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Study Abroad Pre Essay

The document discusses the author's upcoming trip to Italy. They plan to visit several major cities and sites including Rome, Florence, Venice, Pompeii, and the Amalfi Coast. The author is excited to experience the culture and sights of Italy, especially places related to history and their field of medicine. They also discuss researching Italian customs to be respectful of local traditions and manners during their visit.

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37 views2 pages

Study Abroad Pre Essay

The document discusses the author's upcoming trip to Italy. They plan to visit several major cities and sites including Rome, Florence, Venice, Pompeii, and the Amalfi Coast. The author is excited to experience the culture and sights of Italy, especially places related to history and their field of medicine. They also discuss researching Italian customs to be respectful of local traditions and manners during their visit.

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© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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I have always wanted to go to Italy ever since I was young.

I really like the atmosphere


and culture there as well. I’m especially excited to see Rome and Pompeii since those have
always been intriguing to me. I am extra excited that the trip is specific to my major and the field
of medicine since I would have just gone on the trip regardless, this just makes it better.

While I am there, I expect to experience a lot of amazing sights and places. While in
Rome, I am excited to see the Colosseum, the Vatican and St. Peter’s Basilica. While in Florence,
I am excited to see the Duomo, the art, the bridges, and the numerous rivers. The Amalfi Coast
offers an amazing view of the buildings built into the side of the cliffs and the amazing water as
well as the lemons. Venice has the intrigue of the gondolas and just the overall ambiance.
Pompeii will be amazing to see just to be able to step foot in such a historical place. Bologna is
known for its amazing food and wine which is exciting, especially the gelato. I have heard that it
is very good and I want to try it for myself to find out. The food in general seems to be
reasonably priced which is a nice bonus since sometimes food is a major expense when traveling.

A brief history of a few of the places I will be visiting - Rome is a city that needs no
introduction. It is the capital of Italy and home to some of the most impressive ancient ruins in
the world. You can explore the Colosseum, the Roman Forum, and the Pantheon, all of which are
must-see sights. The city is also home to the Vatican, the smallest state in the world and the
headquarters of the Roman Catholic Church. You can see the Sistine Chapel and St. Peter's
Basilica, both of which are located within the Vatican. Florence is another city that is famous for
its art and architecture. It was the birthplace of the Renaissance and home to some of the most
famous artists and architects of the time. You can explore the Uffizi Gallery, which houses works
by Botticelli, Michelangelo, and Leonardo da Vinci. They can also see the Duomo, a magnificent
cathedral with a stunning dome designed by Brunelleschi. Venice is a unique city that is built on
water. It is famous for its canals, gondolas, and stunning architecture. You can take a ride in a
gondola and explore the city's many waterways. You can also visit St. Mark's Basilica, one of the
most beautiful churches in Italy, and the Doge's Palace, which was the seat of the Venetian
government. The Amalfi Coast is a beautiful stretch of coastline that runs along the Tyrrhenian
Sea. It is famous for its colorful villages, stunning beaches, and crystal-clear waters. You can
take a drive along the coast and stop in towns like Positano and Amalfi. You can also take a boat
tour to see the coastline from the water.

I’m not too sure what to think about the people I will be encountering while I will be
there. I have heard that most Italians are very friendly to tourists but may be a bit put off if you
don’t respect their customs which is understandable. In order to prepare for this I have been
doing my research on Italian customs and their ways of life so as to not impede on them. The
most notable ones are- it is common for Italian friends and families to kiss on the cheek when
they meet, irrespective of their gender, stand up out of respect when an older person enters the
room, it is important to dress neatly and respectfully, cover your mouth when yawning or
sneezing, hats should be removed indoors, it is impolite to remove one’s shoes in front of others,
punctuality is not tight in social situations, in Italy, ‘on time’ can mean 20, 30 or even 45 minutes
late, opening doors for the elderly, men often opening doors for women, and standing to greet
any senior person that walks into the room.

The landscape of Italy is very vast and complicated. The Apennine peninsula, the famous
'boot' of Italy, has as its backbone the Apennine Mountains, a branch of the Alps with a length of
about 1000 kilometers through the landscape of Italy. This mountain range characterizes almost
the entire boot from north to south. On both sides of the mountain range is hill country and along
the coast a narrow strip of lowland. The Apennines form a watershed; to the east of the
mountains the rivers cut through the hills and to the west there are many plateaus between the
hills. The landscape of Italy is also characterized by volcanoes. In the south there is still active
volcanism and there are about a dozen volcanoes that have erupted more or less recently. In the
last century there have been eruptions on Vesuvius, the last of which occurred in the war year
1944. Stromboli and Etna in Sicily are much more active (in 2007 there was another large
eruption on Etna, but smaller eruptions are available all year round). At a height of 3263 meters,
the fiery Etna rises above everything. The volcano is immediately recognizable by the eternal
plume of smoke. There are regular eruptions, sometimes up to three times a year. Lesser activity
occurs year round on Etna.

Overall, I am very excited to be able to visit Italy. Being able to go on this trip will be
beneficial to both my academic career as well as my personal growth as a person since I will be
able to experience a whole new culture and lifestyle.

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