Jacqueline Bernhard

Summer 2007

Why Purdue Summer in Florence?

Purdue Summer in Florence was a 6 week program over the summer, so I didn’t have to delay my graduation and required little planning.  I was able to get 6 credit hours that counted towards my general education requirements.  I also liked that there was no language requirement and I would be traveling and living with other Purdue students.  I also chose Italy since it is easily accessible to the rest of Europe.

What can you say about your experiences?

I had an amazing experience. It was my first trip to Europe and I found endless opportunities to do new things, learn a new language and culture and meet lots of new people. On our weekend travel, we met a lot of other travelers to share experiences with.  I loved the Italian lifestyle.  Walking around the city at night, there were tons of live street performers, clubs and wine bars, restaurants open and busy until late.  One of our favorite activities was to bring a bottle of wine to the bridge and watch the sun set over the Arno River.  I attended soccer games, went shopping, visited museums, went biking in Tuscany on a wine tasting tour and was able to travel a lot on weekends.

What was your living situation?

I lived in a nice 3 bedroom apartment with 3 other Purdue students about a 45 minute walk from downtown Florence and our school.  We had a washing machine, full kitchen, bathroom, living room and two balconies.  We lived in an apartment complex with Italian neighbors as the rest of the Purdue students were scattered throughout Florence.  The walk to school each morning was a little long but enjoyable and allowed us to see more of Florence life.  There was also a bus system that ran a couple blocks from our apartment.

Where did you travel?

I got to do a lot of traveling during my short time due to our 4 day school week.  We had two day-trips arranged by our school to towns in Tuscany. Our first trip was to Sienna and San Gimignano, and the second to Pisa and Lucca. With my roommates and other Purdue students I also got to see Rome, Cinque Terre, Sorrento, Pompeii, and Capri. We spent one weekend in Gryon, Switzerland in the heart of the Alps in which we got to hike, mountain climb, visit the thermal baths and do a Swiss wine tasting. Finally, at the end of my trip, my parents came and we traveled to Venice, Paris and London. The train systems are easy and efficient for getting from place to place.

What were the classes like?

For this program Purdue works in cooperation with CAPA, which was a small school on the second floor of a palazzo near The Duomo. They had a staff of about 6 that all spoke fluent English and were always available to set up activities and help us with getting around the city and any other needs. There were four different classes offered in my program. I took Italian 101 and Italian Life and Culture which were both taught by Italian professors. We met for 2 hours 3 or 4 times a week. The atmosphere was relaxed and fun with minimal homework. We had plenty of time during the day to explore the city and 3 day weekends to travel.

How did this experience help you grow, and how will this change your views on life in general for your future?

Living in Italy and traveling through Europe for a couple months opened my eyes to new experiences. I gained a love of travel, which I will carry with me throughout my life. I learned that I could be self-dependent in a big city with a completely different language and culture. It helped me recognize some of the good and bad things about America, and it allowed me to meet people unlike anyone I had met before. I definitely want to return to Europe, possibly even to live there for a couple years.

Would you recommend this experience to others, and why?

I certainly encourage any students with an inkling of interest to pursue study abroad. It was the best experience of my college career and I can not say enough about how much I got to see and experience for a relatively cheap price. College may be only time that you have the freedom and opportunity to live in another country with no job and little responsibility. Purdue has a great variety of programs, so take advantage of that! Italy is packed with places to see and of course there is excellent food and culture!