This summer I had the privilege of studying the Italian language and learning archaeological fieldwork techniques by participating in an Italian excavation. The overall experience in itself was two-pronged. First I spent time working with the Leno Project through the University of Verona on an archaeology site in a small town outside of Brescia, Italy. Each day we would wake a little after sunrise and excavate until early evening. Working with other university students, primarily from surrounding Italian cities, and professors, we slowly exposed and analyzed different layers of soil within a medieval home. We also spent time cleaning and cataloguing finds from our excavations including things like shards of pottery, animal bones, and mosaic pieces. The most interesting part of this experience was the fact that I was both the only American on site and the only native English speaker. Therefore I quickly had to learn how to rely on observation, tone, and gestures. Through the patience and kindness of my peers, I even picked up some Italian archaeology vocabulary.
Next, I spent a month in Venice completing an intensive Italian language and immersion program through the Istituto Venezia. Through this program, I was placed in a homestay and attended daily classes. These classes had an emphasis on complete immersion as other languages were not allowed to be spoken during the lessons. In fact, speaking English, even when I wanted to, sometimes proved difficult because each student had a different native tongue. Overall, the program helped me build confidence in speaking the language through the importance placed on conversational skills and basic dialogue. Although we did have daily grammar lessons, the teachers encouraged an active classroom environment in which we were constantly talking rather than being lectured at. This then enabled me to have productive conversations with my host family entirely in Italian. Sometimes I would even go an entire day without speaking any English whatsoever.
As a classical studies major, the excavation allowed me to gain a deeper appreciation of my field by understanding the lengths to which archaeologists must take in order to create an understanding of history. Such slow, and sometimes painstaking work, showed me how even meticulous study of the different layers of soil could paint a picture of events that had transpired within the space. It was a truly unique experience to be able to study culture at a base level and use analytical skills to put “finds” into a historical context. This environment certainly put me to the test as I found myself struggling to maintain a positive attitude as I grappled with the language barrier with my supervisors; however, I learned more creative ways to express myself with my peers. I ultimately learned what a blessing it is to be able to communicate with a group of people efficiently and that a simple smile can end up speaking volumes. I learned that attitude and perseverance through times of frustration are everything. I also learned how to be self-reliant as I traveled alone and built up my own confidence.
My summer had its own set of emotional highs and lows as I struggled to effectively communicate with others and spent time alone in a foreign country; but I wouldn’t trade the experience for the world. Thank you IJʿ for allowing me to pursue this lifelong dream of mine.