Exploring a new place comes with a different perspective for each person. These perspectives may be derived from many different things – previous knowledge & experiences, interests, hobbies, etc. As a group of 14, we all signed up for this program, with a few things in common, wanting to immerse ourselves in the Italian culture and gain cultural experiences through opportunities, however, we are all very different individuals. We grew up in different cities and towns, have different-sized families, some have traveled more than others, and have a variety of majors, interests, and hobbies. These differences cause us to see and experience the opportunities through this program in our own individual way.

Throughout this program, we have many opportunities to not only see different places throughout Italy but also have the chance to appreciate the beauty, design, and architecture of our surroundings everywhere we go. These opportunities, depending on your interests, may be perceived and understood differently. While we all gain knowledge from the things we see, some may focus on certain aspects and find some more interesting than others.

As someone who is studying interior design, I have a strong appreciation for the beauty, design, and architecture of everything we see and get the opportunity to experience. For many years, I have always found interest in art & design history, architecture, and design in general. Taking major-specific courses throughout college has allowed me to gain a lot of knowledge in many of these areas of interest. From learning about the historical past of interior design, architects, and designers to the modern day, there are many concepts, buildings, and architects I have a lot of familiarity with.

This previous knowledge and familiarity have allowed me to approach these program experiences from a different perspective. When visiting a new town, city, church, restaurant, or historical building, I find myself so intrigued by the execution of the architecture and design of each place. There are small, intricate details that come together to tell a story and create a beautiful masterpiece of a church, town, city, or historical building. I have realized because of this, I have much more appreciation for the things I am getting the opportunity to see and experience. While I was intrigued by these interests previously, you gain a new perspective of these interests when you are immersed in such beauty in the architecture and design around you.

While I may pay more attention to the intricate details of the design, execution, and architecture of the places we visit, others may be more intrigued by how it lies in the timeline of history. Even though we each have our own way of experiencing them, we are all able to appreciate the many different opportunities we get to experience throughout this program. Fourteen different perspectives on the places we are going, what we are learning, and the things we are seeing will ultimately provide each of us with a more full-circle experience and well-rounded perspective to look back on and appreciate. 

Hallie Tant

Ornate architecture and design portrayed through a room in The Louvre.