Hello, I am Donovan Jones, a sophomore at the University of Oregon. I am a Business Administration major with a minor in Italian Language and Culture. I studied abroad in Siena, Italy in the Spring of 2019. Coming into the UO, I knew studying abroad was one of the things I wanted to do, but I never thought I would go my freshman year. One day during winter break just weeks before the application was due, I found myself searching the GEO website for programs I could potentially do, and I came across Pre-Business in Siena for first year students. I did not take a second glance, and I pulled the trigger to apply. A couple of weeks later I received my acceptance letter, and immediately decided I would be spending my spring term in Tuscany’s rolling hills.
When I landed in Italy, my excitement was overwhelming. Not because it was my first time abroad or in Italy, but because I was returning to Italy. I still had a week to enjoy before my program started, so I decided to spend time with family and friends in Rome before I made my way to Siena. My godfather greeted me as I left baggage claim, then drove back to his home in Rome. After getting settled in, my longtime friends picked me up and we headed into the city center. For the next couple of days, I would spend my time with Italians in Rome, improving my basic Italian speaking skills, and getting used to the life I would be living for the next couple of months.
When I got to Siena, I instantly fell in love with the medieval, walled city.
The city was beautiful. The narrow streets and alleys that you could explore for hours opened up to amazing, spacious piazzas, or breathtaking views of Tuscany. I did not live within the city walls though. I lived in a smaller neighborhood outside the walls, at the bottom of a hill. There, we didn’t see tourists or many shops, just the average citizens of Siena living their normal lives. Every day we walked 15-20 minutes up the hill to get to class. In the first couple weeks of the program, Siena saw some of the heaviest rain they had seen in years. That walk became a constant struggle through the rain, but when the weather cleared up it was amazing. One of the best viewpoints in the city was on this walk.
My courses during the program were set up perfectly. I had smaller classes that really allowed me to learn, and the teachers emphasized learning about the foreign country we were in. They encouraged us to go out and explore the city. Our program director even gave us a map of Siena and asked us to have every street that we visited highlighted by the end of the program. My language courses during the program had to be my favorite. My class was three students including me, which made sure we got the most out of our class time. This, and the fact that upon leaving the class I would be speaking Italian in the rest of my day improved my Italian skills.
We went on a good number of excursions during the program. Some of these were farms, wineries, and museums. My favorite was our trip to Bologna. During our trip to Bologna we visited the University of Bologna and their library, which is one of the oldest in Italy, and we also visited FICO World Eataly, a giant complex with all the food you could imagine. There were countless restaurants, stands, and shops, making and selling all types of food, from burgers and cheese to prosciutto and pasta. It was so big, you could rent bikes and electric scooters and race through the complex. Outside, there were animals, a mini-golf course, and carnival type rides. This place was heaven for people of all ages, and hopefully I go back there soon.
The absolute best part of my trip was the people.
The people I met, and the people I knew who I became closer to really made the trip. My roommates and I could not have been more perfect fits. We enjoyed exploring Italy together, and me and one of them even went to London for a weekend. I became friends with Siena’s local DJ, basketball players, and bakers. I learned Italian through them, and built relationships that will last a lifetime. My friends I already knew who live in Rome introduced me to more friends, and before I knew it I was a member of their group. They even invited me to participate in a 3 on 3 basketball tournament, where I led the team to a championship and a free steakhouse dinner!
While Siena was an amazing experience, there were some negatives that I experienced. As a Black man, I am not new to racism, in any capacity. I have experienced casual, “petty,” racism for years now, and in Italy I felt it too. From being uncomfortable because I was the only person of color in a room, or hearing racist comments by street vendors. While most of the people I came into contact with were very hospitable, others not so much. It did not ruin my trip in any way, but people just need to know that their time abroad isn’t going to be just picturesque views and amazing people.
On that note, I did learn a lot during my time in Italy. A lot about the culture, and myself. I learned about my love for other cultures, and just seeing new people. I know that in the future I want to study abroad again, and even live abroad if I get the chance.