Tag: Italy

One of the most challenging parts of studying abroad for me has proven to be navigating the Italian university system and the main source of stress for myself and the other students has been the looming date of our oral exams. Unlike at Holy Cross, the exam period for our university here lasts about a month and a half. During this month, our time is devoted to attending in-depth tutoring sessions and full of studying. I never thought I would miss the whirlwind that is finals week at Holy Cross, but at least that whirlwind is an organized one!

Going into study abroad, I was anxious about the idea of doing oral exams in a foreign language. The content of my classes here has been stimulating, but that also means that they have been difficult. Going into my first oral exam, I was probably the most nervous I have ever been for a test. It was quite the combination of nerves considering the exam being in Italian, being a one-on-one conversation with the professor, and being something unknown. However, I really felt a kinship with the other Italian students as we waited for the professor, who was an hour late, to arrive. It turns out that the plight of the neurotic and over-stressed student is not unique to the American college experience.

I had to do three oral exams in total, and some were easier than others depending on the professor.  After a month long haze of studying, I finally completed every exam and am happy to report that I passed each one. I never thought that I would be able to actually take courses, let alone exams, at a foreign university, but I’ve somehow managed it.  I have to say that when I look back on my career as a student, I think that this is the accomplishment that I’m the most proud of.

After an overnight flight to Frankfurt, Germany and then another connecting flight I finally arrived in the Florence airport around 1 o’clock in the afternoon. Walking off the plane I was filled with nerves as I mentally prepared myself to meet my host family and imagined what my life would look like here. But, in my state of anxiety and sleep deprivation I walked right past the baggage claim to the main part of the airport. If anyone else has ever made this rookie mistake you’ll know that after exiting the secured area you’re not supposed to reenter.

Alas, I had no choice but to sneak back in so that I could retrieve my luggage by timing another traveler’s exit through a set of automatic doors with my own entrance. I knew with living in a foreign country would come the necessity of having to think on one’s feet, but I wasn’t expecting my arrival to be quite the comedy of errors that it turned out to be. As much as I wanted to emulate the cool confidence of a veteran traveler on my first day in Italy, I’m fairly certain that I instead modeled myself after a true idiot abroad.

I found myself outside my host family’s apartment building, flanked by two more than sizable suitcases, after a short taxi ride from the airport. All of my prior fears were quelled when after ringing the bell I was greeted by an older couple who would put anyone’s Italian grandparents to shame. Before I even saw my room, I was given a heaping serving of lasagna and a bowl of gelato.

The next morning I met up with the other five Holy Cross students who will be here with me in Florence, and we managed to find our way to our language school without getting too lost. I’ll be taking Italian classes there for the whole year, but my university classes don’t begin for another two weeks. Until then, I’ll be exploring the city and trying my best to acclimate to life abroad.

A presto,

Kate

It’s truly surreal that the time has finally come for me to begin my year abroad.  Packing up my life into a few suitcases isn’t a completely foreign thing for me, as I usually make an end of summer trek back to Holy Cross from Seattle, but now my final destination will be even farther away. In less than 24 hours, I will be en route to Florence.

My last few months at home have been spent participating in a ministry internship funded through Holy Cross at a local cathedral , spending time with my friends, and practicing my Italian (much to my younger sister’s annoyance).  I’ve always held a special affection for Italy and its culture after visiting there with my family when I was a kid.

At the risk of sounding overly romantic, I can remember being fascinated by the history of everything and how tangible it all was there. Looking back, I think that having that opportunity to travel informed my passion for studying comparative religion now. I’m so looking forward to continuing my studies in a place where I’ll get to experience spirituality through a different lens.

It’s impossible to not be filled with uncertainty at this point with all of the unknowns on the horizon like how I’ll adjust to living in a new environment and to attending an Italian university. But behind all the anxiety I may be feeling now, there’s also an excitement for what lies ahead and a willingness to heed this call to adventure.

A presto!

Kate