From taking Art, Architecture, and Engineering: The Roman Experience I learned the interconnectedness of geography, history, cultural traits while also understanding the cultural diversity of Italy through its social norms and customs. I had three awesome professors who each specialized in teaching us a different part of the class. Dr. Nelson shared with us how to properly enjoy the different styles of art all throughout the Renaissance in Italy with artists such as Raphael, Michelangelo, Donatello, and Ghiberti while Dr. Rassati and Dr. Swanson showed us the ingenuity behind the architects and engineers during the time of the Roman Empire with their creation of the arch and domes. My peers were also able to give us valuable knowledge on topics throughout the class and the trip. For example, a classics major was able to decipher Latin written on Roman architecture while an architect major could identify the style of architecture it was and the process of making such a structure.
I learned more in the ten days that I was in Italy than in the 15 weeks leading up to it. Not only did I get to see breathtaking sights, but I got to experience how people that live over 4500 miles away see the world and go through their daily lives. I learned that in Italy free refills actually costs 2€ and that locals won’t wear shorts even if it’s really hot. Whenever we told the Italians that we were from Ohio, we were immediately lumped together as living in “The States”. From just spending ten days in in Italy I was able to experience a culture as a whole that I would not be able to experience anywhere else in the world and I feel I will be better for it. To the right, I have my journal I took during the classes leading up to the trip and while I was in Italy along with my final project for the class of a map depicting some of the places our group traveled while in Rome. |
|