News and Blog

Marco Bagli, Student Services Co-coordinator for the Umbra Institute, was recently awarded the Young Researcher’s Award at an international conference in Pavia. Marco is a PhD candidate in English Cognitive Linguistics at the University of Perugia, with an interest in Cognitive Semantics, Semantic Categorization, and Conceptual Metaphor Theory. For his PhD project, Marco is investigating the conceptualization of the sense of Taste in the English language – for example, why does one call a loved one “honey” or refer to sarcasm as being “bitter”.

The Young Researcher’s Award was a competitive award granted to three students selected from applicants coming from different countries throughout the world. Marco, along with two post-doc students one from Spain and one from France, were selected for the award based on the scientific quality, innovation, clarity, and disciplinary relevance of their research. For this particular award, Marco’s research dealt with the semantic categorization of Taste words in English, which was carried out at the Umbra Institute with the participation of some of the Spring 14 students. The conference focused on ‘Figurative Thought and Language’ which is “not something that only pertains to poetry or literature, but human beings speak and think figuratively on a daily basis without noticing it. We constantly make use of metaphors and metonymies, even if we don’t know”, Marco explains.

In January, Marco plans to continue his studies by moving to Glasgow for four months to work with Dr. Wendy Anderson at the School of Critical Studies. Thanks to an Erasmus+ grant, a European project designed to enhance student exchange in Europe while fostering an intercultural, European identity, Marco will be looking at the historical development of the conceptualization of the sense of Taste in the English Language

For more information regarding Marco’s research, click here.

Many Americans going abroad for the first time compare foreign currency to Monopoly money. It doesn’t feel real, it looks funny, and is often brightly colored compared to our own “green” currency. It is not uncommon to feel this way when dealing with foreign money, which is why it is important to familiarize yourself with any foreign currency that you plan to be using, especially if you plan to use it for an extended length of time. For this reason, the Umbra Institute would like to help you recognize the new 20 Euro bank note that began circulating throughout the Eurozone on November 25^th, 2015.

The NEW 20 Euro note is part of the European Central Bank’s plan to unroll a new Europa Series, for which each bill contains numerous new security features making the bill ever more difficult to copy. This does not mean that your old 20 Euro notes are no longer valid, it simply means that you will slowly see more new 20s as the old ones are taken out of circulation by banks and other professional cash handlers.

To familiarize yourself with an animated display of things such as the 20 Euro banknote’s new features for the vision impaired, as well as watermarks, holograms, microprint, and UV light features, click here.

To learn more about past and future Euro modifications, visit www.new-euro-banknotes.eu

This week, Umbra students embraced an opportunity for full linguistic immersion by participating in the SoloItaliano Challenge. This initiative inspired students to voluntarily put their newly-acquired Italian language skills into practice outside of the classroom – and beyond the American bubble – for two entire days.

This semester, a total of 46 students participated in SoloItaliano. After taking a solemn oath (on their honor and the Italian dictionary) in the official ceremony run by the Italian professors; the participants received red bracelets that served as a marker and a reminder of their pledge.

Naturally, students expressed nervousness at the beginning of the competition as they stumbled through sentence construction and tried to pull vocabulary out of the air. However, at the event’s concluding Tandem when students were told they could once again speak English, many boldly responded “No, non parlo inglese!” (“No, I don’t speak English”).

“[SoloItaliano] was difficult at first, but I wish it had lasted longer,” one student remarked. “It was fun! My roommate and I spoke Italian all night last night,” interjected another. Several commented on the fact that once they pushed themselves to speak Italian, they realized they were more capable than they had believed. 

An important aspect of this semester’s challenge was that participants were intrinsically motivated. However, at the end of the two days, students were asked to anonymously nominate a peer they believed had tried the hardest and participated most honorably. The “winners” of SoloItaliano, as chosen by fellow students, were Karl Frentz (Italian 110) and Emma Ferrell (Italian 310).

Although Karl is currently enrolled in his first Italian language course, he is already notorious around Perugia for constantly communicating in Italian. He commented on his experience:

“Around the city, in restaurants, you know English isn’t an option because locals don’t speak it. SoloItaliano was especially difficult because you had to keep yourself from speaking in English even with friends you knew would understand you. You really had to think before speaking.”

The SoloItaliano Challenge is a prime example of Umbra’s commitment to education through extra- and co-curricular activities that promote immersion and community engagement. To learn more about Umbra’s many academic programs and initiatives, Click Here!

Each semester, Umbra provides a coffee workshop for students. During this event, Dr. Elisa Ascione, the coordinator of Umbra’s Food Studies and Sustainability Program, presents the history of coffee, including its origin, innovations, and modern cultural significance.

Check out the list, below, of six facts you may not know about your Monday morning caffeine fix!

1. The Origin of Coffee

While enjoying modern coffee derived from beans harvested across Latin America and Africa, it is important to remember that coffee originated in Ethiopia.

According to legend, there was once a goat-herder who noticed that his goats became energetic and refused to sleep at night after eating berries from a particular tree. Intrigued, the goat-herder decided to make a drink with the berries. Consuming this beverage led him to experience the same energizing affects. Excited, he shared his discovery, which, today, could be considered the most international social beverage!

2. Coffee’s Path to Italy

Venice, Italy is known for its history with merchants and wealthy traders. Therefore, it is no surprise that, in the 16^th century, coffee made its grand entrance to Italy through Venetian trading partners. At this point, coffee was a drink for the wealthy. Ironically, during the early part of the 20^th century – when money was tight throughout Italy – coffee became the ultimate social drink due to its low cost when compared to more traditional alternatives.

3. Innovation in Italy

Italy is known for coffee. This is not because it grows coffee, but due to its innovation in the style and technology of its consumption.

During the 20^th century, the creation of the Bialetti (or Italian Moka) coffee-maker revolutionized the way Italians consume coffee at home. The famous Moka is a three-piece gift from the heavens which provides an inexpensive, quick, and easy espresso-making and caffeine-consuming experience. Italian innovation also produced the Bar Espresso machine, the Napoletana Machine, and many other inventions that aid in the consumption of this dark, steamed gold.

4. The Gift of Coffee in Napoli

Have you ever gone to your local coffee shop and found out that your drink or food has been paid for by the customer before you? This human kindness is apparently an international phenomenon and a common practice in Italy, and in Naples in particular.

Italians believe that drinking coffee is an intrinsic right of which no human should be deprived. To participate in this generous act, you must simply ask to pay for an extra, “suspended” coffee, or caffè sospeso, while paying for your own drink. The barista will often keep a list for those in need, and the next person to enter and request such a coffee will find a free espresso waiting for them!

5. The Law of the Bean

In Italy, the Istituto Nazionale Espresso Italiano, the “Italian NationalEspresso Institute,” dictates all laws relevant to coffee preparation. For this reason, if you go to a Bar Caffé in Italy, you can be assured that your espresso will be created with precisely 7 grams of coffee, during a period of 25 seconds, to create 25 ml of liquid delight!

6. A Healthy Espresso

Italians often admit to drinking three to five coffees, or espresso, per day; yet most of them are still living long and happy lives. Contrary to the American belief that too much espresso is bad for you, Italians believe that espresso is good for you! Of course, this can depend on the chosen brew. In Italy, it is believed that the quicker the water is forced through the coffee grounds, the less caffeine is released into your cup, and the strong, rich flavor of espresso is created by the aroma and essential oils released during this brief brewing process.

To find out more fun facts and to learn about coffee menus across Italy, keep an eye out for notifications about the next Umbra Coffee Workshop.

Written by Elizabeth Santoro

The Umbra Institute kicked off its first journalism club meeting for its study abroad students on Wednesday, Nov. 11th. The first workshop presented by the club, known as the Umbra Voice, revolved around brand journalism and was presented by Umbra Marketing and Student Services Intern, Ashley Webb. During the meeting, students discussed the pros and cons of marketing’s effect on the journalism industry, both in the United States and in Italy. To finish the meeting with a collaborative activity, members brainstormed to develop ideas for brand journalism strategies designed to market popular Italian companies, while maintaining journalistic ethics.

Started by Webb and two Umbra students, Kali Shulklapper and Katherine Reed, the new club aims to create a platform for dialogue about international communication. With its educational focus, the Umbra Voice is a way to involve students with different academic interests ranging from journalism to political science and other international studies. Here they can listen to both Italian and American professionals present communication related topics, learn how said topics relate to their study abroad experience, and share their opinions through group activities, as well as open discussion and debate. Students do not need journalism experience to participate. Just curiosity.

“I feel like it makes me think that the Umbra Institute cares about its students’ voices. I really like that the club is not just lectures but is more about free discussions and voicing out your opinion. This meeting is the first step towards many more meaningful discussions about communications on an international level,” says Umbra student Connie Lee.

The club’s next step is its meeting during the first week of December, when a guest lecturer will come speak to the students about the strength and influence of journalism in Italy. While this semester will only have two meetings, the Umbra Voice will continue in the semesters to come. One possibility for students who participate in the Umbra Voice is to work as student bloggers, published across Umbra media, in a way that allows them to share their Umbra experiences with a wider audience. 

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Elizabeth Santoro is a current study abroad student at the Umbra Institute. She is a junior at Northwestern University studying journalism and international studies.

Tuesday, November 3^rd, Perugia received the official title as the Youth Capital of Italy for the year of 2016. Perugia received this title because it is known as an exceptional university city whose youth take pride in numerous local, national, and international initiatives relative to political and social causes. The energy devoted to change and development has not gone unnoticed as the city is also in the running to be elected as the Youth Capital of Europe for the year of 2018; this is the second consecutive year that Perugia has been the only Italian city to be nominated for this prestigious award.

Being awarded the title of Youth Capital of Italy is both a prize and an honor that is assigned to only one Italian city each year. Due to its new position, Perugia and its active community will be presented as an outstanding cultural, economic, social, and political example for youth throughout the nation. For the duration of 2016, young people in Perugia will receive additional resources to encourage their activities within the society.

To read more, click here!

HSIT 350: History and Culture of Food in Italy:
This past weekend was a busy one for the Food Studies & Sustainability Program students at Umbra. On Friday, October 30^th, after various lectures revolving around the history of olive oil, and its many uses from lighting to cooking, students were given the opportunity to enjoy the first step in olive oil production – olive picking. During the harvest process, students learned about the two methods to olive picking, which yield the best results: manually raking the olives from the tree, the more historic method; and removing the olives with the help of machine equipment.

On Saturday, October 31^st, the class met to hear from guest lecturer and EU Young Farmer President, Matteo Bartolini, in nearby Città di Castello. Through Umbra’s Food Studies & Sustainability Program, students learned about and discussed Italian truffles and the effects of global climate change on this unique Italian food tradition. Afterwards, students were invited on a truffle hunt, followed by a homemade lunch that allowed them to taste the results of their expedition.

HSWS 380 Saints and Sinners in Siena:
On Friday, October 30^th, Professor Adrian Hoch led her students through Siena, providing them with an optimal tour of the city’s primary historic locations and relics relative to historically Holy Women, including Saint Catherine of Siena, an important follower of Dominican doctrine. Students were led through the Duomo, the crypt, and the cathedral museum of Siena before visiting the Palazzo Pubblico, San Domenico, and the home of Saint Catherine.

HSEU 340: History and Politics of the European Union; and
PSEU 350: The European Union in the Global Economy
Students were asked to dress their best for last Friday’s trip to Rome where they visited the Camera dei Deputati, the Italian House of Representatives. Students were given a guided tour where they learned the history of the building, the functions completed in each section of the building, as well as the election process and the roles of the representatives in Italian and European government.

HSEU 340 students have been discussing the various phases of European integration and the history of fundamental rights within the EU.

PSEU 350 students have been discussing the Common Market of the EU, the Eurozone, the European Financial Crisis, and other similar topics.

This trip allowed both HSEU 340 and PSEU 350 students to get an inside look at the government of Italy and its supporting functions relative to EU political and financial bureaucracy.