Author: Amrusha Ranjith | Major: Public Health | Semester | Summer 2024

Making authentic Italian Pasta with Bolognese

My name is Amrusha Ranjith. I am majoring in Public Health and minoring in Medical Humanities and Chemistry. The program that I utilized is API Florence: Business, Arts, and Humanities. As stated in the program name, I studied abroad in Florence, Italy. I believe that Florence is a city full of rich culture, tradition, and art. I wanted to be able to experience Italian culture in person which is why I decided to study abroad in this city. I also knew that Florence was a good place to study to travel to other countries and famous European cities as well. From Florence, people can travel to Spain, France, Switzerland, and within Italy like Venice, Rome, and the Amalfi coast as well. I was in Florence for 4 weeks during the Summer Two session in July.
While abroad, the two classes that I took were out of my normal expertise and comfort zone. I was challenged intellectually in ways that I didn’t even know before the experience. I took Italian Food and Culture as well as Italian Wine and Culture. Although these were both hands-on classes, we focused most of the class on learning about Italian history and the reason
why their cuisine/wines were so significant in their identities and culture. I was particularly challenged when I was asked to recreate my own dish for my Italian food final. I not only had to cook under a time-crunch but I also had to give a presentation on the region the dish originated in. I chose cannoli and here are some facts I used: cannoli is named after using “logs” to fry it in Mt. Etna has rich soil where they can easily cultivate pistachios, and because of Sicily’s location close to the Middle East, cannolis have a Middle Eastern influence on them.

Outside of class, we also took educational trips provided by the program such as tours around cities. We learned about the Medici family’s influence in Florence, the wine windows, and the architecture. In Pompeii, we learned about the ancient settlers and their traditions that influenced the growth of the Italian regions. Overall, I learned so many things about Italian history and I am grateful for the experience.

Studying abroad was a completely different experience than being on campus because I was surrounded by students from other parts of the United States in a completely different country. I had to live with 3 girls I had never met before and travel with people who were also trying to figure their way out in a new country, and I believe it made me a stronger person overall. My roommates and I bonded since day one, and we would not have even met if it was not for this program. Some challenges I faced were language barriers and budgeting. However, since everyone I was surrounded by was facing the same issues, we learned how to overcome those challenges together. Studying abroad taught me the importance of collaboration, communication, time management, and curiosity. I will definitely recommend this experience to anybody because it is unmatched and shaped who I am today.