The Basics

As most of you already know, my name is Maria Schlecht, and I am a Junior at UW-Madison studying English Literature, History, and Italian. 

In just 5 short days I will be boarding a plane in Chicago, which will take me first to Frankfurt, Germany for a short layover and then on to Bologna, Italy where I will be living for the next four months (August 30th-December 31st). I will be studying at the Università di Bologna–the oldest university in Europe (founded in 1088). The university is so old that it boasts alumni such as Thomas Becket, Copernicus, and Dante, just to name a few. Needless to say, the history major in me is excited. 

I will be studying through Indiana University's Bologna Consortial Studies Program (BCSP). Many other universities partner with Indiana to take part in this program so I will be with students from all across the country. I am one of two UW-Madison students going, so hopefully bonding over culture shock and struggling to speak/understand a foreign language will be a good way to make friends with some of the people in my program. Classes don't start until the beginning of October, so for the first month I will be taking pre-session classes in Italian language, history, and culture with the rest of the people in my program, as well as going on a few weekend excursions to different places in and surrounding Bologna, such as Ravenna and an adorable vineyard just outside the city.

When I first arrive I will stay for 10 days in a hotel while I find an apartment in the city with other non-American students at the university. The program will help me with some things, like choosing which classes to take and giving me basic information about how to survive abroad. For the most part, however, I will be on my own. This means I'll have to shop, cook, travel, make friends, and generally survive in a culture (and language) different from anything I've ever experienced. It will be a challenge, but I couldn't be more excited to begin this new adventure!