All articles by apacione

I’ve been home about a week now, and finally recovered from the jet lag (I think)…  It’s hard to believe this adventure happened.  It all feels like a dream. Seeing the ruins of the ancient Greeks was awe-inspiring because so much of the civilized world still utilizes their technology.  I was most impressed by the
Continue reading...  

Southern Italy, Part V

I’ve seen Italy from all sides.  Places the tourists never see.  I have been very fortunate.  It has been humbling, and eye opening.  I appreciate more deeply now what my ancestors went through to leave it for America. I think that a part of study abroad is to immerse yourself in a different culture, and
Continue reading...  

Southern Italy, Part IV

We visited the Giulia museum in Rome, dedicated to the ancient Etruscans (indigenous Italians).  The Etruscan culture is so fascinating.  I particularly enjoyed learning about the hand gestures on a particular statue-couple, found on an ancient tomb. They may have been holding small vials, but the Professor indicated that they might also be gesticulating, as
Continue reading...  

Southern Italy, Part III

I got up early and went to breakfast at 7. I like to take my time in the morning and be on time for class, full, refreshed, ready. I slept well and it’s a good day. We visited the archaeological excavation of Cumae, today.  It was lovely because it’s the first wooded place that we’ve
Continue reading...  

Southern Italy, Part II

We have been all through Sicily, moving every 2-3 days or so. Now on the 3rd day in Naples. My favorite places in Sicily were Agrigento and the Valley of Temples, as well as Castellammare del Golfo, a small coastal town. We also visited Selinunte and saw the ruins there, and the highlight of that
Continue reading...  

Southern Italy, Part I

We saw the show of Goya Portraits at the National Portrait Gallery, epic in scale and elegant in detail. The National Gallery held original paintings and drawings by Leonardo da Vinci – what a treat to see those in person! I know you would have loved it. The Courtauld held paintings ranging from the ancient
Continue reading...  

Afterthoughts on the London Experience (Part III)

In addition to learning the value of and feeling grateful for the presence of my group to depend on, I also learned that there is a priceless value in feeling useful to the people you are with. Before we left, I had scouted out a great deal on prepaid SIM cards that some of us
Continue reading...  

Afterthoughts on the London Experience (Part II)

On the day of departure, I felt grateful to be meeting my group at the airport.  It is so much nicer to travel in a pack than to travel alone.  The international flight on a British airline was spectacular.  They fed us regularly and were very attentive.  The jet was the biggest I had ever
Continue reading...  

Afterthoughts on London Experience (Part I)…

I hope you will have the experience of studying abroad much sooner in your life than I did. There is nothing quite like seeing and being in a new place full of people and things different from what one usually sees from day to day, to freshen one’s perspective on life. How do I begin to
Continue reading...  

Home Again… Reflecting on London Experience

I believe I have been home for a week now. What a whirwind experience London was.  The professor kept us very busy every day and we saw so much… I find myself struggling to retain it all.  The art was breathtaking… Leonardo, van Gogh, Monet, Rembrandt, William Blake, Goya, Auerbach, and countless others… I find
Continue reading...  

A Memo to Self on Cultural Adjustment

Here are just a few of the little nuances I noticed about the British in London: The people are more shy about looking you in the eye when you pass on the street. It is like this to some degree in New York, as well. But, being a person who is naturally shy, I have
Continue reading...  

A Letter Home…

Hi there, Sorry for my curt response last night. I was just glancing through emails on my phone in the last five minutes of consciousness.  Coincidentally, Amy had just sent our class an email about the British Telecommunications Tower – at the same time I got your email, so I thought I’d pass that along.
Continue reading...  

London Art Seminar: The London Eye and the Tate Modern

Monday, 4th January, 2016: Professor got us up nice and early to walk across town and the Millenium Bridge to the South Bank, where we were to ride the London Eye. It is the fourth largest Ferris wheel in the world, surpassed by the Star of Nanchang, the Singapore Flyer, and Las Vegas’ High Roller,
Continue reading...  

Day One in London

Since arriving here Sunday morning, it has been a whirlwind of activity. I will try to recapture some of these thoughts and feelings before they are lost. Sunday, 3rd January, 2016: With two small bags, I departed from JFK to Heathrow, my first time overseas. It was the biggest jet I had ever been on.
Continue reading...  

Pre-departure to London, Winter Intercession 2016

Monty Python, the Beatles, Led Zeppelin, Jethro Tull… Ever since I was a kid, it seems everything I loved and gravitated to came out of British culture. It’s been a lifelong dream to visit London. Today, that dream comes true! I am a graduate student in the Painting program at SUNY New Paltz. It is
Continue reading...