Reflections on Italy

Carli Maddock
June 12, 2017

Part 1:

            My initial impression of Italy was not the most positive, but that quickly changed. I was overwhelmed by the lines to get through customs at the airport, my attempts to buy a train ticket, and the hustle to catch the bus to Venezia Mestre. When I missed the earliest train, I had to settle in and realize that I had two hours to spend at the station. I was hungry, which meant I needed to try to order from the café. No one spoke English, so I took out my handy Italian phrasebook to prepare to order. It was obvious that I was struggling, because I ended up with a random assortment of foods. The train ride was my first true interaction with Italian culture. Kids were hopping on and off the train at each stop, and would look at me strangely. It was obvious that I was not from the area. The style and mannerisms of those around me was so foreign to me. The smiles that I extended were typically not returned, and I felt like a fly on the wall. However, if I asked for help or needed assistance there was always someone there to lend a hand. I had these encounters when loading my suitcase on the train, and when asking if I was getting off at the right stop. The bus ride that followed was quite an adventure, because grade school children took the public bus on the way home from school. They smiled and said ciao, which I returned. I got off at Grado and walked with my backpack, tote and suitcase in hand. I followed the directions that the professor had given me, and ended up at the hotel. The walk itself allowed me to breathe a sigh of relief. I got to look out at all of the fishing and sailboats, listen to the foreign language that surrounded me, and attempt to navigate a place that I had no history in. When the rest of the group arrived, I could tell that we were all in this adventure together. It was great to meet new people, and contribute to relationships that were already existing. The first dinner, and the ease with which people live here has truly been eye opening. I wish that I could live at the pace that they do.

Part 2:

            During this portion of the trip, we traveled to Venice and the lake country. Lake Como has been on my list of places to see since I began planning this trip. I am a huge fan of water, whether it be lakes or oceans. I knew that I would enjoy seeing the differences in life along the lake. Our bus ride was long, but enjoyable with the good company. Professor Seaman added to the ride with entertaining comments and facts. This was much appreciated, because I would not have known any of it if he had not taken the time to share. It made me realize that I am truly lucky to have participated in this program. I will likely never be able to travel the way that we have for the same amount ever again, and this encourages me to take advantage of other trips in the future. When we arrived at Lake Como, it was pouring rain. We ran into the hotel, which overlooked the lake. The mountains were barely in view, but cleared as we got halfway through lunch. These meals together will forever be treasured. It was always exciting to hear about the different menus, discover new foods, and develop our taste for the cuisine. Bellagio was my favorite town that we visited, but the boat ride over to dinner was my favorite by far. The ease to travel by water taxi was phenomenal, and I feel so lucky to have experienced it. Venice was different than I had expected, but still enjoyable. I can see why the art and the history are so valued, and I was shocked by St. Mark’s Basilica. However, the city was dirtier and more touristy than I had expected. Of course we were able to forget about that while in the spectacular museums and churches. The gondola ride was one to be remembered, and I will forever remember the songs sung by the musicians. I feel very honored to be here and have a professor that puts in so much effort to make this trip as memorable as possible.

Part 3:

            The trip to the Dolomites was quite memorable. Although the bus ride was quite terrifying for me, the views were spectacular. I was intrigued by the narrowness of the roads, as well as the difficulty by which the bus would pass oncoming cars. It hit me when the police had to escort us out of the lake country that the roads were not really meant for large vehicles. Of course, it would be more difficult to widen the roads in the mountains compared to flat areas. The first rifugio that we stopped at had many motorcycles, which Professor Seaman had explained were occupied by riders from Germany and Austria. My father and I ride motorcycles and dirt bikes, and riding in an area like the Dolomites is on his bucket list. It was amazing to see something that members of my family have only dreamed of doing. In addition, my mom is a photographer. She has lots of memories of hiking/skiing with her father in New Mexico. Being on top of the mountain and looking out at the beautiful landscape made me think of my mother, and how much she would have enjoyed the scenery. The hotel in the Dolomites had a significantly different style than Hotel Fonzari. It was much more rustic compared to the beachy scene of Grado. The entire atmosphere seemed to change with the change in location. It was neat to see the differences and similarities in lifestyle. For example, the people in Cortina appeared to dress in a more laid-back style. This included North Face jackets, jeans and tennis shoes. In Grado, there seems to be a dressier style that includes skirts, dresses, heels and khakis. The dialect seemed to be different as well, but considering I don’t know very much Italian it is difficult to describe accurately.