Posted By: Career Enrichment Network

Content contributed by Kate Kielceski, majoring in Political Science, with a minor in Italian. Read more about Kate’s semester last Spring in Perugia, Italy, below.

I studied abroad in Perugia, Italy through the Arcadia Program.   I didn’t know specifically where in Italy I wanted to study when I began the process. Having visited Rome and Florence previously, I knew I wanted a smaller, more authentically Italian city. This helped me to narrow my search and Perugia was on the short list. I haven’t looked back since I made the decision. To me, Perugia is the perfect place to study abroad in Italy. Sitting atop a hill in the rolling hills of Umbria, Perugia is a relatively small city of around 150,000 people. Yet the historic old center where I live and study has the narrow, cobblestoned streets of that picturesque town everyone pictures when they think of Italy. Restaurants, cafes, and bars are full of locals and the Italian language drifts through the air at all hours of the day. Located right between Rome and Florence, the excitement and rich history of the large Italian cities are just a two to three-hour train ride away. Perugia is quaint, lively, and real, but mostly, it is home.

 

After a lot of consideration, I decided to study abroad in the spring. This was something I really struggled with when deciding to go abroad. I love football season but I am also very involved in the THON community as a member of Springfield.  Yes, this would mean I would miss THON weekend, but it would allow me to be involved in all the fundraising efforts and family events in the fall such as canning, Family Carnival, and the THON5K. Also, I was able to join a DAR committee, one of the few committees that allows students who won’t be on campus in the spring to participate. To me, this was the best of both worlds. I would be able to enjoy football season while also contributing to THON 2015. During THON weekend, I was glued to the live feed and my friends kept me in the loop.

I have had a service opportunity through one of my classes. I am enrolled in a class on the politics of the European Union and we have been working with the immigration center in Perugia. We visited the center and have had several round table discussions with the staff of the center and the immigrants who frequent it. It’s been a unique experience that I have enjoyed greatly and wouldn’t have discovered on my own.

I don’t have an internship here in Perugia, but I was able to obtain one due to my study abroad experience. I currently hold a position as foreign correspondent for the travel blog Pink Pangea. A friend recommended the site to me and I discovered the variety of writing positions they offered and jumped at the opportunity to share my time abroad with others! Throughout the course of the semester, I have had several articles published based on my experiences in Italy and across Europe.

At this time, I am unsure exactly what I want to do after graduation. As a political science major, I have a strong interest in the international community and affairs. Whatever career I pursue, I would love to be able to travel as part of my work. Studying abroad has only reinforced this desire. The world has so much to offer and I have a strong case of wanderlust! Studying abroad opened my eyes to so many societies, cultures, languages and customs; I would love to continue to explore these via my career.

Studying a language is quite an experience. I studied Italian for several semesters before coming to Perugia, so I had a fairly solid base when I arrived. But learning a language in the country where it is spoken is something completely different. Especially in this city, Italian surrounds me. Going to the grocery store, the post office, and restaurants all required at least basic Italian skills. This was really motivational because I wanted to be able to communicate with the people around me. Studying Italian was not only helpful for my time spent abroad but also personally helpful because it showed me how putting in the time and dedicating yourself to a cause can really pay off. By no means am I fluent in Italian, but I no longer feel uncomfortable when I go into a store, meet someone new, or make a phone call.

One of the reasons I chose Perugia is because I was able to get major and minor credits for all of my classes. With this program, I was able to stay on track to graduate while taking really relevant classes to my time spent in Italy.

Studying abroad was, without a doubt, one of the best decisions I ever made. I knew I would meet new people and travel to exciting places, but I had no idea how much this semester would affect my perspectives, my goals, and me as a person. There is so much more to study abroad than amazing food and discount airlines. The things you see amaze you, the art and history inspire you, and relationships you build change you for the better. It truly is a life changing experience.

Interested in studying abroad in the future? The summer is a great time to start planning! All Liberal Arts students studying or interning 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)