Hi again!
This week I am going to speak on my experience so far in my abroad course load. My classes are Italian, Sculpture, International Marketing, International Finance, and Cross Cultural Psychology. I am surprised by how intertwined the topics have been, which has deepened my knowledge of various subject material. For example, I learned of Hofstede’s Cultural Dimensions in Cross Cultural Psychology. This framework was then utilized in my International Marketing class activity, where we applied the dimensions when introducing a product into Italy. Further, I was introduced to the Balance of Payments initially in International Finance. Then during one of our lectures in International Marketing, my professor expanded on the same concept. This allowed me to get expand on my knowledge of most subjects from different perspectives.
My classes provide a wide array of opportunities for me to immerse myself with Italian culture. In sculpture, we were able to travel to a replica of David, and learn of the many sculptures within the plaza near it. We discussed the artists, as well as the creation of each work. Afterwards, we were able to kickstart our first project, creating a part of David’s face with clay! Italian is a four credit course that teaches the Italian language and daily life. This past Tuesday, we took a field trip to a a large market and practiced actually ordering in Italian. Today, my friends and I ran into our professor, and she showed us her favorite fresh local foods: cheese, bread, and olives! We joked with the man behind the register, as he challenged me to order in Italian. Sometimes it takes a bit of a push for me to actually practice my language with locals, but having the community around me makes it much better!
To be successful in this academic environment you need to be disciplined and able to adapt. The teaching style is different than in the United States. Despite all the changes CEA Capa does to cater to American students, you still must cater towards different attitudes and culture. In Cross Cultural psychology we discussed how a lot of Italian classes do not have Syllabuses which surprised me! This was in the context of a discussion of individualism the United States compared to Italy’s collectivism. Italy further has less rigidity in their education. There is not as much flow in activities and schedules in the US. This leads me into my discussion of adaptability. You must be open minded and change some of your past education habits in order to better suit classes here. In a more fluid environment, professors tend to be more lenient with class schedules and deadlines. However, they still expect the assignments to be completed when asked. This means a greater emphasis on communication and understanding. You must be attentive and can expect more changes.
My classes have been great so far and allowed me to immerse myself deeper into local culture. The professors are all committed to supporting students in the adjustment to life here while pushing us out of our comfort zones!
Attached is a picture from a library in a cinema. It is a great place to do work that plays Disney movies in the back!
In Florence after a busy week of class, it is nice to relax by hiking through the beautiful country side also!
