Oh Right, I’m Here to Study…

So the honeymoon period is over and daily life as a student has officially begun. I survived week one of classes, both similar and strikingly different to school back home. There was that familiar nervousness of not knowing what my professors would be like, what’s on our syllabus, and wondering how we’ll be graded (wait- the final exam is 100% of our grade?!?). But there was a sweet relief that comes with studying abroad. I always know where the classroom is (we have the same room for all our classes- well that is when we aren’t meeting our professors at famous landmarks), and I always will know people in my classes- I know all of them in fact J

So here is the update on what I will be learning when I am not adventuring:

Study Abroad Seminar (also known as Cultural Geography)- Taught by Jean. She is super down-to-earth and has a great sense of humor. The class is way more interesting than the title suggests. From what I have gathered, the class is kind of like sociology meets anthropology.  Our homework is a bit overwhelming, reading a redundant and abstract textbook, journaling (which is not only requires reflection but also scrapbooking skills) three times a week, observing the surrounding culture for 90 minutes (last night we were sent out to observe tourists), reading novels (like The Godfather), and writing papers. So far it’s great for discussion.

Art History with Paulo is clearly going to be amazing! We have it once a week for four hours. This was a lot the first day when we were just sitting watching a powerpoint, but starting next week we will always be out on field trips. I wont simply be studying tiny pictures in a textbook. Nope,  we actually get to see the real, 3-D deal! Paolo is fabulous, brilliant, and super passionate.  I can tell this will be a favorite!

We have Classical Italian and Renaissance Literature with Carmela two times a week (Wednesdays and Thursdays). We’ll be reading poetry from Dante, Petrarch, and possibly some from Michelangelo.  Our professor is brilliant and speaks excellent English, but she tends to go on very long tangents. We never know where she’s every really going with her elaborations, but they are always very interesting. Today we spent the first hour of our class on the first three stanzas of the Inferno… I don’t know how she expects to do this plus another whole unit on Petrarch in 7 weeks. It will be a very interesting class. I assume I will learn much more than just about the texts we are examining.

Italian Language with Mario is going to be a struggle. We only have it once a week for two hours. Since languages are not exactly my forte, I know this class, although it is only one credit, will possibly require the most studying and energy. I was so excited to learn Italian (it’s totally on my bucket list), but I spend 80% of this class confused, 10% pretending I understand, and the other 10% of the time hoping he’ll say andiamo or gelato.

We only have four theology classes in Rome, so it will be a while until I can give you an actual report. Thus far the class is pretty easy J

Now for History. Funny story, I actually am not signed up for the class, seeing as I was already taking all the of above classes. This was super weird since I am majoring in history and am kind of into that sort of thing. I had heard in the past that students were allowed to tag along on the history field trips once a week. I figured this was perfect, I could take the other classes I needed for my minor/ generals, and still get the experience. Unfortunately, the professor, A Belgian man named Jan) (pronounced Yan), was no longer okay with this set up.  So after several emails pleading my case and no response, I took a chance and showed up at Capitoline Hill with the 14 history students. Jan is a very impressive and intimidating man. For three hours he took us around the Roman Forum and Capitoline Hill area to discuss the natural landscape and its influence on archaic Rome. During this time, we found ourselves struggling to keep up, not just with exhausting speed-walking (up a massive hill no less! Surprising since Jan is most likely in his 60s), but we also struggled to keep up with his lecturing. Jan can rattle off dates and details more eloquently than any textbook. He did all of this, for three hours, with his eyes closed (literally) which cause me to wonder if maybe he had a teleprompter on the inside of his eyelids. The man is that impressive. At the end of the tour, I was granted permission to audit the class! I get to attend all the classes and learn everything without taking the final exam that is 100% of the grade. It’s my geekiest dream come true.

I have quite the course load and am hoping it will not be too overwhelming! But I couldn’t be happier with the classes. I’m only going to be a student in Rome once, may as well milk it for all it is worth!