By Emelia Hitchner
Students will have the opportunity to experience the culture of Rome in May through Daytona State College’s Study Abroad program, led by humanities professor Vincent Piazza and assisted by geography professor Christopher Whitaker.
The program features a humanities course that focuses on the Classical, Renaissance and Baroque eras of Italy. Each day of the trip will highlight museums, galleries, and locations that will allow students to experience the culture of Italy face-to-face.
An all inclusive package, the 2,500 dollar expenditure covers fees for the students’ round-trip airfare, hotel rooms, European style breakfasts and travel insurance, as well as the advantage of a personal guide and translator through professor Piazza. The cost of such an experience was reduced this year compared to previous Study Abroad trips, when the College used third party tour companies to assist the program.
Piazza and Whitaker proposed to open a non-profit account in the name of the College that would cover the needs of students while keeping the cost within a certain limit. Unlike previous trips through third party companies, if a certain number of participants is not reached, the students’ money can be refunded.
“It’s our study abroad program. It’s a Daytona State organization and that’s what we’re moving to. We’re experimenting and it looks like it’s going to work,” said Piazza enthusiastically.
“We’re doing this to bring down the price. We’re trying to build the program here. We’ve learned a lot of lessons about how to maximize students’ experiences at the lowest possible cost,” added Whitaker. “It looks like we can save maybe $1,500 to $2,000 dollars over the price last year.”
A strategically planned itinerary includes visits to the Sistine Chapel, the Coliseum, the Vatican Museum and many more of Italy’s historical and educational sites. Although Rome will be the center of the educational attraction, excursions to Pompeii and Florence are also incorporated on the nine-day trip.
Many students who previously traveled through the Study Abroad program have signed up for Piazza’s Italian expedition. Kelly Mageehee, a DSC student who traveled to Whales last year with professor Whitaker’s group enjoyed her experience with the hands-on education.
“It was fantastic. I’ve never seen culture like that and it was just so cool leaving the United States to see it,” she said, and then added that she planned to travel to Rome in May.
Students have the advantage of personal expertise under the guidance of professor Piazza. Growing up in the area, Piazza received his PhD. at the University of Rome, making him the ideal tour guide for students hoping to gain the most out of their experience.
Due to a vast amount of time dedicated by the two professors, students who travel to Rome this May will have access to unlimited personal encounters with the beauty and history of Italy.
“We collaborate a lot. This is a big job. The professor that engages in a thing like this, it’s a lot of work, but it’s a lot of fun. The satisfaction that a professor gets in doing this, you build admiration and friendship that will last a lifetime,” said Piazza.
Whitaker encouraged students to take the opportunity of such a trip.
“You learn about things in a much different way, you get academic credit while you’re doing it. Some of the students have formed personal relationships with each other and with people they’ve met in other countries that they wouldn’t have otherwise been able to establish. There are so many dynamics to it. The sheer enjoyment, the cultural experience, the contribution to their education and the ability to say they’ve done these things.”