Campus News
TRAVELLING TOMCATS
by Colin Vitale ’15 When little more than pizza sauce commercials make up the average person’s understanding of Italian culture, the opportunity of visiting “The Boot” can sound quite intriguing. Upon hearing that the Dietrich Honors Institute had such a chance for an Italian escape, six lucky students packed their bags and the realization that Ragu would never again be acceptable sank in. The ten-day trip led the scholars and Institute chair Dr. Curt Thompson on a whirlwind tour of Italy’s most notable cities, including Rome, Naples, and Florence. The students’ first destination, however, was the true city of bridges: Venice. The overnight flight drained most of the group’s resolve, but a relaxing ferry trip to the heart of the city gave them a chance to rest and break the ice with their travelling compatriots. Students and community members from three other colleges were present, ranging from black to white, young to old, and everywhere in between. Every traveler found comfort in one simple consistency—no one spoke Italian. 12
The Bell • Fall 2013
This wouldn’t be a problem, though: the British tour guide proved to be a wealth of intercultural communication skills. Once the guide acquainted his followers with major landmarks, including the gondola ports and the Plaza de San Marco, they were allowed the afternoon to explore Venice’s endless roads, alleys and canals and the shops each had to offer. A flower-themed scam artist and a fancy collectible spoon later, the group sat down to a four-course meal at a local eatery featuring their own saxophone serenade on staff. The second day provided a more educational look at the town. The travelling Tomcats and their
newfound friends were treated to a Murano glass-blowing demonstration; with lightning speed, artists pulled polished horse figurines out of blobs of molten glass with haste. After this, the group split up; half went to the ports to ride gondolas while the others found generous locals to recommend somewhere for lunch. More free time capped the day as some went shopping and others jawed with the natives about architecture and history. Day three of the trip began in Florence, the fine arts capital of the world. What Florence most instilled in the travelers, however, turned out to be a knack for bartering. Endless rows of questionable merchants lined the roads, each more hungry for business than the last. The city’s fame for priceless leather also dripped down to the gutterlevel economy; some of the most convincing salespeople peddled form-fitting jackets and blazers that could trick even miserly shoppers. A day later, though, the city would prove to be worth so much more than aesthetic beauty and shifty vendors.