Highlights: Its nearly impossible to pick a highlight. I was lucky enough to be chosen for a program where I got to visit with an Italian family each week for a class. 3 people in my program were chosen and each Wednesday night I took a bus outside of town to each dinner, help around the house and “immerse” myself in their life. It was all for credit! The final was presenting about their life in front of our program, it was a touching moment when my adopted “family” came to the presentation…. They spoke NO english and my Italian was extremely limited- luckily we had a translator for my presentation, but Wednesday nights we just winged it! I never thought I’d be dancing to Miley Cyrus 6,000 from home in an 8 year-old Italian girls bedroom. It was crazy!
The highlight of my trip was picking Perugia. I debated for a while with where to go, but choosing something other than Rome or Florence gave me an authentic Italian life. I made close Italian friends, got a job, and truly immersed myself.
Morning: I’m a morning person, so each day in Perugia was filled with a long, relaxed morning of cappuccino, croissant, and a slow start. I found a café that I really enjoyed, it was an easy 15 minute walk, so on my way into town I’d stop for a bite, and socialize with the regulars (in broken Italian of course) and then find my way up into the medieval walled city of Perugia. The Umbra Institute is right in the middle of everything so it was a great time to see the city waking up.
Afternoon: Most of my afternoons were filled with class, and catching up on life. I’d use schools internet to check headlines from home, answer e-mails, update my blog and get my homework finished. I’d be lying if I said the occasional sunny day didn’t bring me out of school and walking Corso Vanucci with a gelato enjoying the afternoon… but as they say “While in Rome” (or Perugia :D) I often got out of class for the day by 2pm. One of my favorite things to do in Italy is get lost. I’d meander streets and country roads alone, walking miles just exploring. When you go off the beaten path is when you find the best spots. Hidden vineyards, parks, churches and views that can’t be beat.
Evening: At night my 4 roommates and I spent a lot of time together. We would cook big meals, hangout, go out or sometimes watch a movie on someones computer. We kept it pretty low key on weeknights as every single weekend we travelled somewhere new.