Hello again! This semester, I am taking International Finance, Italian, Museology, and Drawing. Aside from finance, these subjects are completely different from what I am used to. That has made this semester extremely fun, and challenging in its own way.
Museology is one of my favorite classes. We have a discussion about some historical events or museums in the first half of class, and then visit a museum in the second half. This has been a phenomenal way to explore the history and culture of Florence. I have learned so much and can appreciate the city so much more with this class. A key skill in this class is being empathetic. You have to put yourself in the shoes of the artist to really understand a painting or sculpture. The photo I have included is called the Boy with Thorn, and it is in the Uffizi Gallery. It is a 1st century AD marble Roman sculpture representing a boy removing a thorn from his foot. It’s known for its focus on realistic everyday life, rather than a heroic or divine subject. It is widely copied throughout the world.
Italian challenges me differently. It requires consistent practice, memorization, and the ability to make mistakes. Learning this language has put me outside of my comfort zone, but made me grow, which was my main goal of coming here! It is also rewarding to use the Italian I learn in everyday scenarios. For example, I can typically get my groceries and order at sandwich shops in Italian.
Finally, drawing is a super creative class. It requires a lot of focus. Sitting and drawing for 3 hours will make my brain tired afterward. I have also discovered that I really like to draw. I would’ve never found this out had I not gone to Florence! I’ve drawn bottles, plants, and now we’re starting faces. I hope to continue this newfound hobby when I get back to Pitt. The photo I included here was a drawing I did of a plant a few weeks ago!
The teachers for all of my classes are awesome. They are so passionate about what they do, which makes learning more fun. Workload can get difficult at times, especially with external traveling, but this is all part of the experience.
The culture here academically is more immersive than in the US. Classes are smaller and more discussion-based than a lot of Gen-Eds I take at Pitt. It is also cool to take a class like Museology, where I can directly relate to the art around me. Ciao till next time!