September 20, 2022 By Sara
I first met Leslie last year in a history class (history being one of the subjects in which she is pursuing her combined honors), but it was her interest in political science (the other half of her degree) that brought her to the University of Alberta’s school in Cortona, Italy back in May 2022. Having visited with Leslie in the days leading up to her trip, I was nearly as excited as she was for her to arrive in Italy and start sharing pictures of her adventure!
The first questions I ask Leslie are what inspired her to go abroad, and if something about the Cortona school in particular appealed to her. She tells me that she has always liked to travel, but had few opportunities to do so - until she received a go abroad award when first applying to the U of A, making her “dreams of attending a semester abroad more realistic.” As for selecting the Cortona school, Leslie has always wanted to go to Italy, so this was a great opportunity for her. That, coupled with the course selection, made Cortona feel like it was designed specifically for students like her. “It was perfect timing for me,” she says about spring semester, “I went between my third and fourth year and was able to take a political science fourth year course to introduce me to taking 400 level Poli-Sci classes.”
Next I ask Leslie how she prepared for her semester abroad. I’m teasing her just a little by asking this question, because I explicitly remember her casually saying “I still haven’t packed” frighteningly close to her time of departure. But Leslie wasn’t particularly worried about setting off - even though she hadn’t really succeeded in learning the Italian she had set herself to. One thing Leslie did was read “about how to be respectful as a tourist/temporary resident of the town and of the country,” which is an excellent piece of travel advice. Additionally, she prepared by planning out her initial two-day stop in Rome (where she would later return for a field trip and again on her way back home to Canada), complete with a list of destinations she was determined to see, including: the Colosseum, Palatine Hill, Vatican City, the Pantheon, and the Trevi Fountain.
What was it like studying political science in another country? I ask. “It was super cool,” Leslie tells me enthusiastically. “My course focused on Italy and the EU so it was amazing to be able to see the direct physical implications of this and sense the general feeling from talking with citizens.” She also found that having a professor from the U of A while abroad made the course a lot less daunting.
I ask if she ever found it challenging to balance schoolwork with her international experiences, but she tells me “the coursework was quite manageable and I felt very comfortable studying/writing at some of the local cafes or on the train.” Leslie also mentions that the public transportation was very user-friendly, and she was able to get around easily by train, bus, or walking directions as needed.
The Cortona School hosts their students from abroad in a mansion-turned-hotel that dates back to the 1400s. Leslie shared a room with a few others, meaning things were a bit cramped, but she got along really well with all of her roommates (having already met up with them before leaving for the trip). From Monday to Wednesday, Leslie and her peers would attend classes in a restored convent (a century older than the Hotel Italia, where they stayed), or be taken out on scheduled field trips that could last anywhere from three hours to a full day. The rest of the week was free time to do what they pleased, and Leslie fit in as much sight-seeing as she could. She explored by taking the train to neighbouring towns and large cities like Pisa (where she took a picture with the leaning tower), Rome, Venice (she went to the gondola!) and Florence (where she saw Duomo and Ponte Vecchio). Ultimately, Leslie was able to experience a great deal of the country outside of Cortona.
When I ask Leslie about the food, she tells me it was amazing. “People don’t lie about the deliciousness of Italian food.” She had been told to expect different cuisine from what one might get in North America, but found that it wasn’t so dissimilar after all. And for anyone who suffers from a sensitivity to gluten (like both Leslie and I do!), you’ll be pleased to hear what Leslie has to report. We had heard a rumor that, for whatever reason, people often find Italy’s wheat products to be an exception to the dietary restrictions they experience here. And sure enough, Leslie was able to enjoy as much gluten-full pizza and pasta as she felt like eating!
Finally, I ask Leslie what advice she would share with someone who is considering studying abroad. “I would totally recommend it!” She says. “I met some amazing friends through this experience and the ability to learn about a country while being immersed in its culture was truly an unmatched experience.”
Sara is in the final year of her undergrad in Honors History. Her favourite topic to study is the history of medicine, and she dreams of working in museums one day. Sara loves to catch the latest movie releases, and can never leave a bookstore empty handed. She has 4 cats, a large collection of begrudging plants, and an affinity for Greek mythology.
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