By Kennedy DeRaedt, senior in advertising
In 50 years, I will remember the beautiful exterior walls of Urbino, but will I remember the small details like how the older Italian women dressed or how we played cards on the weekends?
There are so many cultural aspects and personal memories that I want to stick with me forever. Some experiences that I had abroad, I know might never happen again. Everything that I got to do in Urbino was so amazing, and I want the memories to stay fresh in my mind.
In my opinion, the chances of partaking in something great increases after crossing into Italy. In one week, I had class in a palace, saw an Italian symphony, learned how to make truffle pasta, went to the coast and saw a famous photographer’s exhibition in a nearby city. And, as part of the Urbino program, I got to experience these adventures with 11 other Iowa State students. However, each of us have our own opinion on what makes Urbino special.
One thing that is easy to notice in Urbino is the Italian culture. Life is definitely different there compared to America. Sophomore Krishaun Burns noticed how Italians use their umbrellas when it snows. We always joked about how we will notice each other across Central Campus in the winter because we will be the only Iowa State students using our umbrellas.
Another difference between the American and Italian culture is the personality of the people in general. Advertising major Audrey Comer thinks that the Italian people are lively, friendly and easy-going. Since Urbino is such a small town, it is easy to see familiar faces around town. Junior Gillian Holte loved seeing her friend Tita around town. “It’s cool to make that connection with someone who is not where you’re from,” she said.
Some of our favorite memories happened after the sun goes down, or in Makenna Chapman’s case when the sun goes up. “I was in good company,” she said. “It was really peaceful.”
Most of us did not know each other before we started the semester in Urbino, but now it seems we have created lifelong friendships.
Sophomore Maureen McDonald never wants to forget screaming the soundtrack of Hamilton late at night with her roommates Gillian and Bridget. “I have made a lot of long-lasting friends that I can see myself going back to Ames and still connecting with,” she said.
Studying at Università degli Studi di Urbino was much different than studying at Iowa State. Rachel Cessna enjoyed getting gelato every day between classes. All of us talked about how much we would miss certain Italian foods when we returned home.
A cool thing about studying in Urbino is seeing buildings and artwork from the medieval and Renaissance times. Comer said something unique about studying in Urbino was, “knowing you are where history happened.” Most of our classes focused on the history of the Renaissance, and we got to see where famous painters lived or where the Duke of Urbino held parties. It definitely beats looking at pictures in a textbook.
Studying in Urbino not only gave us the experience of living in Italy, but also a great way to meet new people and do new things. Italy has captured all of our hearts, and I know we will all look back on this time as one of the best experiences in our lives.
Kennedy DeRaedt is an advertising major at Iowa State University. She has worked with the Iowa State Daily, Trend and SIR magazine. After graduation, she hopes to go into photography or art direction.
This post is one in a series of blog posts written by Iowa State University students who studied abroad in Urbino, Italy, in spring 2018 with Deni Chamberlin, Greenlee School associate professor. The program focuses on mobile image making, Italian language, Renaissance art history and literature and the history of food and culture. The Greenlee School of Journalism and Communication will offer the program in collaboration with LAS Study Abroad in spring 2020.