Hey everyone! I am Jessie Maynor, a junior Schreyer Scholar and Paterno Fellow. I am majoring in Crime, Law, and Justice, and have two minors, one in Human Development and Family Studies and the other in Disability Studies. Earlier this summer, I had the opportunity to study abroad for six weeks in Florence, Italy. I participated in the College of the Liberal Arts program at the Institute at Palazzo Rucellai, an amazing school for international students. I took two classes, both of which count as general education courses I need to graduate. These classes were taught by Italian professors, which gave me a very interesting insight into how education differs in Italy. Classes were 3 hours and 15 minutes long and held two days a week, which left Fridays free. This allowed for travel on the weekends, something I took full advantage of! I visited Venice, Pisa, the five towns of Cinque Terre, Siena, San Gimignano, Sorrento, Capri, Positano, Rome, Bellagio, and Lake Como in Italy, Interlaken and Bern in Switzerland, Cannes, Nice, St. Tropez, and Antibes in France, and Eze and Monte Carlo in Monaco.
In my first class, the Art of Florence, I learned about Florentine artists and their works during the Renaissance. This class consisted of a half hour to hour of lecture followed by visiting various museums in order to see the artwork I was learning about in person. It was a perfect way to learn about the city I lived in and what makes it famous. My favorite museums were the Uffizi and the Accademia, both of which house works by my favorite artist, Michelangelo. I gained understanding and respect for Renaissance art and my date memorizing ability was definitely put to the test! For the final paper, I wrote about three different depictions of The David by the artists Michelangelo and Donatello. The biblical story of David and Goliath is well loved by the city of Florence because, like the young, courageous boy, the city of Florence stood up to its rivals, the cities of Milan, Rome, and Naples. Through writing this paper, I learned more about the history of the city in which I lived and also more about very famous, influential Renaissance art.
My second class, Identity and Culture in Italy, was a sociology class that focused on the main differences between American and Italian morals, beliefs, and ideals. A lot of the class was reflection based, and the teacher allowed us to talk about our personal experiences in Italy and compare them to what we are used to at home. This helped everyone in the class to better understand what they were seeing and feeling in this foreign place, and I think we all had a more positive experience because of this. In class we learned about the importance of travel and the concept of liminality. I chose this as my final paper topic and wrote a biographical type essay in which I discussed how one cannot grow without being put in an uncomfortable situation where one is forced to adapt and better him or her self.
Overall, I only have positive things to say about my study abroad experience in Florence. I not only learned about another culture and history, but I also learned about myself, my values, and my ideals, which has made me a better person and citizen. Schreyer Honors College and the Paterno Fellows Program make studying abroad easy, and I could not be more grateful for the experience I was able to have because of these two programs. I urge all Penn State students to take advantage of the opportunity to study abroad. It is truly a life changing experience! Please don’t hesitate to contact me if you have any questions about my experience in Florence or about studying abroad in general. My email is jlm6010@psu.edu.