By Matthew Laurrie
Copy Editor
Before studying abroad in Perugia, my knowledge of Italian culture stretched about as far as my obsession with the Lizzie McGuire Movie, my adoration for pizza and Saturday dinners at my grandma’s house.
Yet somehow I found myself sitting in the Buffalo Niagara International Airport – white knuckles clutching my passport, obsessively checking and rechecking my tickets, all while feigning a sense of preparedness about the adventure that awaited me.
After flying almost 5,000 miles across the Atlantic, I arrived in Italy – now somewhat more eager to begin my journey. On the first morning of classes, I walked frantically up and down cobblestone streets and foreign avenues, unable to find the Umbra Institute, where I’d be studying for the next six weeks. As I aggressively assaulted any kind-looking passerby with a few Italian phrases, I was eventually directed to my destination. That morning, I knew I was going to make it after all.
Try as I might, I just can’t seem to pop the Bona Bubble. This summer, I learned just how vast this immeasurable bond truly is.
During my time in Italy, I had the opportunity to see first-hand just how infinite the Bonaventure connection is, and learned how many rich traditions St. Bonaventure shares with the country I grew to adore so much. Whether it was meeting a group of alumni atop Mount LaVerna (void of a makeshift Starbucks and oversized leather chairs) or visiting the location where Saint Francis died, my love for Italian history and its connection to Bonaventure only deepened as my time in the country progressed.
One of the highlights of my stay was visiting the isolated city of Bagnoregio, the birthplace of St. Bonaventure himself; this picturesque, medieval city epitomized my idea of a traditional Italian mecca.
Immersing myself in the exuberant Italian culture made me happier than I think I have ever been. Living in Italy – specifically, Perugia, Umbria near the center of the Italian peninsula – ignited in me a burning passion to explore as much of Italy as I could.
When I wasn’t cliff-diving in Capri, traversing Tuscany or sightseeing in Sorrento, I ate my way through the country. The food was, for lack of a better word, extraordinary. Wherever I went, I made it a point to try the regional delicacies of that area – seafood on the Amalfi Coast, chocolate in Perugia and Panforte in Siena. Delizioso!
I’ll miss exploring the hidden alleyways of Perugia. I’ll miss sitting at Alphaville Café sipping white wine. I’ll miss unforgettable nights out at Dempsey’s. I’ll miss walking by the Amanda Knox flat on my way to class. I’ll miss the Italian language. I’ll miss the lovely people I encountered. I’ll miss weekend trips to Rome, Florence, Assisi, Naples and countless others. I’ll miss the friends I made from all over the world and the relationships I built with people close to home. Most of all, I’ll miss waking up and knowing I’m in Italy – near places I’ve dreamed about visiting all my life.
I find solace in the fact that I’ll be back someday. And when I visit again, I know I’ll find Bonaventure wherever I go. So while I may not have met my long lost twin or catapulted myself into the sensationalized pop-singing spotlight, I found out what my dreams are made of, nonetheless.
Now that special place at the heart of Italy has a special place in my heart, and always will.
@laurrimr11@bonaventure.edu
