Student Blog

Recently, I read an article in the Atlantic called Living With Less. It is about the minimalist lifestyle, “living a simpler, less materialistic life”. I realized that was exactly one of the reasons why I love the experience of living and studying abroad. There is something very liberating and simultaneously terrifying about pairing down your life to a few essential items that fit into one suitcase and leaving the comforts of home to nourish your own personal and professional growth.

It’s been about a month since I have taken part in my amazing course abroad. In that time we studied art history in Florence and Rome encompassing the Renaissance, High Renaissance, and Baroque art including architecture. What I wanted was to enrich my education and build on subjects I have already studied to some extent. Not only was that achieved but it also was a catalyst in my future goals for education and travel.

Half way through studying abroad in Italy, and I would have to say that it’s been absolutely amazing and unforgettable! For this course we’ve have 2 ½ weeks in Florence studying the Renaissance, and now our final 2 ½ weeks will be in Rome studying art and architecture.

As an art student, the thought of studying the Impressionists (or really any artist) in Paris is enough to make you squeal and the opportunity to attend the Documenta Art Exhibition in Kassel, Germany was something I had been dreaming about since my first year of university. Needless to say when Dorothy Barenscott told me I could do both I responded with “where do I sign up?”