Posted By: Career Enrichment Network

Jessica Maggio, a senior majoring in English flew to Europe this summer to study language and culture in southern Italy. Reggio Calabria, Italy: Language and Culture is a summer faculty led program that is a six week program and students earn either six or seven credits depending on the courses chosen. Students must have completed Italian 001 prior to the program and have a 2.5 gpa.

Content and photos contributed by Senior Liberal Arts student, Jessica Maggio, majoring in English.

I was enrolled in the study abroad program to Reggio Calabria with Professor Gatto. The location we went to had a rich history as a fishing town and conflict with the Mafia. Because it was so far South (you could see Sicily across the water) there was a disconnect between the culture and the language there and what is more commonly associated with Italian in Northern Italy. I decided to go on this program because I really liked professor Gatto’s class at Penn State and I have family from that area of Italy, so I thought it would be a good experience to immerse myself in the culture and let me learn to speak more relevantly.

I went abroad in the summer, and was in Italy from early May to late June. I chose that semester because it allowed me to condense my experience so I wouldn’t be too taken out of life from my family and also because the weather seemed to be ideal, even if it was very hot.

Studying abroad has had a positive impact on my life outlook and potential employers will see that I had a willingness to expand my horizons and travel outside of my comfort zone and understand that I’m an asset to any career I may choose. If you’re going for the adventure or for the story, don’t be afraid to stay in sometimes. I know when you’re living one of those “Once in a lifetime opportunities”, it can be intimidating, like you’re not making the trip the most you can, but just being there is enough, learning is enough.

I feel very well rounded and well versed in the language and it added cultural experience for me to apply to classes outside of the language college. One of the first days in Sicily we climbed Etna, which is a volcano. I never would have thought I was capable of that and to think that things only got more adventurous    from there!           

Applications are open for this Summer 2016 and are due on February 1, 2016. All Liberal Arts students studying abroad are eligible for Enrichment Funding. To learn more, please schedule an appointment via Network Symplicity or email Jackie Smith, Global Experiences Coordinator (jds54@psu.edu).