• One Month Down, Two to Go

    by  • October 3, 2017 • Music Program, Student Life, Undergraduate Programs • 0 Comments

    The Undergrads have finished their first month at the ADA! With the theatre students traveling in Ljubljana, Slovenia this week, the music students had the whole villa to themselves! This week’s AdaLife Bloggers are  music students Rose ShueElysia Hempel, and Jack Wagner!


     

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    Theatre students on their bus ride to Ljubljana!

    Rose Shue, Furman University

    As I write this, I am sitting on a wall overlooking the city of Arezzo, surrounded by
    mountains and so much peace. I’ve been living in Italy for exactly a month now, and
    during that time I’ve taken four trips to various landmarks around the country, visited
    dozens of churches and museums, attended operas and concerts, and become a gelato
    expert. Despite all of that, my favorite moments so far have been the quieter ones. There
    is a certain sense here of having space and time to just exist, to listen to each part of
    your being and fill yourself with air and sky and music. It is beautiful and breathtaking
    every single day.
    Last weekend, I went on a trip to Rome with eight other music students. Even though we
    were only there for about 35 hours, we visited almost every tourist attraction there is:
    the Sistine Chapel, the Trevi Fountain, the Colosseum, the Pantheon, and so on. We
    even managed to find time to attend a Solemn High Mass at St. Peter’s Basilica on
    Sunday morning. I will never forget the way I felt as Isat and waited for the mass to
    begin, a tiny being in the midst of such a grand space. In that moment, I could feel the
    same faith and emotion that is interwoven with the beginnings of so much of our
    Western art music. I am fascinated by the idea that someone else sat in that very space
    long ago, that they witnessed the creation of sound and were touched by it just as I am
    touched by the music I create today.
    Needless to say, experiences like these give meaning and context to the music I study in
    a way that nothing else can, and I’m so thankful to be here. I can’t wait for what the next
    two months have in store!

     

    Elysia Hempel, Goucher College
    Here is a video of the music students who traveled to Rome for the weekend making a wish andtossing coins into the Trevi Fountain!

    This past weekend, nine music students visited the Colosseum, Roman Forum, Pantheon, Trevi Fountain, the Roman Capital Building, the Vatican as well as modern art museums. The amount of culture and history that one can find in Rome is incredible. I high recommend visiting the Eternal City if you are in search of a unique, educational and breathtaking trip!

     

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    Theatre students arrive in Ljubljana!

     

    Jack Wagner, Furman University
    Things I’ve learned from living in Italy for a month…

    Internet is a nonessential.

          WiFi here is anything but reliable, but after freaking out because
    you can’t finish a SNL skit, you begin to realize that it’s infinitely more valuable to
    invest your time into the people and places around you than stupid videos.

    Tough times are not exclusive to States.

          While it may seem inconceivable, Italy is not
    always paradise, and life is still life no matter where you may be. And sometimes life
    sucks. But it’s during these times that it’s important to take a step back and
    appreciate the beauty around you.

    Adjust quickly.

         Things will not always go as planned or how you envisioned a certain
    grandiose Italian experience to pan out. Tough. It’s more important to roll with the
    punches and take experiences as they unfold in front of you. It’s often the unscripted
    moments that are the most memorable.

    Lose yourself sometimes.

         Some of the best restaurants I’ve tried in the past month have
    been found only because a group of us wandered and walked into it by chance. The
    side-streets are full of hidden gems, and sometimes it takes getting lost to have the
    best panino of your life.

    Y not?

       Study abroad is (for most people) a once in a lifetime opportunity, and the memories
    made during our short stay here are ones that will remain with us the rest of our
    lives. Now is the time to take chances and push yourself past your comfort zone,
    because you never know what sort of adventure and experience lies ahead.

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