Dr. Sergio Batino; representatives from the Archeological Superintendency of Umbria; and the Director of the archaeological excavation, Professor Rebecca Schindler (DePauw University).
During the 2018 excavation campaign, students uncovered a broad series of materials, including Roman coins, pottery, and parts of a marble altar. Moreover, students discovered the existence of an underground environment, whose potentials are still to explore and will be the subject of excavations in the 2019 campaign. Local newspapers and TV stations gave much space to the results achieved by the students.

To learn more about the Trasimeno Archeology Field School organized by the Umbra Institute, click here.

Inspired by a field trip with one of her classes, Umbra professor Dr. Brooke Porter decided to conduct research on the fishermen and the impact of fish biodiversity at Lake Trasimeno, 30 minutes away from Perugia. On the field trip, Dr. Porter noticed that the fishermen lamented about the introduction of goldfish to the lake while at the same time celebrating a recent catch of largemouth bass, another introduced species. “This dissention made me think about how the fishers identify with and understand the biodiversity of the lake,” Dr. Porter said. She added that “the aim of the research is to unpack the understanding of fisherfolk of fish biodiversity in Lake Trasimeno.”

Dr. Porter used the pile-sorting method to conduct her research, which utilizes physical media (in this case, photos) to generate data from individuals or groups by studying how they organize or “sort” the information. Asking fishermen to sort photos of different Trasimeno fish into groups without further direction, Dr. Porter said that “the nexus of events seemingly offered a perfect application of [this] method.”

Two Umbra Spring 2018 students, Mackenzie Nelsen and Jared Belsky, assisted Dr. Porter on May 14 as she conducted her research to learn more about the pile-sorting method and to see it applied in real time. “The students were able to interact with and observe the fishermen applying to research methods, semi-structured interviews, and field observation,” Dr. Porter said.

Still in the midst of conducting fieldwork, Dr. Porter presented her preliminary findings on June 9 at the 2018 Food Conference: Perugia hosted by the Umbra Institute. “The results are showing that the economic value of fish is important,” she said. “The data to date has also shown that fishers have a solid understanding of the food web.”
Dr. Porter has also begun writing a journal article to present her findings. She also teaches ESFS 350: Water Essentials: Sustainable Use of a Limited Resource at the Umbra Institute.

Kasey O’Neill, Keana Albert and Nicole Winter, summer General Studies students enrolled in the Critical Disabilities: Seminar and Practicum, completed five weeks of class and many hours of field experience.

These students participated in the daily life of two Umbra community partner organizations: Fontenuovo, an elderly residence home specialized in the care of those affected by Alzheimer’s and dementia; and Nuova Dimensione Association’s projects OrtoxOrto Synergistic Garden and Volta La Carta, both of which are designed to integrate people with disabilities into the community.

It is no coincidence that these organizations are in Perugia, a city known for its innovative and inclusive approach to helping those with critical disabilities.

For Nicole, an occupational therapy student at Misericordia University, “The Café Alzheimer at Fontenuovo was incredibly eye-opening. I’ve been around many people affected by Alzheimer’s, and the dynamic approach used by Fontenuovo’s therapists in dealing with the patients is amazing. Family members come to see their relatives and do activities with them. [By doing this] they are able to connect on a different level.” She adds, “Fontenuovo is different from the facilities I’ve seen in the States. It does not look like a hospital, it feels like home.”

Keana, a biology and medical and health humanities double major at Misericordia University, loved the experience at the synergistic garden. “The patients there are so welcoming and happy to be there with us. It has been an incredible experience, making meaningful relationships with them and learning their stories and the way they live”, Keana expressed. “We’re understanding more about both the Italian culture and the patients’ lives on a day-to-day basis.”

This intercultural aspect is significant for Professor Christian Tarchi, who accompanied the students on this academic path, stating “The Critical Disabilities Seminar and Practicum allows students to gain insight into how cultural worldviews influence perspectives on mental and physical disabilities. Students learn to observe differences, relate them to cultural framework, and adapt their thinking (and behavior) to the context. Students learn to break language barriers and rely on non-verbal communication as a means to empathize with people.”

Kasey was inspired by all the social workers she met in these facilities. “My major is in social work, so one of the coolest things was to see social services in a multicultural perspective. Hearing about the educational background of the social workers and seeing how their personalities influence the way they help other people was totally catered to me. I liked being able to connect with someone so different from myself but who shares the same passion as me.”

To learn more about Critical Disabilities Studies and other Community Engagement offerings at the Umbra Institute, click here

In Italy it is easy to come across a medieval village, but it’s not every day that you visit one of the most beautiful historical re-enactments in the country. The students of the Intensive Italian Program had this opportunity in Bevagna, a few kilometers from Perugia, where the Gaite Market takes place every year. The purpose of this event is to faithfully recreate the lives of the inhabitants of Bevagna between 1250 and 1350, demonstrating the activities that took place in the past. The whole village participates in this festival by reopening the old “botteghe” such as the paper shop, the candle factory and the clothes dyeing service.

Thanks to the guided tour by Professor Giampiero Bevagna, the students retraced the history of this enchanting Umbrian medieval village. A church built on a Roman Temple and a house in the shape of a Roman amphitheater were among the various attractions visited. Also, the outside church walls had ancient units of measurement on them, which helped merchants and buyers in their transactions.

The evening ended with a special medieval dinner, where students ate dishes prepared with ingredients and spices that constituted the diet of the locals in the Middle Ages—so no pasta with tomato sauce for them!

See the pictures on our Instagram page!

The fourth edition of the biennial Perugia Food Conference took place June 7-10 at at the Umbra Institute in Perugia, Italy. The theme of the conference, organized by the Umbra Institute’s new Center for Food & Sustainability Studies, was “Exploring Ethics through Food Choices.”
Growing scientific and public interest in food has sparked ethical debates around issues such as the use of GMOs, the development of alternative agricultural systems, the local food movement, animal welfare, and food waste. The social dimensions of these debates have in turn attracted increased attention, especially fair trade relations, the reduction of social inequalities, and the exploitation of migrant agricultural labor. Food and ethics intersect at many different levels, from personal daily choices on where to shop and what to eat to cultural norms and regulations, policy implementations on national and international scales, and debates over scientific research on biotechnology.

Over sixty conference presenters addressed these relationships from a wide variety of perspectives. Among them were Lisa Heldke of Gustavus Adolphus College, Michael Herzfeld of Harvard University, and John Lang of Occidental College were the three keynote speakers. Mackenzie Nelsen and Jared Belsky, two spring 2018 Umbra students, also presented their research on sustainable wineries in Umbria. Professor Elisa Ascione, the coordinator of the Center’s Food & Sustainability Studies Program (FSSP) and the co-chair of the conference organizing committee, guided the students’ research.

“The conference brings together academics from all over the world as well as from the Umbra Institute and from the faculty-led programs here,” Prof. Ascione said. “It’s a place for interdisciplinary exchange that helps shape new research projects. The conference also gave FSSP alumni and research interns Mackenzie Nelsen and Jared Belsky the opportunity to present their research on sustainable wineries.”

Also on the organizing committee was the Umbra Institute’s academic director, Dr. Francesco Burzacca, who added, “The Institute organized the conference to contribute to the rapidly-expanding field of food studies. We’re proud of our Food Studies curricular concentration and to be part of the international network of scholars studying food.” He added that the Center plans to organize a fifth edition of the conference in June 2020.

See pictures from the conference on Facebook.

A semester abroad, a course on Business of Wine, an internship in a winery in the heart of Italy: these are the main ingredients that led Anastasiya Kowal of Penn State University down a successful path while at the Umbra Institute during her spring semester.
While at Cantina Roccafiore, a young organic winery located in the hills of Todi, Anastasiya had the opportunity to put her studies in business of wine into practice. In addition to helping with American clients, she also carried out various assignments, such as customer reception, guided visits, and media and marketing. In charge of the Instagram and Facebook pages, Anastasiya enjoyed this marketing-related work to the point of wanting to work at a winery or in another kind of agricultural company back in the US.

She also took part in Cantine Aperte (“Open Wineries”), a national event that involves hundreds of Italian wineries in late May. This event, which aims to promote the culture of wine in a festive atmosphere, took place during the final days of her time at Roccafiore. What a great way to end an internship!

To learn more about studying Business of Wine and Olive Oil at the Umbra Institute, click here.

This past Friday, the Umbra Institute’s Intensive Italian summer students hopped on a train and took a bike ride around Lake Trasimeno with a guide, who explained in Italian the history of the Umbrian lake and the area. The guided tour gave students the opportunity to improve their comprehension and speaking skills in a fun and active environment. Biking from Passignano sul Trasimeno to Tuoro sul Trasimeno, the students then took the ferry to Isola Maggiore, one of the three islands in the lake. Along the way, they asked the guide questions in Italian to learn more about the area. Here are some fun historical facts they learned:

1. Passignano was an important aeronautical hub of Italy until the 1990s. As small as Passignano is, it housed the important Società Aeronautica Italiana, which made planes and boats. One of the ferries of the lake, the Perugia, was created at this factory.

2. The Carthaginians won an important battle against the Roman Empire in the Battle of Trasimeno in 217 BC near Tuoro. Remnants of weapons, horse harnesses, and coins are still being found today!

3. St. Francis of Assisi stayed on Isola Maggiore for forty days to fast. He was given a loaf of bread and a rabbit as food, but instead of eating the rabbit he fed it pieces of bread.

4. Legend has it that there is a buried treasure in the center of Isola Minore, which is uninhabited and prohibited to go to. Pirates supposedly took over the island, where they stored their treasures.

The bike tour proved a great way to keep both the brain and the body active during the Umbra Institute’s Intensive Italian through Culture Summer Program!

Students and community members came together to promote an often-overlooked area of Perugia called Borgo Bello at the ESUS 310: Placemaking: Creating Sustainable Urban Spaces and Communities “Festa con Vista” on April 18. This “Festa con Vista” (Party with a View) included a visit from Mayor of Perugia Andrea Romizi and was a celebratory event of all the hard work our Umbra students had done over the past semester renovating a terrace with a beautiful view of the center of Perugia. Throughout the semester, students made playground equipment for local children, a weatherproof mini-library, and chairs and tables for all community members to enjoy.
“I’m really excited about the terrace because it’ll get more people of the community to be aware of it,” said Roanoke College junior and Placemaking student Tara O’Reilly. “We did everything from sanding tables to putting on a puppet show at the Festa. It’s a great way for the community to interact and get to know each other even more so than they already do.”