GIF Families- Gonzaga: Here and There
By: Savannah Kneeland-Salem
Considering that Florence is the birthplace of the Renaissance, the people in this beautiful city know a thing or two about art. Besides the endless, awe-inspiring statues, paintings, and architecture, they have mastered the art of panino making (and no that is not a typo, panino is the singular form and panini is the plural form for sandwich in Italian; remember if you visit.), maneuvering mopeds on cobblestone roads, and living their everyday lives well. Since arriving in Florence a few short weeks ago, I have learned so much. The best sandwich is the salami, pecorino, with pepper spread from Sandwichic. Do not jaywalk unless you want to be run over. And as cliché as it sounds, live in the moment.
Gonzaga University, back in Spokane, has been an amazing home for the past two years. I live with my best friends, learn from some of the finest professors, get to cheer on my favorite basketball team from a few rows back, and enjoy the everyday conveniences provided by an American university that I had taken for granted before. I cannot complain much about Gonzaga, but I can say it is busy. The typical GU student is known to be on the go: running to class from the gym, from one extracurricular to the next, to the COG from an internship. I am no exception; something always needs to be done and it leaves little time to just explore and appreciate the everyday beauty and wonder life offers. Florence does.
Florence is anything, but routine. Sure there are a few constants: the GIF staff will always be helpful, meals at the pensione will be filled with nonstop chatter, and getting out of bed for an 8am class will be a struggle. However, for the most part, every day offers new surprises and discoveries. One day, Italian classes will venture out to a local bakery to practice ordering food; the next, art classes will view ancient masterpieces on their museum tours. Local students from other universities will visit for the morning or a local business will welcome a class to learn about their profession. Class is immersive and unexpected, engaging every student and pushing us to grow in a way we never would have guessed. I have never witnessed so many college kids get this excited about going to school.
The teachers and staff urge us to embrace the Italian lifestyle and get out and explore. Afternoons are often spent exploring famous sites, checking out local shops, and wandering new neighborhoods. Nights are spent playing intramurals against other university students, visiting with local families through English for Pasta, or attending soccer matches, cooking classes and more. Meals are enjoyed slowly and we have learned how to be fully present in our conversations and build meaningful connections with our friends abroad. Italy’s variable wifi started as frustrating, but is now viewed as a blessing in disguise. Instead of constantly scrolling through Instagram or messing around on Facebook, we are liberated to enjoy the current moment.
It has only been a few weeks, but for myself and for those who have come along on this ride with me, it has been transformative. We have witnessed the welcoming nature of the Italian people and the community in Florence and at GIF. We have felt how meaningful building deep connections with one another is. We have learned about art, politics, history, language, cooking, business, wine, religion, globalization, friendship, budgeting, traveling, reflection and much, much more. We have felt how beautiful it is to build deep connections with one another. We have overcome challenges and problem solved in desperate situations. We have taken a great appreciation for living for the present moment and enjoying all that life has to offer. There is a famous Italian phrase, living “la dolce vita,” which essentially means to enjoy the simple luxuries and live happily, and Gonzaga-in-Florence has made that possible.