The predominant reason that I selected this study abroad course over any other programs was because it is a geology field camp that takes place in Italy and I want to be a geologist.
So far it has been an amazing experience; I have learned a great deal both about Italian culture and geology. I attribute this to the immersive nature of this field camp. On the typical day I wake up at 6:30 to have breakfast at 7:00. By 8:00 I am out in the field hiking mountains in search of outcrops. At noon our field crew eats a packed lunch in the shade overlooking Italian landscape.
View from the Sibillini Mountain range. In Roman tradition people would climb up the mountain across from me to ask the Sibillini witches a question. The question would be met with a cryptic and unhelpful answer; this is how English got the word ‘sybil’.
Ammonite fossil preserved in the Sibillini Mountain. Pen for scale.
It is amazing to have learning integrated in every aspect of daily life, between doing the coursework and adapting to the culture. I look forward to everything else I will continue to experience and learn.