Entry 3: July 18, 2011

It is hard to believe that my time in Italy is almost over. On Thursday July 14, 2011, our Child Development group traveled to Reggio Emilia. I was fascinated by the Tour of Light we took. We have been studying Reggio Emilia and it was amazing to see in person. The documentation panels were so elaborate and I cannot wait to share my findings with everyone back at home.

My independent travel break was amazing. Kelly, Kayla, and I decided to spend the weekend in Rome. I fell in love with the city immediately and I want to go back one day. My favorite things we saw were the Trevi Fountain, St. Peter’s Basilica, and the Vatican. We visited the Pantheon, the Spanish Steps, and the Colosseum as well. We took a tour of the Vatican and had the best tour guide. We enjoyed our time there so much. We learned how to navigate the metro system and our Roma pass proved to be quite helpful. We had a very busy weekend, but it was so worth it. We also found some great shopping and came back with more than we thought. We have really polished our bargaining skills.

Studying abroad in Sansepolcro, Italy has made me grow as a person. I have learned to travel by buses and trains, learned some Italian, and met many new friends. Studying abroad allows you to try things you may never have before. It is hard to believe my three weeks are up, but I will take these memories and lessons I have learned with me in the future.

Entry 2: July 13, 2011

This is my second week in Sansepolcro, Italy. This week we have been to a local Kindergarten and a summer camp to observe children. I had so much fun at these observations. The summer camp was an amazing experience because the children engaged in play with us. One child even gave us flowers and hugs. Even though our Italian language is limited, they wanted to play with us and I found this to be a highlight of the trip so far. I also loved going to the Kindergarten. We were able to observe babies (their definition of Kindergarten is a little different) and this was such a fun experience. We were able to watch the babies in a child size swimming pool and play with the children. We’ve been having class in the afternoons and our class is so informative. We get to ask questions and discuss our opinions with one another. I’ve learned so much about children and I can’t wait to take all my new information home with me next weekend.

On Thursday, we are going to Reggio Emilia to see an exhibit. I’m very excited about our trip. We depart for our independent travel break on Friday. All the Child Development ladies decided to go to Rome. We have a group of eight girls and we have all become very close. We planned the trip ourselves. We sat in the student lounge one night and booked a hotel room and went to the travel agent to get our train tickets. We also got our bus tickets. We have learned how to navigate the transportation system and we are getting so excited about our trip. I can’t believe our trip is coming to a close. I’ve learned so much and I’m grateful for this wonderful opportunity I’ve had to study children and their play in a different culture.

Entry 1: July 10, 2011

I’m a Child Development major and when I heard I had the chance to go to Italy to study children’s play, I could not say no. I’ve officially been in Sansepolcro, Italy for a week. This week has been full of new experiences for me and I feel as though I’ve come so far in a short amount of time. When I arrived, I knew no Italian and I could not navigate the bus or train systems. I’m an only child and I’ve never been abroad. In the last week, I’ve seen the most breathtaking sights, learned many new Italian words, and made the most amazing friends.

 The Palazzo Alberti is an amazing building. I am staying in a room with three other girls and our view is stunning. I can look out my window and see the streets of the town and the beautiful buildings that will give anyone goose bumps. I’ve had the privellege of visiting a Catholic School and Kindergarten in Sansepolcro, a Montessori program in Perugia, and a teacher has come to talk with us at the Palazzo. I’ve also visited Anghiari, Assissi, Perugia, Arezzo, Pisa, and Florence. I will be traveling to Rome for my independent travel break with my other Child Development friends. Our group is small and we have all grown so close. I’ve also made some great friends and memories with the interior design students. We have been incredibly busy this week, but it’s been an amazing experience.

I’ve learned to take buses and trains to wherever we choose to go. Our professors have helped us learn the transportation systems and I feel very confident about how to navigate Italy. Kelly, Kayla, and I have been taking day trips to places by ourselves and we’ve made the best memories. I have to admit my favorite places I’ve visited have been Anghiari and Florence. Anghiari was the most beautiful place I’ve ever seen in my life. The town is located on a huge hill and after we reached the top, I felt as though nothing could beat the feeling of looking out onto the Tuscan countryside. The town was filled with beauty wherever you looked. We also had the privilege of taking a tour of the Busatti looms and Mr. Busatti himself showed us around his office and home. He invited us up to his balcony outside and served us wine and a snack. He informed us Nicole Kidman has stayed there before and we all agreed that was very neat. He was very kind and we had no idea we would have such an honor.

Florence was a bustling city filled with the best shopping and adventures. Kelly, Kayla, and I ventured out in the city market and bargained with the vendors. We each had to buy a rolling bag just to get all our purchases back to Sansepolcro. We were also able to see the bridge, a sculpture museum, and the statue of Neptune and David. It was a very busy day, but incredibly successful. We managed to get back to Sansepolcro by train and bus. We have come so far in navigating maps.

 I came to Sansepolcro to study Child Development and I’ve gotten a firsthand opportunity to visit amazing schools and talk with teachers who are so passionate about their jobs. I’ve learned so many new things that I cannot wait to take home to America with me and share in my classes at Meredith and ideas for my own classroom one day. I had no idea when I signed up for this trip that I would learn so much in so many areas of life. I’ve learned so many new Italian words and I have never taken an Italian class in my life!  I feel as though I’ve had the chance to bond with Meredith students, my professors, begin to learn a new language, and see sights I’ve only read about in books and seen in movies. After a week in Italy, I would recommend studying abroad to anyone. It is a chance to step outside your comfort zone, and you will, and investigate another world. Studying abroad is an opportunity to experience another world…and that’s exactly what I’ve done!

*Kelly and I at the top of the hill in Anghiari, Italy!

*Scenery in Anghiari, Italy

* Beautiful cathedral in Assissi, Italy

*Dr. Clark, Kayla, Brittany, and Kelly in Florence, Italy

* Child Development ladies in Florence, Italy

*Kayla, Kelly, and Brittany in Florence, Italy on the bridge

*Kelly, Brittany, and Kayla at the Leaning Tower of Pisa