The Umbra Institute

My experience at The Umbra Institute was beyond my expectations. I met amazing people that I hope to maintain contact with in the future and lived unique experiences. In terms of academics and general logistics at Umbra they were very attentive and special with all students and always looked to hear our feedback to improve in years to come. I was part of the Food, Sustainability and Environment program where we learned to much and during all the classes and field trips we lived unmatched experiences. The professors and staff are very passionate about their students and their field of work so learning from them was even more special. I was also a part of a social media work study and it truly enriched my experience. I was working alongside a wonderful staff and was happy to share my experience to help and encourage others to choose this awesome program. Perugia is a small and enchanting city that shows a real part of Italy where tourism isn’t overwhelming like it is in Rome, but you are still a train or bus away from the big cities and airport. There were many challenges along the way but I wouldn’t choose any other study abroad program.

I have now taken part in the Umbra summer program two years in a row and it never fails to disappoint. Everyone is lovely, caring, and the school creates the perfect blend of education and fun. As a languages student in England, it is difficult to achieve the required immersion for properly learning a language but at Umbra is was easy. All the professors were patient and understanding and mistakes were celebrated - sbagliando si impara! I would recommend this school to anyone looking to grasp a greater knowledge of either Italian culture or it’s language.

The Umbra Institute sits in the center of Perugia - a town that existed prior to the Roman Empire (it's more than 2,000 years old). However, this town is the capitol of the region of Umbria - so despite it's authentic ancient appearance, it has all the modernities that a city would have including an Italian University of 25,000 students. Perugia being a capital, its infrastructure has to move into the 21st century, but it has done so while retaining its history and culture and at the same time is cost-friendly to the college student, due to the majority of the daily money-spending population being college age. The town of Assisi just across the valley, a highly visited tourist site, draws all the western tourists. Leaving Perugia for the most part very Italian in local composition as well as in tourism. Then there's the Umbra Institute which draws somewhere around 100 english speaking students from America. Those 100 students are pretty much the only english speakers in town, which made it great for someone like me who went to Italy to learn the language and engage in their culture.

I lived in an Italian home with a family and could speak days and write maybe a book about it. There were great challenges to living in a homestay that improved not only my language competency and pronunciation, but really opened me up to the Italian culture as well as in the future, new cultures. I became less egocentric - a term used in political science to describe those who think how their country does things is the best. I learned about how Italians do family, how they serve the community, how they practice faith, how they engage in politics, how they fold bedsheets - just, everything! Just imagine life, but everything is written and spoken in Italian. And lest I forget the homemade food!

I was very surprised by how challenging the Umbra Institute's courses were. I just didn't expect to actually be academically challenged I guess. Then again, I took probably some of their more difficult courses, including one where with our three-student class we read Italian literature and discussed it and wrote reflections and at the end wrote a short story - 100% in Italian. T'was quite the challenge. But at the end of the course, I was glad I took it. I was exposed to words and sentence structures and nuances of the language I would have never seen if I had just taken the required language course. Fear not - if one is looking for a less intense academic experience, there are all kinds of courses for that.

The staff are too fun. Easily approachable. All very intelligent and at least when I was there, they truly cared about the students' experiences. I doubt that has changed much!

And lastly the volunteer opportunities abound; I think this is probably the most unique part of being at the Umbra Institute. A friend of mine taught english at a local grade school to some third graders. There's an online blog - if one is journalistically inclined. I personally worked with resettled refugees at a local aid organization. I made photographs for their website and wrote and personally taught english and Italian. Along the way, I made friendships with people from literally all over the world (the mid-east, Pakistan, Afghanistan, all over Africa, and even a few South Americans). That was certainly the highlight of my time there, maybe after living with the Italian family. Living with Rosy and Orfeo Ambrosi was just an unparalleled experience, rich in quality living. But I digress.

Congratulations at getting to the end of my comments! Feel free to reach out, I really would love to talk anytime even if you're SLIGHTLY interested in Umbra. Or just interested in living with a family. No matter where you go, LIVE WITH A FAMILY.

Email me at ethan.fichtner@gmail.com.

There is so much to love about Perugia and the Umbrian region--the natural and ancient beauty being so memorable. I especially enjoyed walking the narrow streets of the city center. Since I was in the Umbra Institute's Food Studies Program, I payed careful attention to restaurants/the local food culture. My friends and I compiled a list of places to eat -- from recommendations of the Umbra staff and locals--and spent each week checking off a place. With the help of a professor, I also did a lot of my produce shopping in a backyard garden. Each week, I visited him with empty bags and left with the most beautiful vegetables! Because the city is so small in size, there is such a real opportunity to feel like you're a part of the community. From cafes to bars, frequent visits become part of your daily routine, right alongside the locals--who would recognize you and talk to you (in Italian). This was exhilarating, because you had opportunities outside of Italian class to practice. I think my favorite thing to do, on a beautiful afternoon, was walk the streets and just take it all in. Every afternoon could be an adventure.

My experience in Perugia was like none other. Any preconceptions and expectations you have will immediately be washed away because it's impossible to imagine what it will be like before you go. Perugia is a small, authentic town in Italy. It's a place where after a few weeks you will recognize people on the streets. As much as I had the time of my life here, the town was a bit too small for me, and the program, with roughly only 80 people, was a bit too close knit. You experience Italy in a place that isn't over run with Amercan influence, something you can't find in Florence or Rome. I
I will never forget my time in Perugia. I made lifelong friends and had experiences that I will keep with me for the rest of my life. If your only goal of studying abroad is to travel, then go to Florence. It isn't as easy to travel starting from Perugia because you usually need to take a train to Florence before you can fly anywhere.
The staff at the Umbra Institute was phenomenal, and I've had some of the greatest professors of my college career there. They want you to have an amazing experience, and they do a fantastic job in helping you experience that once in a lifetime opportunity.

If I could describe in words the magic that is Perugia and even all of Italy, I would, but to me it's something you must see and experience for yourself.