Embracing Community in the Green Heart of Italy
An opinion piece by Callie Dickman
Intensive Italian Language Summer Program
Spending the summer in Perugia was like spending the summer in a storybook. From waking up every morning to a street musician playing Sara Perche Ti Amo on his accordion outside my window to coming home after a golden-hour aperitivo and sunset passeggiata, these last six weeks felt like a dream.
Feeling part ot the community
As I reflect on my time with the Umbra Institute, the word that defines my experience is “community.” I felt connected not only to my classmates and professors but also, to some degree, to the larger Perugian population. These relationships were fostered from the moment of arrival when I met the other intensive Italian students on the floor of Rome Fiumicino Airport, where we conversed and laughed awkwardly, trying to make sense of what the next several weeks would look like.
Mere hours after receiving housing assignments and moving into my new apartment, I reconnected with my eleven new classmates and our four professors — Stefano, Luca, Livia, and Nicolo — to share a welcome dinner. Interscholastic community-building events like this were frequently scheduled by the institute, including gelato breaks, beach trips, and movie nights.
Forging connections
My sense of community did not stop at the direct connections within the institution, however. I found myself connecting with some of the Italian students I met during Tandem as well. My roommates and I frequently saw this group of Italians outside of Tandem, whether it be at their house for a pasta-making night or at ours for Fourth of July karaoke and pancakes. Making friends with students outside the program was a vital element in my language progression and my appreciation of Italian culture.
Nearly every afternoon between classes (and often after, too), I would walk
to Carloni for a scoop of gelato. This gelateria has some of the best gelato in Perugia, but what makes it stand out is the enthusiastic welcome every customer receives from Matteo Carloni upon entering. As the weeks progressed, Sig. Carloni learned my order and frequently recited it as soon as he saw me come in: “Un cono piccolo di cremino al pistacchio e…” (insert different flavor every day).
I will remember the woman at the fruit stand who always gave me an extra apricot or handful of cherries to eat before I got home; Francesco, Perugia’s resident canine mascot, who always wore a watch (and sometimes a tie); and the man from the Antica Latteria, who rarely forgot to give me a cold spoonful of freshly whipped panna while I waited for my cappuccino.
Lasting Friendships and Lifelong Memories
My fairytale summer in Perugia was made possible by this intricate web of community. Perugia is a small city where both the Perugini and students care deeply for one another and those around them. I look forward to reconnecting with the people I met during my time at the Umbra Institute, whether in Perugia or even on the other side of the world. I know the relationships I built while traveling with my roommates will continue into future adventures, whether in Italy, Cambodia, or Australia. I can’t wait to return to Carloni for a scoop of cremino al pistacchio before catching up with my professor, Luca. I’m so thankful I chose to study with the Umbra Institute this summer, my memories from this experience will truly last a lifetime.