Imagine Italy
It may seem a strange thing to say about a country wherein lie the ruins of the Roman Forum dating back to the 8th century BC and where we will be gliding past San Marco Square in gondolas that were part of Venetian infrastructure in the 1500s, but, Italy never gets ‘old’ for me! I attribute this sustained excitement to a number of things. First of all each time I go I have the opportunity to travel with a different group of students whose personalities, perspectives, and preferences provide me with newness each trip. Secondly I’m one of the fortunate for whom the layers of Italy peal back to reveal exciting details either unseen or unrecognized on previous trips, every time I am there.
I would be lying if I didn’t say that I’m excited about the Italy I have become familiar with as well. I can almost smell the embracing scent that one experiences standing in a small neighborhood butcher shop where countless hunks of curing prosciutto hang low from the rafters. I can envision that uncertain first step into a gondola, feeling almost giddy to once again hear the gondolier call out “Oiy” as we otherwise silently navigate the narrow winding back canals of Venice. I can’t wait to relive the anticipation that builds traversing the narrow streets of Florence, gazing upward to see a chaotic mix of laundry drying punctuated by boxes of bright early spring flowers on iron railed balconies - then as if risen from the horizon the immense façade of Brunelleschi’s dome. So sharing, is perhaps another reason Italy never gets ‘old’. Sharing memories that I hope will remain forever in the souls of my fellow travelers.
As we prepared to live to the fullest our adventure in Italy we engaged in a series of exploration exercises to awaken our senses and to heighten our ability to collect, document and analyze our upcoming experience in such a way that we will become part of the experience rather than an onlooker. The students hope to be able to share their thematic perspectives with readers of this magazine through a series of columns they will be drafting on site. Others accompanying the group will be asked to share their view through a variety of mediums as well, through evening discussions.
When we decided who our readers would be for this publication – it was you and us and them. We wanted to share with our families and friends the joy and excitement of our travels through Italy in gratitude for all their support. We wanted to write for ourselves so that we wouldn’t forget and so we would have the ability to relive the experiences at will. Finally we wanted to entice others who have not traveled internationally to transition from following us safely through our words to following our words jealously. In other words we want you to develop a wanderlust with us a result of this travel experience.
Note: Mary Ann Studer has traveled to 20 countries with nearly 200 Defiance College student during the last 14 years. She has published several articles on international undergraduate research through the Association of American Colleges and Universities. In addition Studer authored two chapters in the recently published book – Preparing Tomorrow’s Global Leaders: Honors International Education edited by Mulvaney and Klein. Studer currently serves as the Dean of the McMaster School for Advancing Humanity and Director of the Carolyn M. Small Honors Program at Defiance College.
- Mary Ann Studer
Introduction
5