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Category: Umbra Blog

This blog documents the experiences of students currently studying at the Umbra Institute in Perugia, Italy, offering an account of their day-to-day experiences, extra- and co-curricular activities, and special events. We hope you gain some insight into what adventures Umbra students find outside the classroom during their semester in Perugia, a medieval town in the mountains of Umbria. Cheers!

Students and staff members took a break from preparing for final papers and exams by attending the bi-annual Umbra Talent Show. Students performed in a variety of acts: a bi-lingual quiz show, a solo dance act, a solo of Amazing Grace, a ballet and jazz class performance, impressions of professors, an Irish jig, and various skits.

In photos: Adrian Starnes did an impression of Prof. Giampiero Bevagna (shown together in photo); Michelle Kidder performed a solo jazz dance; Chase Sechrist, Heidi Lang, and Sarah Anderson served as hosts for the bi-lingual quiz show.

Jennifer Reilly, shown at left, spent many days in the Umbra art studio this semester working on projects for her Oil Painting and Drawing courses. Reilly was one of many students who had the opportunity to display their work at the Umbra Art Show this Tuesday.

The walls of the Via Danzetta art studio were filled with paintings and drawings of still life scenes and figure models. In addition, photographs from students’ experiences abroad were displayed. Professors Bill Pettit and Philippa Stannard teach the six studio art courses offered each semester at the Umbra Institute, and have organized the art show each semester.

In photos: Jenn Reilly stands by the paintings and

drawings she produced this semester; Prof. Bill Pettit looks at student work with Travis Talburt (behind them is Talburt’s painting, “Handcuffed”); Caitlyn Pyden proudly poses with her work from the Photography: Portfolio of Italy course.

The US Embassy in Rome announced that Anna Girolimetti, Director of Administrative Affairs at the Umbra Institute, will serve as a representative for the Embassy’s warden system. The warden system is a network of volunteers throughout Italy who agree to aid the Embassy in contacting members of the American community.

As a warden for the US Embassy, Girolimetti will maintain contact with Americans living, working, and studying in central Italy. The Umbria district is one of 54 zones throughout Italy. Girolimetti will be responsible for distributing messages from the US Embassy to the American community, especially in the case of an emergency.

“This is a wonderful service for the Americans in the area and for our students at the Umbra Institute,” said program director Dr. Charles Jarvis. “We are pleased to be able to connect with the American community in central Italy and to have a direct liaison with the US Embassy.”

Girolimetti has worked at the Umbra Institute since 2001 and serves as director of administrative affairs, registrar, and bursar. Born and raised in Boston, Massachusetts, Girolimetti has lived in Italy since 1983.

Congratulations to Mary Bryson and Adrian Starnes, winners of the December Photo of the Month Contest. This was the final contest for the semester and both students will receive a free dinner at Quattro Passi pizzeria. Mary Bryson was able to capture a calm moment as the sun set over Spoleto, a nearby hilltown in Umbria. Adrian Starnes caught Professor Giampiero Bevagna in a reflective moment while on a class trip to Ostia Antica. Complimenti a Mary e Adrian!

“Spoleto Sunset” by Mary Bryson

“Giampiero: Where Dreams Come True” by Adrian Starnes

Last Thursday, as most Italians went about their normal routines, students, staff, and faculty members gathered to celebrate the Thanksgiving holiday. Professor of Creative Writing Cindy Clough baked the turkey and organized the event for those students staying in Perugia over the holiday weekend. The staff and students not only brought their appetites, but also the traditional trimmings for the banquet–homemade bread, mashed potatoes, green bean casserole, dressing, a variety of pies, and mulled wine.

In photos: students take part in Umbra’s Thanksgiving feast; a group of students relax after finishing the meal; Caitlyn Dunlap and Umbra program director Charles Jarvis share a moment over a turkey dinner.

A visit to Perugia is not complete unless you taste the Perugina Baci chocolates. If you live in Perugia for a semester, your stay is not complete unless you visit the factory where the famous candies are made. And most of our students make the trip to tour the factory, learn the history of the company, and to taste free samples (one group, in photo). A Baci is the Italian version of a Hershey’s Kiss, but under each wrapper is a love message translated into six languages.

The Perugina Chocolate Company-and especially the Baci candy-was the highlight of this year’s EuroChocolate festival, held in October. Photo by Cindy Clough, professor of Creative Writing)

As part of the curriculum for the Food Cultures of Italy course, five students recreated a Renaissance Banquet last week. Students arrived on red carpet to the “banquet hall” to find the table decorated with food creations of the Renaissance period. The five students leading the marriage banquet dressed in costume and served a variety of dishes, including a sweet pasta, mostardo di cremona (a sweet and spicy vegetable dish), a cheese torte, artichokes, and cheeses served with aged balsamic vinegar.

In photos: the table is set for the Renaissance banquet; decorations to the “banquet hall” reveal sayings of the Renaissance period; Tim Dobson (Elon University) in costume for the presentation. (photos by Elizabeth Roberts, Elon University)

Professor of Creative Writing Cindy Clough is sharing her love of the outdoors with Umbra students with similar interests. Clough has now led two hiking excursions in the Umbrian hillsides. This Saturday will be the third excursion as the group plans to hike along the ridge between Assisi and Spello, a six-hour trek.

 

Clough has spent several years in Italy, but this is her first semester teaching at the Umbra Institute.
(photos by Leah Jeffries)

Last night Umbra students got into winemaking, literally! Umbra staff member and amateur winemaker Zach Nowak taught the first lesson in a three-part series on the ins and outs of wine. Nowak started with the theory of winemaking, discussing the chemistry and biology of fermentation, a look at various kinds of yeasts, and their life cycles.

 

Finally, they discussed the steps in industrial wine production. The highlight of the night was, of course, the actual winemaking. Students Dustin Toy and Sarah Wobbecke removed their shoes, washed their feet, and got into a small tub up to their knees in grapes. The two stomped away for a half an hour, at which point the freshly pressed grape juice, or “must,” was siphoned off into bottles. Each student received a small packet of yeast, an airlock, a cork, and instructions to turn the must into wine. The next meeting of the class will discuss clarifying the wine and decanting, while the last class will be the actual corking and labeling.
In photos: Sarah Wobbecke stomps on a bucket of grapes, with the help of Dana Trafton. Wobbecke and Dustin Toy spent half an hour up to their knees smashing grapes. At left, Caitlyn Pyden shows off a bundle of grapes before they were turned into must as Zach Nowak tries to teach the students about the winemaking process.

Umbra students were invited to Cantina Goretti, a winery just outside Perugia to explore the Umbrian countryside as well as experience the unique taste of Umbrian wine. Sara Goretti, one of the owners of the vineyard, gave students a thourough tour of the vineyards and their wine-making facilities including barriques, vats and presses. The Goretti winery produces 400,000 bottles of wine each year.

The vineyard, situated on a hilltop outside Perugia, houses a tower that dates back to the 1200s. The tower’s main purpose was protection against invading enemies in Medieval times. Today it’s part of the winery and is used as a tasting room and guest house. While at the cantina, students tasted five different wines from everyday table wines to extraordinary award-winning reds, reserved for more special occasions. (text by Regina Tingle, Coordinator of Student Services)

In photos: the fields around Cantina Goretti are bare in late fall; Regina Tingle and Remy Shu (Elon University) discuss one the white wines they sampled in Goretti’s 13th century tower; Goretti produces 400,000 bottles of wine annually which are first stored in wood barrels.