Erik Harris/Submitted PhotoThe all-inclusive study tour trip to Italy introduced 23 Cabrini students to a widespread Italian itinerary Feb. 23. The Cabrini World Ambassadors Club, the club without borders, fulfilled an eight day trip. Assistant professor of romance language, Dr. Nicholas Uliano coordinated the trip, with the help of English and communication professor, Dr. Paul Wright.
“This is a great opportunity for students to have fun and there is no pre-registration required,” Uliano said.
Once the fall rolls around interested participants must join the Cabrini World Ambassadors Club. Reservations are accepted on a first-come, first-served basis. The initial deposit will secure a space on the trip. Once guaranteed a spot, students can enroll in a pre-approved three credit course as part of their 18 credit load for the spring.
This abroad trip to Italy revolved around the core curriculum for the course. Students got an opportunity to experience the life of studying-abroad.
Cabrini World Ambassadors Club president, sophomore finance and mathematics major, Shannon Santangelo, loved the idea of the trip. “You earn three credits, and become acquainted with the world,” she said.
In addition to earning the three credits, this course falls under the primary core curriculum. The Italy trip fell under the area of aesthetics. For $1,689.00 one student could travel to Italy with all expenses paid for. This price included round-trip airfare from Philadelphia to Italy, housing in centrally-located Italian hotels, three meals daily, transportation, hotel taxes and gratuities.
Senior finance major Maria Olivia DeNadai traveled from Padova, Italy to complete her college education at Cabrini. Olivia was introduced to Cabrini when her brother attended Valley Forge Military Academy. Uliano, Wright and the students visited DeNadai at her home in which she and her mother took them out to Italy.
In comparison to Pennsylvania and the United States, according to DeNadai, they are some distinct differences between the Italian and American lifestyle, “I miss taking my bicycle everywhere, I miss the guy with the bread and the guy with the coffee. I miss my family and the relaxed lifestyle,” DeNadai said.
With a day-to-day itinerary the students traveled from one destination to another. The trip allowed them to experience Italy’s cities including Venice, Florence and Rome. Siena, Verona and Ferrara were their concentrations for much of the week. Each aspect of the trip focused on Renaissance art and architecture.
“Castle Santangelo in Rome was my favorite place. In addition to sharing the same name as me, it was just so beautiful. The pope was once there and looked up inside the chapel and saw an angel. So they refer to the castle as ‘saint angel,'” Santangelo said.
This is the second year in which The Cabrini Ambassadors Club arranged a spring break trip. Spring break of 2006 Uliano traveled to Mexico. This trip fell under the area of diversity in the Cabrini core curriculum. Next year he hopes to organize a trip to London. “The Italy trip was such a success that, I would love to conduct two trips one to Italy and the other to London,” Uliano said.
While the trip is not widely advertised, if a student is interested they should contact him immediately in the beginning of the fall semester. With all accommodations paid for the trip covers the subject matter of the course. Uliano smiled because this trip is an enjoyment for him as well as the students.
“Through ample advertising and word of mouth, students will become informed. I strongly encourage interested students to come contact me,” Uliano said.
