First Week In Sansepolcro

I have finally arrived in Sansepolcro and my journey has begun as I explore Italia and all it has to offer. It all came very quickly, and now in the blink of an eye I have arrived and started classes. My first week here has been quite an experience; I’m already getting a great taste of the culture. I have learned so much in just one week, it doesn’t seem real yet that I am living in the middle of a medieval renaissance town. The same Palazzo that stood in the 16th century has become my new home for the next three months. My favorite part about the Palazzo is the beautiful windows that look out into the busy street where life is very apparent. Some of the most fun we have had in the palazzo was scoping out the Italian boys from the third story window. Needless to say the whole event was very entertaining and we had a good laugh.

Each day I look forward to seeing what Margarita has cooked for lunch and to see what surprise guest will show up. I am very interested in getting to know all the many characters that make up the colorful town of Sansepolcro. I have already been introduced to many charming people through Dr. Webb and John Rose (who knows everyone in town.) One cannot experience authentic Italia more than living in the heart of Sansepolcro, waking up to the very loud sound of lively Italians arguing with each other under the windows while shouting out their animated greetings as they pass one another in the streets. Flowers on the rooftops, stone archways, and cobble stone streets are just a few views in Italia that remind me that I am not in North Carolina anymore. Each stone wall and building that have been eroded away to reveal the bricks underneath all tell a tale of days past. Italians really know the meaning of “taking time to stop and smell the roses.” Life here in Italy is defiantly much slower than life in Raleigh. One of my favorite things to do with my newly made friends has been to go sit in the quaint little café across the street and people watch while doing homework. There have been some very interesting moments here in Italia that have made me very aware that I am now the “American.” An interesting incident was in a shop, we were trying to ask for an agenda in Italian. Our efforts to communicate with the very sweet but confused woman were eventually successful after resorting to drawing pictures and acting it out. The saleswoman finally figured out what we wanted, an “agenda,” which is the same word in Italian as it was in English.

So far classes have been challenging like the classes at Meredith. The smaller class size is very pleasant and the location of our classrooms right under us is convenient. John Rose and Dr. Webb have become our connection to life in Sansepolcro by showing us the town and everything in it. The learning here goes beyond the classroom. Stepping outside is a learning experience in itself. The learning happens while experiencing the culture and different ways of life from that in America. Learning Italian is much more interactive when trying to order a cappuccino in Italian versus just reading about it in a book. The girls and I have noticed that the Italian people are night owls, the party doesn’t even start until around 10 when the streets become crowded with young people and old people alike. Adults with their children are out in the street eating gelato and socializing in the cafes and bars. Although small, Sansepolcro has a hopping night life with hundreds of people lining the streets out until the wee hours of the morning. The Italians have the same schedule as a college student of staying up late and taking a nap during the day. During the afternoon there is a down period or siesta. Shops and businesses close for a while in the afternoon from 1 until about 4. During this break Italians eat their largest meal of the day and take a nap or just socialize with friends and family. As mentioned before, one of my favorite things about the afternoon is just sitting and talking to people, which is a foreign concept to us Americans who “eat and run” to the next thing on our ridiculous check list.

Young people here in Sansepolcro hang out and socialize just like people our age do in the US. I cannot wait until I get to meet some more people our age but the language barrier is a bit of a deterrent for the moment. I have thoroughly enjoyed getting to know the girls on the trip with me, we have all bonded instantly and have already made some great memories and laughs. Our favorite past times here in Italy include going to get gelato and going for strolls in the lively streets. We all bonded immediately in the airport in Rome as we all worked together to find our way through the airport and to not get lost. I know there will be many more memories to come considering it is only the first week. My goal is to soak in every moment of life in Sansepolcro because I know my time here will fly by very fast. Oh yes, Note to self: never order another banana cappuccino! Ewww!

Arrivederci,

Meredith Cox