Coming back from a trip full of so much amazing art and history, I’d say it was both a bit challenging and refreshing to learn a topic contrasting with my major. With my different experiences as a STEM (biology) major, I learned a lot about creativity and innovation and was able to take on a different way of thinking about the things of the world. I especially liked learning about the impacts ingenuity had not only on Italian art but architecture and technology as well. The most valuable experience of studying abroad was being able to experience these differences in both an academic and cultural way in person!
Reflecting on my time in Italy, I really enjoyed seeing so much art- I would love to come back one day to see even more! Even though the program took place over 2 weeks and was packed with lots of art to see every day, we could only scratch the surface. It would be great to dig deeper into more of the art that Italy has- 2 weeks seemed short!
After getting back from the trip, I found myself craving some of the readily available snacks or their versions of them in Italy. Although you may be able to find some items here in the U.S., they may not taste the same due to the ingredients. Thankfully, I made sure to bring a few snacks from the airport back home with me, but I do wish I had room in my suitcases to bring more. I hadn’t expected to miss certain foods as much as I did, so I didn’t leave too much space to include food, but having a few snacks from the trip was great!
