La Dolce Vita for Bryant students

Sophomore International Experience trip immerses 50 students in Italian culture for two weeks.

Miguel Dominguez ’10 (Providence, RI) hopes his recent trip to Italy is just the first of many stamps he gets on his passport.

For two weeks at the end of May, Dominguez was one of 50 students who traveled to Italy as part of the Sophomore International Experience (SIE) to study and immerse himself in the culture.

(Photo on the left) Miguel Dominguez ’10 (Providence, RI) and (photo on the right) Cory Lunn ’10 (Nassau, Bahamas).

After his first trip abroad, the management concentrator with a minor in legal studies is already planning to spend the spring semester studying in Spain.

“Spending 12 days in Italy got me even more excited about the possibility of studying abroad in Spain next spring,” says Dominguez. “By traveling abroad, my college experience becomes that much more memorable.”

A group of 50 Bryant students spent two weeks in May studying and living in Italy as part of the Sophomore International Experience.

The students were split into two groups with the “Amber” team led by V.K. Unni, vice president for academic affairs, and his wife Nirmala Unni; David Lux, dean of the College of Arts and Sciences; and Beth Engwall, study abroad advisor. President Ronald K. Machtley, First Lady Kati Machtley, Associate Director of International Admission John Eriksen, and Director of Transfer Admission Brenda Doran led the “Blue” team.

The students visited Rome, Florence, Pompeii, and Tuscany and had the opportunity to see St. Peter’s Basilica, tour the picturesque countryside of Tuscany, and visit the historic Garbatella neighborhood in Rome. The group enjoyed authentic Italian cuisine – a must for any trip to Italy – and even had the chance to try their hand at one of Italy’s top cooking schools “In TAVOLA.”

(L-R) Caitie Fahey '10 (Milford, MA), Cory Lunn ’10 (Nassau, Bahamas), Tracey Gant ’10 (Baltimore, MD), and Miguel Dominguez ’10 (Providence, RI).

The students agreed that one of the top highlights of the trip was the opportunity to experience the grandeur and the history that is the Coliseum in Rome.

“Visiting the Coliseum was my favorite,” says Dominguez. “Walking toward the immense structure sent chills through my bones. To think that architecture more than four thousand years old still stands shows the design geniuses that the Romans were.”

(L-R) Lindsay Rankin '10 (Willington, CT), Stacey Cook '11 (Beverly, MA), Laurie Freedman ’10 (Peabody, MA), Erin Reilly '10 (Newington, CT), Lisa Tenaglia '10 (Tewksbury, MA), and Brittany Murphy '10 (Norwich, CT) in front of the Forum.

“I have seen many pictures in magazines, movies, and books, but nothing prepared me for the real thing,” says Cory Lunn ’10 (Nassau, Bahamas). “It felt amazing to be standing in a place where gladiator battles were fought over a millennium ago and is a major part of Roman history.”

The best part of the trip for Laurie Freedman ’10 (Peabody, MA) was applying what she learned through books, films, and language exercises prior to the trip. She found this especially helpful when interacting with the Italian locals. The trip is a dress rehearsal of sorts for Freedman, who will spend the fall studying in London.

(Photo on the left) Laurie Freedman ’10 (Peabody, MA), (photo in the center) Anthony Marchionda ’10 (Towaco, NJ), and (photo on the right) Jessica McGee ’10 (Adrian, MI).

“I would highly recommend the SIE trip to my classmates and would encourage them to experience as much of the sights, culture, and language as they could,” says Freedman.

Like many of her classmates, the trip to Italy was the first time abroad for Jessica McGee ’10 (Adrian, MI). Not long after returning from the trip, she was affirming the advantages of the SIE program to incoming students in her role as an Orientation Leader.

(L-R) Cory Lunn ’10 (Nassau, Bahamas), Stacey Cook '11 (Beverly, MA), Lindsay Rankin '10 (Willington, CT), and Anthony Marchionda ’10 (Towaco, NJ).

“I tell the students to make it a priority to go because it will be one of the most amazing experiences you will have as a Bryant student,” she says.

For Anthony Marchionda ’10 (Towaco, NJ) and Tracey Gant ’10 (Baltimore, MD) the trip to Italy sparked an interest in future travels abroad. Both would like to study in Australia one day.

(L-R) Erin Reilly '10 (Newington, CT) and Laurie Freedman ’10 (Peabody, MA) in front of the Coliseum.

The overarching sentiment from the students was their Italian experience will not soon be forgotten.

“This was an experience of a lifetime, and I am glad this opportunity was afforded to me,” says Lunn.

To learn more, read blog entries written by the students during their time abroad.