Lessons from Abroad: My Classes in Italy

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Studying abroad in a new country allows you an opportunity to learn from a whole different lens. While I’m in Florence I’m taking four classes that vary in their academic focus, The Psychology of Art and Human Creativity, The Holocaust: Jewish and Christian Responses, Yoga: Breathing, Meditation, Spirituality, and last but not least, Wine and Culture I: Wines of Italy. 

Throughout this semester, I've thoroughly enjoyed every class! Now let’s delve into them a little more:

The Psychology of Art and Human Creativity 

In this class, my professor Silvia Sellitto, encourages us to ask ourselves, “What drives people to create art?” We ask ourselves this question because the main idea of the course is to understand the intersection of arts, neuroscience, psychoanalysis, and cultural and developmental psychology. To explore this further, we spend much of our class time examining art forms and how they can help foster well-being, resilience, and creative development for the artists themselves – or the viewer. Another aim of this class is to understand the major theories and research in the field of art and creativity. So far we have examined theories by famous psychologists such as Bessel Van Der Kolk, who wrote The Body Keeps the Score, a widely known and respected book in the field of psychology. I have really enjoyed examining psychology from a new lens, especially while living in a city full of art that was also once home to famous artists such as Michelangelo, Leonardo da Vinci, and Donatello. 

The Holocaust: Jewish and Christian Responses

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Carlo Levi’s hiding spot

This class is taught as an introduction to the Holocaust and dives into what role fascist Italy played in World War II. Italy, as a Catholic nation, played an important role in the Nazi rise to power due to Christian anti-Judaism. The class is intended to help students understand how Italy became a major player in World War II, and why it happened. It also focuses on the unique experience of Italian Jews, and how we can best represent their experience today. In the class itself, we examine primary and secondary sources from the World War II era, such as: books, diary entries, and newspapers. Aside from written sources, we watch films as well and visit sites in Florence that have historical significance related to the Holocaust. Recently, the class visited the hiding spot of Carlo Levi, an Italian anti-fascist activist, painter, writer, and doctor. Visiting historical sites that seem to hide in plain sight, like Levi’s hideaway, has been a fascinating and eye-opening experience. 

Yoga: Breathing, Meditation, Spirituality

This yoga class thus far has been one of the most engaging learning experiences I have had while abroad. Initially, I assumed the class would be merely practicing physical yoga, but we have explored the deep history and theory of the yoga tradition. The main focus of this course is to critically examine how yoga and its associated components play into human needs and desires. We as yoga students, or “yogis”, are encouraged to deepen our understanding of yoga as a spiritual, mental, and physical practice and become familiar with all the different kinds of yoga. The structure of this class centers around the theoretical teachings, as we begin each session with a group discussion about the previous week’s readings. We then spend the rest of class with a lecture and usually end with a physical yoga practice in the activities room located below our classroom. I have loved this class because it has helped me become more mindful as I move throughout my days. This class has also given me the opportunity to explore an academic area that I never would have before. Taking a class outside of your norm is a great way to discover new areas of interest.

Wine and Culture I: Wines of Italy 

For generations, wine has played a significant role in Italian culture. This class aims to delve into the economic, geographical, and climatic aspects of Italy's diverse wines. Typically, we sample three wines from various Italian regions in a single session. Guided by our professor, Fabio, we explore wines carefully chosen from prominent wine-producing areas. Our exploration extends beyond mere tasting; we delve into the varieties of grapes, wine-making techniques, and distinctive qualities of each. Our evaluation process involves visual, olfactory, and gustatory analyses, allowing us to fully appreciate the nuances of each wine.

My studies so far have felt like more than just lessons, but rather opportunities to explore new academic areas in insightful and hands-on ways. From understanding the power of art to facing the realities of history, each class has taught my fellow classmates and me something valuable about the world and ourselves.