News and Blog – Page 64 – DEV – The Umbra Institute – Study Abroad in Italy

Though the first fifteen Full Immersion students arrived last Wednesday, and the rest of the over-hundred strong student body members got to Rome’s Fiumicino airport on Friday, yesterday was the real beginning of their Umbra experience. The day began with housing: students were taken in taxis from the hotel where they had stayed and had their Welcome Dinner to their apartments up in Perugia’s beautiful historic center. Some apartments have frescoes, some have majestic views (often four flights up, but worth the sweat!), but all are our “temporary citizens” homes for the next four months.

In the afternoon, after Italian placement tests, the entire student body gathered in the main hall of Perugia’s thirteenth century town hall, the Sala dei Notari, on the main piazza. There was a greeting from Resident Director Anna Girolimetti and an introduction from Professor Elgin Eckert. The third speaker was Officer Michele Canneschi, who talked to the students on behalf of the Italian police forces about safety and security in Italy. Today, students will get additional information in their break-out orientation meetings with staff members, then ask questions during the Open House.

The Umbra staff and faculty welcome the students of Spring 2011!

Despite a slight case of post-holiday rain, Perugia was ready for her new American students. Today almost a hundred and fifty students had their Orientation in the main room of Perugia’s beautiful fourteenth century town hall. Each of the staff members explained their part in the Umbra team and gave advice and special instructions for all students. In addition, police

inspector Michele Canneschi gave an amusing but very to-the-point speech on safety in Italy, one that no student will soon forget. Tomorrow is an open house and the Italian placement exam and then Monday Intensive Italian lessons begin. Welcome, studenti dell’Umbra Institute, and all the best for this semester’s adventure!

Umbra students hailing from St. Bonaventure University, the Center for International Studies, the University of Massachusetts, the University of Scranton, the University of Richmond, and the University of Roanoke were all invited for a daytrip to Assisi this past Sunday. Local tour guide Marco Bellanca led an especially detailed walk around Assisi, and didhis best to convince us that behind the heavy fog there really are spectacular views out across the valley. Students learned about the importance of the original frescoes in the Basilica of St. Clare to Renaissance art history, and crossed into the breathtaking sanctuary at the Basilica of San Francesco d’Assisi. After everyone had a chance to pick up souveniers for the nonne a casa — grandmothers back at home — as Marco had suggested, students left the center of Assisi and took a short ride down into the valley to the Agriturismo La Carfagna for lunch.Despite our late arrival, the family was ready with a full course meal Umbrian meal. All returned back to Perugia that afternoon with full stomachs and ready for a long nap before elective classes began Monday morning.

On Tuesday, December 14, members of the Umbra community (students, staff and professors) gathered in the historical Palazzo Sorbello while students from three different classes who have engaged in service learning projects shared their experiences and research.

The presentations represent various examples of the types of community engagements available at Umbra, ranging from interaction with local families and schools as well as companies with international operations, based out of Perugia.

Contemporary Italy. Culture and Society

Name of the project: La Famiglia Italiana –

Courney Earle and Bailey Smith
Katherine Enna and Phylicia Hoyt

Business in Europe/International Marketing Name of the Company: Umbra Cuscinetti S.p.A., Foligno

Jesse Schwend

Human Development in Culture

Name of the Project: Exploring the Italy ecology from one classroom to another

Marissa Garrock
Tom Albert
Emma Kong
Jennifer D’Olympio

Independent study in Psychology:

· Jennifer D’Olympio

As part of the end of semester events, last night Umbra’s Creative Writing students read their work at Loop Cafe. American and Italian students alike gathered around to listen to their classmates’ writings from this semester. Among the readings there were odes to gelato and gnocchi, essays on love, poems, and beautifully written prose about Perugia herself. The students’ best creative work is compiled into an anthology and distributed to each writing student.

Last night’s readings followed last week’s art show, where students showcased their drawings, photographs and frescoes. Yesterday student presentations at the local Ranieri foundation were held and tomorrow, there will be the chance to say arrivederci at the farewell aperitivo before the students depart.

Come vola il tempo…!

Two Umbra students presented their part of a local museum’s exhibit on Italian unification.

This year is the one hundred and fiftieth anniversary of the unification of Italy as a national state. History here, as everywhere, is always a battleground, and the anniversary of the unification is no exception as battles for the meaning of the Italian state—was it for the better or not—rage.

Last Friday one of the Umbra Institute’s community partners, the Palazzo Sorbello House Museum, had the grand opening of its exhibit Dal Risorgimento all’Unità d’Italia. Documents and Images from the collections of the Palazzo Sorbello dedicated to the questions of the unification movement, known in Italy as the Risorgimento, and its local ramifications: the liberation of Perugia from the dominion of the Pope.

Two Umbra students, Alex Hanken and Elise Fitzgerald, were present and took part in the ceremony. The two students had, with professor Antonella Valoroso, curated a section of the exhibit, contributing both background research on the American involvement in the Risorgimento and a thorough archival search which resulted in an unregistered find, a copy of the Italian classic I promessi sposi (The Betrothed) signed by the translator. The Umbra-portion of the exhibit was completed as a service learning project in the Honors course “Constructing a National Identity. History, Culture, Art and Society in 19th Century Italy”.

In the photo: Alex Hanken, Prof. Antonella Valoroso, Elise Fitzgerald, and (in the back) Prof. Ruggero Ranieri.

“Jungfrau” by Jesse Schwend

“Station” by Morgan Tilton

The last photo of the month contest for Fall 2010 was a tie! Congrats to Morgan Tilton from DU and to Jesse Schwend from CU-Boulder for their winning photos. Both Morgan and Jesse will enjoy a free meal at Quattro Passi Pizzeria!

This week students attended the last meeting of the semester for the UNICEF Pigotte doll project marking the occasion, along with other local volunteers, by celebrating with food and drinks. About a dozen students spent a few hours a week sewing ragdolls for the fundraising project this semester.

The dolls they’ve sewn by hand will be put up for adoption at two locations, first at the Christmas market “Mercato delle Strenne” at the Rocca Paolina this Saturday, December 4th and again December 6th – 12th at a local supermarket just outside the city center. Proceeds from each doll go to funding a vaccine kit for children in developing countries. Some Umbra students couldn’t resist and adopted their own Pigotta, a perfect souvenir of how they spent their time in Perugia.

Happy Thanksgiving from Umbra!
Today we’re thankful for Perugia. And knowing how quickly this last month will fly by for the Fall 2010 students, the Umbra staff have put together a list of Umbra’s Top Five Must-Do’s before you leave — so get out there and be thankful for all Perugia has to offer!

5. Taste free chocolate at the Perugina factory.
Most of the Italian classes have toured the home of the world-famous chocolate and hazelnut baci, but if you missed out, pick up a bus ticket and go on your own for a free tour and tasting!

4. Celebrate the holidays in Gubbio with the World’s Largest Christmas Tree.
Every year since 1981 the Umbrian town of Gubbio lights up the world’s largest Christmas tree, stretching across the mountainside between the Basilica above and the town below. The tree will be lit for the first time this year at 6:30 pm on December 7th. Gubbio is easily reachable by a 1-hour bus ride from Piazza Partigiani (one-way ticket costs about 4.50 euro). Make a quick trip one evening after sunset or stay over in Gubbio for the night!

3. Walk through the “underground city,” over the Roman aqueduct, and into the Duomo.
We walk past these landmarks around town everyday, but have you ever actually been inside? Perugia’s most interesting historical sites are all free and right here in the center: the Roman Aqueduct, the Etruscan Well, the Tower of Sant’Angelo, the Duomo, and the Rocca Paolina. Talk to Zach if you need help finding these spots.

2. Eat Pasta alla Norcina, Torta con Salsiccia ed Erba, and Hot Chocolate from August Perusia!
Pasta with Umbrian sausage and truffles, trypical Umbrian bread, and to-die-for hot chocolate… you can’t go home without trying these Perugia specialities. And while you’re at it, fresh olive oil, vino novello, and roasted chestnuts are all in season!

1. Ride the Ferris Wheel in Piazza Italia!
At the beginning of December each year a ferris wheel goes up in Piazza Italia with an incredible view out across the valley below — what could be a better way to remember Perugia? (And yes, this is a ferris wheel, despite the massive “Carousel” sign at the front. Oh, Italians…)

Another Tuesday, another night of great pizza at the Il Paiolo pizzeria in Perugia. Il Paiolo, a 5-star rated pizzeria on the popular Italian foodie site 2spaghi.it (similar to ChowHound.com, for those that are familiar), actually used to be the headquarters of the Perugina chocolate factory before it was industrialized and moved outside the city walls.

In fact, on the upper floors of the edificio in which the pizzeria is housed, you can still see the enormous, meter-wide cookie sheets originally used by the Perugina bakers! It’s great to be able to live in an ancient Etruscan city and nearly interact with the various stages that it has passed through, all while eating some incredible pizza made in a forno a legno (wood-fired oven).

There’s still one more pizza night for everyone to get together and eat, so keep December 7th clear on your calendars!