The Long Weekend

Now that we're back from our long weekend, everyone is relaxed and ready for what's in store next. Having four days to travel rather than the usual three allowed students to get to places and really immerse themselves in the culture. A large group of students, almost half, headed to Barcelona, Spain where they spent the weekend soaking up the sun and staying up late. Barcelona is a town full of character and adventure, especially Las Ramblas. Pictured below is a group of street performers on the famous walk, where you can find everything from fresh flowers to Spain souveniors.

Other students went to Rome, Prague, Amsterdam, and even Nice, France. It seemed that beach destinations were the most popular for this long weekend, as it gave a little chance for R&R away from the University. Nice was full of sunny skies, a beautiful sea, and great people. While unable to board the yachts of the French Riviera, it was definitely a sight to see!

It's hard to believe we've already had our second weekend away from Bergamo. Time is flying by, before we know it we'll be saying our goodbyes at the Castle Party. But until then we have a ton of fun things planned. Tonight a pasta party, tomorrow a free day, then it's away again for the weekend.

Keep checking back for more updates, and if you have any questions, leave us a comment, we'd love to hear from you all back in the States! Ciao!

Busy, Busy, Busy...

Wow, time is flying. I'm sure you can tell by our lack of blogging that we have been busy this past week! Between weekend travel, days off, school, and parties it feels like this trip is running at full speed. Here's a little recap of what we did last week:

*Weekend Travel

This was our first chance to get out of Bergamo and explore all that Europe has to offer. A big group of students went to Prague, another to Rome, and several to Cinque Terre, Berlin, and Barcelona. It interesting to see what other cities, and even countries have to offer and how they compare to life back in Bergamo. The group in Prague had a great time seeing the Clock chime on the hour, as well as check out the cool architecture of the ancient city.

The groups in Rome and Florence also fun visiting an entirely different side of Italy. Checking out the Coliseum, Trevi Fountain, and Spanish Steps all proved to be exciting as well as informative. The weather was agreeable and no one could ask for a better weekend!

*Pizza Party

This is always one of our most exciting parties! The Missouri and Italian students gather at a famous pizza place here in Bergamo where we chat and munch on meter long pizza...yes, thats right, it's a meter long! The pizza is cooked in a huge brick oven, then brought out and cute right in front of you. We exchanged our program T-Shirts here, as well, so expect to see a lot of Bergamo University shirts back on campus. Tons of pictures were taken this night, so check out our ShutterFly page later!

*Class

Of course, that's why we are here, right? Classes have been going well. Students are having fun learning about international business in an international setting. A lot of the professors are requiring that Missouri and Italian students work on projects together which is proving to be a lot of fun. It seems that a lot of friendships are being formed, a soccer game between American and Italian students is in the works as we speak!

Well, that's our week in a nutshell. We have a lot more coming up, so stay posted so see what we've been up to here in Bergamo. Ciao!

Free Day!

Ciao! We cannot believe how fast this week has gone by. We've already had our first week of class, and our first break from Bergamo...free day!

Many students went to Venice or Lake Como, but several also hung our here to get better acquainted with this great city.

Those leaving Bergamo had an early morning, with trains departing around 7am. Venice had great weather, perfect for a relaxing gondola ride. Here most students walked around and enjoyed the sights. Saint Marc's Square, the Grand Canal, and the Bridge of Sighs all were packed with people visiting the historical city. Of course, this was a great place to pick up souveniors, from Murano and Venecian Glass to authentic Masks and Lace. Everyone enjoyed authentic Italian meals, many complete with gelato and a glass of vino.

Lake Como also had great weather. Students visiting hear were greeted by pristine views of both the lack and the Alps, a really beautiful setting. Many chose to take boats from town to town, visiting the quaint streets and sampling delicious foods unique to this region. Of course, pointing out George Clooney's home was a highlight! Everyone who went to Lake Como had a great time, so we highly recommend it if you ever get up this way!

Of course, those staying in Bergamo also had a great afternoon. Catching up on sleep, exploring Cita Alta, or shopping in Porto Nouva were all popular options. The sun was shining and it was a great day.

This weekend students will be heading all over Europe, visiting Prague, Berlin, Cinque Terra, Rome, Florence, and everywhere in between. We are sure everyone will be coming back with tons of stories and pictures! Have a great weekend, we'll be back on Monday! Arrivederci!

Half way done with Week One!

Ciao!

Last night we were all able to go to a local discoteca with the Italians! Everyone seemed to have a great time and it was good for everyone to be able to mingle with their new Italians friends outside of the classroom. The discoteca played a lot of American music and there were strobe lights throughout the entire room. It was a good time!

Yesterday was the first day for a new Italian language class. About 10-15 students showed up and we were all able to learn a little more Italian! We learned common phrases as well as the numbers 0-20. Several students are very eager to learn more and this group will meet twice a week until the end of the trip. No credits are offered, just a great opportunity! Hopefully this will help us get around town easier!

Tomorrow is the first full free day for the students. Most seem to be going to Venice to see the beautiful city and ride the gondolas! A few students were considering Lake Como which is a wonderful day trip with unbelievable views! I know a few of the students are wishing and hoping to see George Clooney. Some of the students are going to wake up really early to be able to stay the entire day at there destination but others are considering sleeping in! Both seem to be good options.

We will keep you updated on all the day and weekend travels! Hope all is well :)

First Day of Class

Ciao tutti! Today is our first day of class...and a long day it will be. Students start at 8:30am in their American/Missouri led class, which lasts until 11:30. These courses are taught by the Missouri professors, and have a mix of American and Italian students. Next, we will have a two hour lunch break, to wander around the University area and grab a bite to eat (pizza, perhaps?)

From 1:30-4:30 classes taught by the Italian professors take place, again a mix of American and Italian students learning together. This is a great way for everyone to meet and make plans to hang out outside of school. Today everyone is a little tired, as many exlpored the upper city, Cita Alta last night after our orientation at the University.

So far everyone is in awe of how beautiful Bergamo is. The views are amazing from Cita Alta, so expect a lot of pictures to be posted soon. Jet-lag is starting to wear off, and energy is high. Tonight we have a party with our Italian friends at a new disco in Bergamo. Check back tomorrow for more!

Exploring the Town

Today we had a break before classes start tomorrow, so we took advantage of the great weather and explored Bergamo. Getting used to the public transportation system was our first obstacle, the bus schedules can be a little difficult to read, but easy once you get the hang of it. We took a bus to the University and then to Porto Nouva, a great little shopping square. Next we ventured up to Cita Alta, the "High City", a historical (and beautiful!) part of Bergamo. We took a break and had a great lunch overlooking the town square, and of course, a little more gelato!

Tonight we will head back to the University and have an orientation where we learn a little more about the program and meet the Italian and Erasmus students studying with us. We really look forward to meeting new friends. After a short buffet of finger foods and drinks we may head back to Cita Alta for a relaxing night. Keep checking back, we will have pictures up soon!

We're Here!

We have all safely arrived to our hostel in Bergamo, Italy. After a few delays and lost bags, we are all safe and sound. We were greeted at our hostel by Sergio and Simona, the hostel managers, with a great lunch and comfortable beds. After those long flights, we were very happy to see both. We spent most of the day unpacking and acclimating ourselves with your new 'home'.

In the evening we celebrated our arrival with a party at the hostel. The staff cooked a delicious spread of three different pastas, salad, and of course, our favorite...gelato! For many this was their first time eating the amazing ice cream, and everyone wanted more. With our day off on Monday, we will be exploring Bergamo and meeting our new Italian friends at the University. Stay posted for more!