 Travelogue
Due to the reciprocal agreements with various universities abroad, USC Upstate is able to offer students the opportunity to study or conduct internships in places around the world, such as Costa Rica, England, Italy, France and Germany.
Faculty also travel abroad during the summer months for further study, special appointments, and awards.
Some students and faculty have submitted journal entries to describe their experiences. Read below to learn about culture in other countries, what it's like to study abroad, and more!
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Journal Submissions from ITALY: |
| May 13 |
Jane Nodine, USC Upstate Professor of Art, Milan, Italy, University of Milan |
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Having a great time in Venezia!!!! Donna Goodman and I took a morning Eurostar train from Milano to Venice on Thursday. We arrived at lunch time and checked into our hotel Domus Cavanis. It is located in the neighborhood behind the Academia. The weather is picture perfect!! We took the elevator to the top of the tower at San Marco, and got a 360 degree picture postcard view of the city and surrounding islands. I have been to Venice many times and I never tire of the textures, colors, tastes and smells of the city. Donna and I spent the afternoon walking and looking at the architecture and marvelous products for sale. Many designers of jewelry, furniture, clothing, etc. have boutiques in Venice and it is a place to see excellent examples of new designs and unusual materials.
The students have the weekend for free-time. One group made plans to come to Venice and another planned to go to Roma. I have not seen them since I left Milano, but I have a feeling they are in sensory overload. We will all meet Monday to continue our studies with Instructor Monica from Universita IULM.
Donna went to see one of Tintorreto's last supper paintings and I am catching up with a few errands. I think I will go to the Peggy Guggenheim later. Remember I don't have spell-check, I'm on a European keyboard and I have to type fast as I am paying for the internet time by the min.
Ciao for now!! We will think of you as we walk in the warm sun and enjoy the cool breezes while eating fabulous food.
CIAO!!
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| May 11 |
Jessica Hutcheson, student, Milan, Italy, IULM Università |
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I am sitting in an Internet cafe in Milano! I miss everyone at home - but having so much fun! Today we went to see historic sites around Milano that are tucked deep inside the city...places even the people that live here do not even know about. I am learning the most from the culture here. TOTALLY different than ours. The clothes are all crazy and ANYTHING goes! Guess what is the coolest hair over here- I will tell you cause I can't find the question mark on this key board....THE MULLET!!!! Yes - I'm not lying!
I will take pictures and bring them home--they are bellissimo! Will write soon... Love and miss you all!
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| May 11 |
Jane Nodine, USC Upstate Professor of Art, Milan, Italy, University of Milan |
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Great morning with our Italian team touring historical Milan and visiting the archeological museum. Later I was invited by Professor Leonard Capano, the professor who prepared our study program here, to visit his final art history lecture at the University of Milan. The University building is an excellent example of Renaissance architecture located a few blocks from the Duomo, yet the classroom was technologically well equipped and seated about 300 students. Professor Capano's lecture was on the Hudson River School painters and influences in American and Italian film. He has written numerous texts on the HRS and is well like by his students. He also teaches in Turin and at IULM where our students are studying. Tomorrow Venice!!! CIAO!
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| May 10 |
Donna Goodman, Professor of Fine Arts at Francis Marion
University, Milan, Italy, IULM Università |
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This is my first e-mail from the Study Abroad Program from USC Upstate. As I figure out how best to do this, I hope they get better.
There are a dozen people, nine students and three "adults." We spent all day Saturday riding trains, trams, and subways trying to get our bearings and getting over jet lag. Sunday we went to Central Milan to go to the rooftop of the Piazza Duomo. I always thought “duomo” meant “the dome,” but this Neo-Gothic Cathedral has no dome. The word comes from Latin meaning “house” or, in these cases, “the house of God.” The façade (front) is covered in scaffolding for restoration. In the photo (click link below), you can see the Galleria Vittorio Emmanuelle II, a huge glass-domed arcade with some of most elegant shops in Europe. The Duomo is the fourth largest cathedral in Europe. Built of pink marble, it is 525 by 300 ft, with 52 100-foot-tall, sequoia- sized pillars and more than 2,000 statutes inside. Read full entry and see photos.*
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| May 10 |
Jane Nodine, USC Upstate Professor of Art, Milan, Italy, IULM Università |
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The students have really settled into their apartments and are making friends with people in the neighborhood. Today we met our instructor at the Sforza castello for a tour and saw the Rondinni Pieta by Michelangelo. We walked from there to the Duomo and toured the inside, then next door to the Vittore Emanuel glass mall and La Scalla square.
Food, food, food is to die for, and orange is the new black. |
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May 9 |
Jane Nodine, USC Upstate Professor of Art, Milan, Italy, IULM Università |
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We had our first class meeting today with our instructor, Monica Noldi and her assistant Michela. Both speak English very well, and because Michela spent several years living in Raleigh, NC, she speaks English with an accent that is similar to the students.
At 9 am Monica met with our group in a very modern and technologically well equipped classroom. She supported her lecture with a PowerPoint presentation that gave the students a visual understanding of the geography of Italy and historical development of the region. At about 11 am we all took a break for a cappuccino in the coffee bar at the Università and then returned to the classroom to continue the lecture. Monica ended the session by allowing students to ask questions on the lecture or general cultural information. The group is very eager to acquire bits of Italian language and customs so this was a good time to explore their questions. At 1 pm we all went to the school cafeteria and had lunch, then a tour of the facilities. Students were introduced to the labs and library so necessary resources would be available for their research purposes.
The afternoon and evening are free. I expect there will be research of pubs and discos in the region. Tomorrow we meet with Monica at Castello Sforza to begin our historical and cultural tour of milano. CIAO!!
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May 8 |
Jane Nodine, USC Upstate Professor of Art, Milan Italy |
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Our group of thirteen arrived safely at the Malpensa airport and were met by our very prepared host school in Milan, Universita IULM. We got settled into our apartments and began the day getting familiar with the neighborhood, changing money, finding a market, etc. Saturday evening we met the representatives from IULM for dinner at a popular restaurant. The students had many questions and our Italian friends were eager to answer them. We are staying in the navogli (sp) historical district with many cafes, bars and pubs. The students are in hog heaven. We slept a little late this AM and met at 10:00 today. Students learned to ride the subway, read the train schedules and purchase train tickets. Tomorrow we have our first classes. Having fun in the sun and eating good food. CIAO!!
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* This document is an Adobe Acrobat PDF file. If you do not already have the free software required to view and print this file, download it now. |
