#MarikaRuppart

[umichenginabroad]

Week 3: Excursions and Local Life Activities

This past week, I’ve been busy participating in activities put on both by Sant’Anna institute and through CIS Abroad. Sant’Anna organized several activities each week for students to sign up for, ranging from cooking classes to painting nights and hikes. The activities are great to be immersed in the local area and culture and to meet new people. There are around 150 students studying here and I feel like I talk to someone new about every activity! 

Recently, I participated in a tiramisu making class, a sunset yoga session, and a gelato making experience at a local, family-owned gelateria. I’d have to say the gelato making was my favorite as we got to sample both lemon sorbet (a personal favorite) and chocolate gelato that we helped make. The shop also gave us all a free cone with two scoops of any flavors we wanted after we finished the class!!

(Shop owner leading the gelato making class)

CIS Abroad also organizes activities for us. They are not as often, but are usually bigger excursions. Over the last two weeks, I have gone on a wine tasting at the modest winery in Sorrento, a boat cruise along the coast to Amalfi, and a beach day at one of the beach clubs in Sorrento with lunch included. 

During the wine tasting, we learned about the whole wine making process from growing the grapes, how long each type of wine ferments in barrels, the different temperatures required for different flavors, and saw the machinery behind the packaging of the bottles. We then got to taste three different types of wine along with paired cheeses and dried meats, which was all delicious. 

(Right: Table set-up for the wine tasting, old barrels in the back and a meat, cheese, and bread board spread on the table with wine glasses set up at each seat. Left: Me holding a wine glass in front of a stack of barrels)

The cruise might have to be my favorite excursion so far as I love to travel by boat and learn some of the history of the coastline. We passed by the area said to be where the sirens of The Odyssey lived, as well as many other locations of Greek and Roman myths. After around a 1 ½ hour boat ride (I only got slightly sunburnt), we docked in Amalfi and had around 4-5 hours to explore. The town is known for its homemade paper and I loved going into various local shops and hearing about each one’s process and looking at some of the beautiful artwork.

(Left: Me and my friend standing on the dock with the part of Amalfi and the sea in the background. Right: View of Amalfi from the dock)

Lastly, I got to go to Peter’s Beach Club and hangout for the afternoon soaking up the sun and swimming in the shockingly-clear water. Usually, I just go to the small free beach near the institute so it was nice to experience the fancier beach with a sunbed and umbrella (the free lunch was a delicious bonus).

(Picture of the couscous and vegetable bowl I got for lunch with the beach visible in the background)

Both CIS Abroad and the institute do a wonderful job immersing us students in the local area and keeping us engaged. For the next few weeks, I have several big trips planned and class is picking up with midterms, projects, and field trips, so stay tuned as my next blogs should be exciting!

Marika Ruppart

Mechanical Engineering

Engineering in Sorrento, Italy 

[umichenginabroad]

Week 4: Snorkeling and Venezia

Ciao again!

This past week featured a fun field trip for Intro to Marine Bio and my first big week adventure! For the first field trip, we explored different habitats in Ieranto Bay, a marine conservation area only accessible through kayaking or by hiking down. We took the hiking route, taking in the picturesque landscape as we went.

Around 45 minutes later we got down to the bay and split into three groups to rotate through the day’s activities. My group had free time first; I spent the hour at the beach, swimming and enjoying the lovely clear water. Kayaking came next. Although we couldn’t cross the entire bay due to strong winds, we kayaked to another section, going in and out of a few caves and observing different marine habitats. I loved exploring the caves, especially one where it was so low you had to use your hands instead of the paddle to navigate! Lastly, our professor guided us in snorkeling, pointing out several key organisms and marine structures we had discussed in class. This might’ve been my favorite part as I loved diving down to look at everything up close (I even swam through an underwater tunnel lined with bright orange corals!)

(views of the bay during the hike down)

(four of us representing UMich in Ieranto Bay with the water and cliff in the background)

Over the weekend, I visited Venice and a few of the surrounding islands with some friends. I can honestly say it was the most unique place I’ve been so far. Wandering around and getting lost was so fun as there was something neat around every corner. We stayed the night in Naples Friday as we had a very early train Saturday morning (yay 4 am wake up). The train ride went smoothly and 5 hours later we emerged in The Floating City.

(Pictures of the colorful Venetian houses lining the edges of canals)

We took in the sights and wandered around for the afternoon before getting dinner (the pasta was delicious) and gelato (also delicious). Sunday morning, a few of us got up bright and early to see St. Mark’s basilica before the rush (slept in until 5am this time). My jaw was practically on the floor from admiring the intricate ceiling mosaics and it was worth every second of sacrificed sleep. Even today, creating artwork like it would be an impressive feat, let alone in the 11th century when the Church was constructed.

(Part of the outside of St. Mark's Basilica featuring ornate mosaics and paintings)

After some morning sightseeing, we booked a boat tour for 20 euros each to take us to Murano and Burano, two smaller islands known for their glass and lace making, respectively. Our stop in Murano also included a live glass blowing demonstration! I am now the proud owner of a hand-made Venetian glass bead bracelet and an adorable glass snail (name is still pending). Burano was very quaint with canals lined with vibrant houses and filled with cafes and small shops highlighting their handmade lace.

(First picture of a glass blowing presentation on Murano, the other two pictures of the canals of Burano. Yes, the tower in the third pic is leaning, it's not a crooked picture!)

Once back on the main island, we did a little shopping, ate some more yummy pasta, and took in the sights again before heading back to the main bus station to board our overnight bus, beginning our trek back to Sorrento. I lucked out and had both seats to myself on the bus, allowing me to get some much needed shut eye as I had my physics midterm that same morning!

I am already missing the charming streets and enchanting canals of Venice, but I have an exciting week and another weekend adventure ahead to keep me busy!

Arrivederci,

Marika Ruppart

Mechanical Engineering

Engineering in Sorrento, Italy

[umichenginabroad]

Week 2: Housing Edition

Ciao, 

It’s been another wonderful week in Sorrento! It's heating up outside, I’m settling into a routine, and classes are getting real. 

For this post, I’m going to focus on housing as it was a point of confusion for me when learning about the program. After being accepted into the program, we filled out a separate application for Sant’Anna and listed preferences for the three housing options: Sant’Anna dorms, off-campus shared apartments, or off-campus residence hall with a meal plan (for an extra fee). The Sant’Anna dorms are upstairs from the classrooms, the apartments are spread throughout Sorrento within a 20 minute walk to class, and the off-campus residence hall is 25 minutes from Sant’Anna institute. 

For my preference, I listed the dorms as top, the shared apartments as my second, and the residence hall last. I ended up getting placed in a shared apartment with three other girls (two double rooms), but it has worked out great as I am living right above a grocery store!

(Picture of Conad City store front with text saying "My Apartment" and an arrow pointing above the store)

Overall, I really enjoy apartment life. I’m a 2 minute walk from the main street (Corso Italia), 12 minutes from the institute for class, and 15 minutes from the free beach (my most frequented stop). 

As for the apartment itself, the rooms are a little funky as both bedrooms have two single beds, but the two beds are pushed together in one room and the other room is bunk beds (I got the bottom bunk). We share one bathroom for the four of us and it's fairly spacious. The kitchen is small but functional, with the cutest tile backsplash. Counterspace is lacking, but it is otherwise fully equipped with burners, convection oven, toaster, microwave, dishwasher, and freestanding fridge and freezer combo. The washing machine is also in the kitchen, which has created a few space issues as it is a galley kitchen but me and my roommates have figured it out. 

(Picture of dining room and kitchen of my apartment)

I honestly don’t have any real complaints about the apartment; the only reason I still wish I had been placed in dorms is the 2 minute commute to the beach! Obviously 15 minutes isn’t bad, but it's hard to beat being just up a set of stairs from the Mediterranean sea!! 

All in all, the program does a great job with housing and you can’t really go wrong with any of the options!

Marika Ruppart

Mechanical Engineering

Engineering in Sorrento, Italy

[umichenginabroad]

Week 1: Planes, Trains, and Automobiles (+ a Ferry)

Ciao!

In the past week, I have used Italian trains, buses, taxis, a shuttle van, planes, and taken a ferry ride, so this blog post will be dedicated to transportation. 

To begin, I was supposed to fly from Chicago to Dublin, then Dublin to Naples, where CIS Abroad (the company hosting the program) provided transport shuttles to either the dorms or shared apartment accommodations in Sorrento. The initial long-haul flight wasn’t too bad, I read for the majority of the flight and was fed some half-decent food. 

Unfortunately, due to delays on the tarmac in Chicago, I missed my connecting flight in Dublin and had to figure out another way to Naples. I luckily discovered someone else also in my program in my same flight and we navigated Europe together. Since the next flight out to Naples wasn’t until the following evening, we decided to go instead to Rome and then brave the Italian train system to navigate to Naples. 

(Me and a fellow study abroad student taking a shuttle to our new terminal in Dublin)

To preface, figuring out the train system seemed to be one of the biggest learning curves people that I have talked to have encountered in the past, and as such it was something I was nervous about coming to Italy. Trains (and ferries, as it turns out) are frequently late and don’t align with posted schedules, tickets have to not only be bought but also validated at the station, and the platform numbers commonly change right before arrival. We were supposed to be briefed on how to handle it during our orientation the first day, however we were thrown straight in the deep end! We used one of the most common websites for booking high-speed trains, ItaliaRail, and managed to book a train from the Rome airport to the main Roman train station (surprisingly far from the airport), then one from Rome to Naples for a total cost of around 65 euros.

(Red passenger train with volcano in background)

Since the first train was a regional/local train, there were no assigned seats and thus we had to validate our tickets just before boarding through, however for the high speed cross-country train to Naples, since we had an assigned seat, we did not have to validate (something that stressed us out as you can face fines if you don’t properly validate tickets). Thankfully, everyone we talked to was very nice and helped us figure it out. 

Once in Naples, we shared a taxi to the airport with two other travelers we met along the way (5 euros each) and waited until a few others from the program landed and got the last transfer shuttle to Sorrento. Finally, after over 36 hours of traveling (almost 16 more than intended) we arrive with a leg up on the local transport compared to our peers.

Just earlier today, I took a bus with two other friends from Sorrento to Positano, another town along the Almalfi coast, for 10 euros. Getting the ticket was very easy, as the ticket booth at the bus station was clearly marked. The bus was about 30 minutes late, but that is to be expected for Italian buses. After around 45 minutes and many many curvy and windy roads, we got off at Positano and explored the town. On the way back, we bought ferry tickets for 19 euros (cheaper with cash than online) and waited in a long line to board. As with the bus, the ferry was quite late, but actually took less time to get back to Sorrento. I think the ferry is my new favorite form of transportation as I loved sitting on the top deck and watching the coastline go by. 

(view of Sorrentine peninsula from top deck of ferry)

Overall, I am quite proud of myself for figuring out how to get around on the fly, but I definitely took away some important lessons. First, be patient, both with yourself and the transportation. Everyone gets lost/confused sometimes and navigating a new country is daunting. Be willing to ask for help if you don’t know what to do! It’s better than facing fines or unknowingly breaking any transit laws. Additionally, some places only take cash, make sure to always carry some cash! Lastly, if you can, TAKE DRAMAMINE, especially for the buses. I am not one to get car/motion sick, but the switch backs and coastal curves are no joke and all three of us were very close to turning green by the time we got off the bus. 

This post is getting long, but I wanted to share some details of Italian public transportation as that was one of my biggest questions going into this program. 

See you next week!

Marika Ruppart

Mechanical Engineering

Engineering in Sorrento, Italy 

[umichenginabroad]

Week 0: Initial Reflection

Hello from Italy! 

My name is Marika Ruppart, a rising junior studying Mechanical Engineering. For the next 10 weeks, I will be taking classes at Sant’Anna institute in Sorrento, Italy. I arrived a day and a half ago after a bit of a bumpy arrival (stay tuned for the details of my crash course of the Italian train system in my next blog), and have been getting settled into my apartment and been busy with many orientations. 

(First picture of airplane on the tarmac with people going up the stairs to board, second picture of the clouds from the plane window)

I am staying in a shared apartment with three other girls from different universities. The apartment is about a 10 minute walk from the institute and is on top of a food market, which is perfect as I will be cooking most of my own meals! 

(View from my apartment, one image showing a balcony with the sea in the distance, one showing up the street of a buliding with lots of balconies and a steep hil)

This summer, I am taking Physics 2 and a lab spanning both 5 week sessions, as well as Intro to Marine Biology for the first half and History of Italian Food and Culture for the second half. All the classes have a couple excursions which I am so excited for!

As I am getting ready to have my first class, I am a bit nervous but mostly excited to explore and learn, but in and out of the classroom, this summer. Since each session is only 5 weeks, I know the classes will be packing in a bunch of information in not much time, but I’ve heard the professors are amazing so I am not too concerned about it. I am coming into this program not knowing anyone, but I am hoping to meet lots of new people and make some friends in my classes. My goal by the end of these 10 weeks is to gain more confidence in myself and my ability to navigate new situations. Follow along with my blog to see what adventures each week will bring!

Marika Ruppart

Mechanical Engineering

Engineering in Sorrento, Italy 

[umichenginabroad]

Week 10: Arrivederci, Sorrento + Reflection

Ciao, 

This last week was bittersweet, to say the least. I really miss my family and friends back home, but I’m not sure I’ll ever feel fully ready to leave Sorrento and Europe. Since I do have to say goodbye however, this week was a pretty good one to end on. This post might be on the longer side, as I had a great last weekend trip to Austria, saw fireworks, finished finals, and ate several goodbye meals. I’m flying out of Rome later this afternoon and even had some time yesterday to explore the city!

Last weekend, my friend and I had a great time in Vienna, Austria. We left Thursday night and got back Sunday afternoon, with surprisingly little issues (fingers crossed that good travel luck continues for my trip home). We explored the Schönbrunn Palace gardens first, making both of us feel like we were about to run into the Bridgertons. The grounds were gorgeous and expansive–we were walking around for a good 2-3 hours seeing all the paths, fountains, and statues. We didn’t go into the palace itself as we would’ve had to buy tickets and we were quite content with our free garden stroll. Later that afternoon (after a quick siesta back at the hostel), we found a free pop music festival in front of one of the main churches. It was so fun to listen to some Austrian artists while eating some delicious street food and a churro. 

(Top two picture from the palace, the left is of some of the flowerbeds and a greenhouse, the right is my friend and I infront of the palace building. The bottom picture is of a band playing on a staying with a domed church in the background)

Saturday morning, we headed into the center of the city to explore the historical district. We had bought a 48 hour pass, making getting around Vienna super easy as there were so many buses, trolleys, and metro lines running frequently. We simply wandered around for a while, seeing churches and other cool, historic buildings at almost every turn. Vienna was, by far, my favorite city to walk around as there were trees everywhere and a bike/pedestrian lane separate from the road. 

After walking around for a while, we decided to go to the Freud museum as we both find psychology interesting. The museum was in his old apartment and clinic space, with many rooms restored to accurately show what he and his patients were accustomed to. It was very interesting and I enjoyed learning more about Freud and his life. That afternoon, my friend and I went thrifting before getting food and heading to bed, as we had an early flight back to Italy.

(Two building with trees in front)

Monday started off with my last physics lecture of the term and continued with lots of studying, writing a final paper, and making a final presentation before ending with a bang (literally). Sorrento had a festival all weekend to celebrate Saint Anna, the patron saint of the town. Monday night was the last night of festivities, which meant a firework show on the water! Lucky for us, the terrace of the institute proved the perfect viewing spot. 

(Left picture is of Marina Grande at night, lit up with arches of fairy lights for the festival. Right is the start of the firework show in the marina from our view on the terrace)

I had my first final Tuesday for Archeology, as well as more studying for physics and homework. That night, CIS Abroad hosted a farewell dinner for us at a nice restaurant. I ate some delicious pasta while we listened to some traditional Southern Italian music. The next day I had my physics final and my final Archeology paper due. I was very relieved after turning both in as I was nearly done with classes, just a presentation in Archeology the next day. A few of my friends and I went out for a last dinner together in Sorrento before getting gelato and watching the sunset and trying not to think about saying goodbye. Thursday brought my final class where I presented on medicine in Pompeii and Herculaneum and the farewell dinner from Sant’Anna institute. After dinner, my friends and I went out for gelato for the last time. I was leaving for Rome the next day, though it still didn’t feel like our time was up. We reminisced on the last 2 and half months, including how there was no way we had been there over 2 months when it felt like only a few weeks had gone by.

(Left picture is of my friends and I at our favorite gelato place for the last time, the right is the sunset view over the water from our farewell meal)

The next morning, I hopped on the circumvesuviana train out of Sorrento for the last time. I could tell you I wasn’t holding back tears, but I’d be lying. I was very sad to be leaving the place that had become home the last several months. I keep reminding myself how excited I am to see the people back home in order to hold myself together. My train to Rome was slightly delayed, but I wouldn’t have expected it any other way and I still got to Rome mostly on time. I checked into my hostel and had a quiet night in, which was much needed after the busy last week with several late night study sessions. I woke up bright and early Saturday morning, as I had tickets to the Vatican City museums for 8:30 am (with a hour and 20 minute walk to get there). Though I don’t like getting up early, this ended up being perfect as the streets were cooler and much less crowded early in the morning. I gave myself some extra time, allowing me to stop by Trevi fountain and the Panthenon on my walk to the city-state. Though I am not as big a fan of the layout of Rome, the sheer number of monuments and the depth of history makes the city truly unforgettable. 

(A few pictures from my day trip around Rome; Top left is the Pantheon, top right is the sunset over a plaza with an obelisk, the bottom is Trevi fountain)

Reflection:

As I am waiting to board my plane home, I keep getting waves of conflicting emotions. Sad to be leaving, excited to see my family, but most of all grateful for this summer. I’ve been thinking back to all I have done this summer and I can’t help but smile. An opportunity like this has been my dream since I was little, and I am so beyond grateful for it. I have grown so much from when I first landed at the end of May. I have seen so many wonderful places and made some great friends.

Before arriving, I was nervous about making friends and finding my way (as most people typically are when starting a new adventure). Turns out, I had nothing to worry about. Sure, I didn't make friends with everyone I met, but that's normal. I found a good couple of people that I enjoyed spending time with, and that's all I could ask for. Some advice I have for others getting ready to go abroad, or getting ready to start anything new honestly, is to not be afraid of going alone. I did not know anybody coming into this program, I am really glad for it. I met some incredible people that I probably wouldn't have gotten close to otherwise.

Additionally, don't be afraid of a solo adventure or two. While I made some amazing memories with my friends, I learned the most about myself (and grew the most) when adventuring on my own. It is very freeing to be held to no-one's schedule or expectations expect your own.

Lastly, take the time to know yourself. If, like me, you grew up with people-pleasing tendencies and were always trying to accommodate other people in your life, you might not actually know what you want and like and need. This trip has taught me so much about myself and I am leaving feeling much more self assured, secured, and settled in I way I have never experienced before. Along with this, know/learn your limits. While traveling around Europe every weekend was amazing, the real reason I was there was to take classes. This meant taking a day off from exploring every now and then to give myself time to rest and time to study. Traveling may be high on your priority list, but succeeding in the classroom has to come first.

While I wish I had more time, I am so happy I studied abroad. I learned so much about physics, new cultures, Italy, Europe, navigating public transport, and myself. It was an experience I will truly never forget and will cherish always.

Marika Ruppart

Mechanical Engineering

Engineering in Sorrento, Italy

[umichenginabroad]

Week 9: Food, Glorious Food

Buongiorno every one!

If you couldn’t guess by the title, this week's blog is going to focus on Italian food and the culture differences surrounding meals. Before arriving, this topic came up several times during my research in various “culture shock” and “what to expect in Italy” articles, yet experiencing it first hand still took me a bit by surprise.

My main shock came from the eating pace. I was used to mealtime essentially being an interruption of the day’s activities. I would always rush to eat so I could get back to whatever was keeping me busy, whether that be homework assignments, club work, or other activities. Here, mealtime is the activity. You are supposed to slow down, relax, and enjoy the company you are with. Turns out, this was much easier said than done. Only in the last few weeks have I been able to eat slowly and sip my drink without it taking conscious effort. I have come to appreciate mealtime as something more than simply fueling my body; it is a time to connect with the people around you and just enjoy life.

(Left picture of a prosciutto pizza, right picture of pomodoro bruschetta)

It is not uncommon for dinner to take 3+ hours, and this is completely normal if not expected. Service from waitstaff is very different here because of this. In the States, waiters constantly check up on you and push the bill in your face as soon as, if not before, you finish eating because the faster people leave, the faster someone else can take that table, resulting in more tips (which their paycheck relies almost exclusively upon). In Italy, waiters are paid a livable hourly wage. Tips are appreciated for good service, but not expected like tipping culture back home. After giving you a menu, waiters will leave you alone unless you call them over; if a waiter keeps coming over it is seen as them trying to rush you out which is a very rude violation of the long mealtime sactinty. While I have now come to appreciate the lack of interruptions, the first few times my friends and I ate out, we were waiting at the table for a long time before we ordered and even longer before we got the bill since we were used to it being automatically brought over instead of having to flag someone down.

(Left picture of a caprese salad, right picture of spaghetti carbonara)

To save on some food expenses, I cooked a lot of my own meals. This is where living above the grocery store came in especially handy! Money wise, a meal out is very comparable to eating out in Ann Arbor - average ~12-15 euro for a meal, but you can find cheaper places if you are looking (you can get a margherita pizza for 7-8 euro, for example). I was surprised to find that groceries were cheaper here, costing me around 20-25 euro per week, even with me cooking the majority of meals. The biggest difference is the quality of food, especially fresh food. It tastes and feels much cleaner and healthier due to the lack of preservatives and other additives we are used to in the States but are banned over here. The drawback is that the food spoils much quicker. The first time I went grocery shopping, I bought too much at once and had to throw some of it away because it went bad. Now, I shop for 2-3 days at a time to ensure I do not have to waste any of the delicious, local sourced tomatoes, fruit, or mozzarella cheese.

(Sweet treats! On the left is gelato from my favorite gelateria, on the right sweet breakfast crepes)

As I’m sure everyone knows, Italy is famous for its pasta, pizza, and gelato. As a big fan of all three, I can confidently say the hype is well-deserved. The pasta is delicious, the pizza is fabulous, and I don’t think I could ever have “too much” gelato. With Sorrento being world-renowned for lemons, lemon sorbet quickly became my favorite gelato flavor (I will be getting it several times still before I leave this weekend). Italian food will forever hold a special place in my heart, and I am sure I will greatly miss it when I leave. I can’t believe I am heading into my final week, but it’s sure to be a fun one full of activities so stay tuned!

Marika Ruppart

Mechanical Engineering

Engineering in Sorrento, Italy

[umichenginabroad]

Week 8: 2 months down, 2 weeks left

Hello again! 

I have no idea where the time has gone, but I have officially been here for two months! This place has truly become a home-away-from-home, yet it still feels like I just got to Sorrento. With that being said, I am definitely missing the people back home and am starting to feel ready to get back. 

This past week I explored a nearby island, hiked the top of some mountains, and swam in Mediterranean sea caves. I still have a trip to Vienna, Austria and Rome on the books, as I am determined to see as many places as I can before I leave. Last weekend, I went with a friend to Ischia, an island just off of Naples. There was a ferry going from Sorrento at 9:30am and returning at 6:30pm, the perfect time for a day trip. While Sorrento and Capri (another, very famous, island in the Bay of Naples) are very, very touristy places, Ischia is where local Italians go to vacation. We could definitely tell the difference when wandering around; Ischia was less crowded and felt more authentically Italian then Sorrento. We had a nice relaxing day on the island, first exploring the Aragonese Castle (first built in 474 BC!), then grabbing a sandwich and swimming at several beaches along the coast. I made good use of my snorkel mask and got pleasantly sunkissed–pretty much a perfect day in my book.

(Pictures from various lookout points of the castle)

Monday through Wednesday went by without any issues, just the normal class routine. On Thursday I was supposed to have an archeology class field trip to Herculaneum and Oplontis (two smaller ruins created in the same eruptions as Pompeii), but unfortunately my professor had to call out sick, leaving me with an unexpected free day. I had heard from some of the other students about a cable car just a few train stops away that takes you up one of the mountains surrounding Sorrento, complete with several hiking trails and panoramic views. I decided to go check it out and am very glad I did so. It was wild how quickly the environment around me changed when going up the mountain; palm trees and colorful seaside buildings turned into pine trees and wood cabins. The views were stunning and it was even a bit cooler at the top (a much welcome reprieve from the sweltering heat we’ve been having). I hiked around the top for a while, took in the view, then enjoyed some gelato before heading back down.

(First and third pictures from the panoramic lookout spot on the hike showing the coastline of the Bay of Naples, second picture of a cabin-style restaurant with trees)

The next day, I set off on my last solo adventure to Lecce, a small city in the heel of Italy and nicknamed the “Florence of the south” due to its history and Baroque-style architecture. One of my trains got a little delayed, but nothing terrible. I enjoyed walking around the city for the afternoon before getting back to my hostel to get some sleep. On Saturday I took a bus about an hour south to the coastal town of Santa Maria di Leuca where I booked a boat tour for the afternoon (one of the best choices I’ve made). I had some time to kill before the tour, so I meandered along the beach and went swimming for a bit along the rocky coast. I was fascinated by how different the coastline was on the other side of the country. There were cool rocks, tide pools, and shell beaches compared to the smoother, volcanic sand beaches of Sorrento. 

When the time for my boat cave tour came, I met at the company’s stand near the docks along with people from all over the world. We got divided into smaller groups to fit on the boats and turns out, I was the only *exclusively* English-speaker of my group, requiring the staff to print out a written description of the caves, as the guide on my boat only spoke a little English (his English was much better than my Italian so I still appreciated the effort he put in). In the end, it didn’t make too much of a difference as I still had a fantastic time. I love being on boats and the coastline was beautiful. To put the cherry on top, we even got to jump off the boat a few times to swim in the caves! I wished I had an underwater camera because I could hardly believe my eyes at some points. One of the caves, Grotta Dello Spruzzo, you could only enter by swimming underwater to an air pocket. Surfacing inside felt like entering another world as everything was illuminated bright blue due to the sunlight filtering through the water under the entrance. With some of the other caves, you could swim in one entrance and come out a completely different opening. I honestly could have stayed there for hours snorkeling in and out of caves, but sadly the tour did have to leave at some point. I took the bus back to Lecce without any problems, grabbed a bite to eat, and promptly fell asleep. 

(Pictures of three caves from the boat tour)

The next morning, I checked out of my hostel and set off into the city. I was taking an overnight train back to Sorrento which didn’t leave until 10pm so I spent the day going to museums, looking at churches (they were literally around every corner), and wandering around some parks. Turns out, there is an ancient Roman amphitheater in the middle of the main city square that is only half executed; the other half is sitting under a busy street with a church and restaurants! It is still mind-boggling to me that ancient ruins are so commonplace over here that they used to just build over them.

(First picture shows the Roman amphitheater, half uncovered and half under the busy street. Second picture of one of the many ornate churches, and the third picture showing another church down a street)

The overnight train was uneventful and I even made it back to Sorrento in time to take a power nap before my physics class! Overall, I had a great time in Lecce and an even better time on the cave tour. I truly can’t believe I only have a few weeks left, but I am excited to share with you what adventures the last weeks are sure to bring.

Ciao,

Marika Ruppart

Mechanical Engineering

Engineering in Sorrento, Italy

[umichenginabroad]

Week 7: Kayaking (gone awry), Hiking, and Pompeii

Ciao! Apologies for the late post, this past week was busy and one of the more stressful ones I’ve had (ironically, perfectly highlighting my point from last time). My solo adventure in Florence was a blast, and I would highly recommend everyone doing a solo adventure to two when traveling. While I have so much fun traveling with friends, it was freeing just being able to meander around at my own pace, stop into various shops, and go to around 10 museums (I love museums) without worrying about anyone else. 

(Top left picture of a painted cathedral ceiling found in one of the many museums visited, top right is a view of the Duomo down a narrow street, bottom picture of the Florentine skyline with mountains in the background at sunset)

The hostel I stayed at was quiet, felt very safe, and was in a great location. I took the bus back to Naples as it was cheaper than the train (5 euros total!) and I didn’t mind the longer travel time on Sunday as I had my last physics midterm the next day to study for. We were a bit delayed coming back into Naples, but other than that it was a surprising, but welcome smooth trip! Monday morning I took my exam in the morning and had a slow day, working a bit on a job application for the fall and typing up some emails I had been putting off (who wants to write emails when the Mediterranean Sea is out your window??). 

Tuesday started off with more of the same until I had class in the afternoon and an excursion that evening. CIS Abroad took us on a paddleboarding tour along the coast of Sorrento to a hidden beach to watch the sunset. Sounds great right? Definitely something you’d want pictures of. Fortunately, the tour guides provided us with sealable, clear bags for our phones so they wouldn’t get wet but we could still capture the moment. Unfortunately for me, my bag had a hole in it which I failed to realize until halfway through, when I went to take a pic of the town and all I got was the apple logo flashing on and off. 

(Pictures from kayaking, the left one is of me kayaking, taken by a friend who didn't have a hole in her bag. The right picture is a sunset view from the cove we paddled into)

(Last picture on my phone before it went into a coma, at least is was a decent one :)

Once I got back to my apartment, I dutifully put my phone in rice and hoped for the best. The next day, I had class in the morning then hiked Mount Vesuvius with two of my friends (luckily the tickets were on their phones, not mine) in the afternoon. The hike ended up being easier than I thought and the view from the top was phenomenal. We hiked around the crater as far as we could go, as part of it is closed to everyone except geologists. It was strange knowing the volcano is overdue to erupt as the top is closed and just looks rocky, not like the dramatic videos of boiling, spewing lava. As I learned the next day in my archeology class, the closed top actually makes it much more explosive (think shaking a coke bottle with the lid on). Fun fact about me, I used to be utterly convinced I was going to be a paleontologist when I grow up and went through a hard core geology phase alongside the paleontology, so the little kid in me was ecstatic to be on a volcano and be surrounded by the volcanic rocks and minerals (yes, I can still identify more than I’d care to admit). 

(My and a friend at the crater of Vesuvius)

Once I got back from the hike, I worked up the courage to try turning my phone on. Nothing happened. I tried for several hours and eventually got it to connect to my computer to put it in “recovery” mode, but still had no luck getting it to actually work, even after trying to factory reset it. After fighting it for a while and getting nowhere, I called it a night as I had 6 hours of back to back classes the next day. Friday morning I finally had time to take it into an electronics store where they took it to the back and simply told me to come back in a few hours. Without much other choice, I left it there and trusted them as, thanks to dual authentication of practically everything nowadays, I had no way of signing into any of my accounts without a phone number. If I couldn’t get it fixed, I was going to have to buy a burner phone until I could get back to the states. Thankfully the shop was able to repair it and my phone is now good to go (minus a functioning FaceID or phone speaker but I’ll gladly take the loss). I knew it would work out one way or another, but it was still very stressful not having a working phone, especially when I couldn’t even access my bank account or wolverine access without the verification code texted to me. 

Relieved to have a working phone, I rushed to the train station as I had a field to get to in Pompeii! Though it was scorching hot, it was fascinating to see some of the highlights and learn some of the nuances. My Archeology professor is very knowledgeable as she used to work at one of the excavations sites in Pompeii! Walking around the city was so surreal because I had realized just how well-preserved it truly is. Reading about it and seeing pictures pales in comparison to seeing it with your own eyes. Some of the wall murals still had vivid color, intricate mosaics were still intact, and signs still hung outside of businesses. It blew my mind that everything I was seeing was over 2000 years old, yet many aspects were very similar to our cities now. 

(Pictures from Pompeii, top left showing the gladiators old training center, top right showing some (original!) paintings inside a home, and the bottom picture showing Mount Vesuvius in the background with part of what's been excavated next to high ground with building still to be uncovered)

Overall, it was a decent week. Florence was captivating, I had a blast kayaking (despite my phone issues), and I got to explore both Pompeii and the volcano that destroyed the city. Time is truly racing by, but I still have a lot left to experience!

Arrivederci!

Marika Ruppart

Mechanical Engineering

Engineering in Sorrento, Italy

[umichenginabroad]

Week 6: Past Halfway

Ciao again!

Somehow, even though it feels like I just flew in maybe two weeks ago, I am in the second half of my program. I finished up Marine Bio, had my first few Archeology Field Study lectures (I transferred from History of Food and Culture to take advantage of the field trips) and we now have physics lab thrown into the mix. 

Though classes are still keeping me busy, this week was a very welcome lull in homework thanks to finals being over. With a bit more free time, I found myself reflecting on my experience here this past month (even though I am still in denial it’s been that long) and what I have learned so far. The true, in-depth, reflection will come at the end of my blog series but I have learned so much already I want to share. 

My main takeaway so far has been that very very few situations are truly that serious. I have learned that 9 times out of 10, it’s simply not worth it to get super stressed out about. You will figure it out, and half the time there’s nothing you can do except wait, so getting upset and stressed doesn’t help in the slightest. Next time you’ll know better, having learned from the situation. I largely have the southern Italian public transportation to thank for teaching me this patience as trains and buses are chronically delayed or sometimes canceled. On my trip to Greece a few weekends ago, my friend and I got to the Sorrento train station just to find out our train, and the next two, to Naples were canceled due to mechanical failure. Instead of freaking out over how much later we were going to get to our AirBnB or how little sleep we’d now get (both things we couldn’t control as sadly neither of us are train experts), we sat on a bench in the station and pulled out a deck of cards. 

Next time I had a train or flight to catch in Naples, I made sure to give myself at least one extra commuter train buffer in case my planned one didn’t work out. I’ve found that situations like that, which before would’ve caused me much panic, have turned into some of my favorite memories as they all turn into stories to tell.

Next, make sure you have the experience that YOU want to be having, not someone else. Though I have learned to become comfortable with this concept through weekend trips with people, it applies to everyday life as well. People came into this program with a large variety of expectations, travel styles, and financial means. Some people come with a vacation mindset, wanting to always eat out, taking the fastest mode of transportation to wherever, and getting a plethora of souvenirs to take back. Some will choose buses taking over double the time of a train to cut costs. Some people prefer to travel as far as they can every weekend, whereas others want to stay and explore the local area. Each person is valid in how they want to spend their time, but that doesn’t have to dictate how you spend yours. Personally, I love going to museums and learning about the historical significance of a place, yet I did not go to my first museum here until several weeks in. The other people I traveled with aren’t museum goers, so I didn’t go either (I’m working on people pleasing tendencies now). Though it was still a fun weekend, I left that trip feeling a bit mad at myself and a bit resentful at my group, even though they did nothing wrong. Next time, I stayed with the group for the things everyone wanted to do, then a friend and I did our own thing for a bit and saw what we wanted to see.

As much as we college students don’t like to call ourselves “real” adults, at the end of the day we are adults and as such are fully capable of choosing our own paths. This might just be the biggest lesson I’ve learned; my happiness is truly no one else’s responsibility except my own and that’s amazing. It was a very liberating moment when I finally understood. 

(Two pics from this afternoon when I arrived in Florence for my first solo adventure! First one of my on a bride with the river and building in the background, second of a statue surrounded by buildings)

Overall, life studying abroad is still life, just with a much prettier background. It’s not all sunshine and rainbows like in a movie — there are still bad days, I still have responsibilities from back home, and it still takes work to take care of myself. While this has been, and still is, an amazing growth opportunity I am still me, just a bit more self assured, a bit wiser, a bit more go-with-the-flow, and a lot tanner.

That’s all for now, next week’s edition will be a bit lighter as I’ve got an excursion, a field trip, and hiking Vesuvius on the books!

Marika Ruppart

Mechanical Engineering

Engineering in Sorrento, Italy

[umichenginabroad]

Week 5: Here We Go Again

I am writing this on a scenic train ride back from Switzerland, in denial that I am halfway done with my trip. Next week’s blog will center around my takeaways so far, but this week’s will feature the beaches of Greece and the mountains of Switzerland.

This past weekend, I went with 3 friends to adventure in greece. We caught an early morning flight out of Naples, requiring another Thursday night Naples stay and another 4am wake up. Our airbnb was close to the airport, security was a breeze, and before we knew it we were in the clouds above the Adriatic sea. We split a taxi to our airbnb and had a smooth check in. As it was only early afternoon, we braved the heat wave and went out into Athens to explore the iconic Acropolis. It was even more impressive in real life than the pictures. I found myself constantly marveling at the engraving and details, preserved despite the age of the pillars. My favorite part was the Temple of Athena near the top of the slope where an olive tree still stands at the fabled site of a battle between Athena and Poseidon for patronage of the city.

(First pic of the temple of Athena featuring the olive tree, second pic of me in front of the Parthenon (it was very windy at the top))

Once we finished exploring the acropolis, we set off in search of dinner. We found an authentic Greek restaurant where I had what might’ve been the best meal of my life. Turns out, I am a huge fan of Greek food (tzatziki sauce in particular) . For the rest of the night, we wandered around and browsed a bit in some shops before heading back to our airbnb. To our delight, Mama Mia is on Greek Netflix (hence the title of this blog). Obviously it was a must-watch, especially since we had ferry tickets to an island for the next morning. Said ferry turned out to be much bigger than the ferries along the Amalfi coast; this one had three stories, cushioned seats, and a fully equipped snack bar. We went to the island of Aegina since it was the closest (and hence cheapest) ferry from the main Athens port. I fell in love almost immediately upon docking. There was just something so relaxing about being there, the town just felt calm and unhurried. I thought the water near Sorrento was stunning, but it paled in comparison to the vivid, aqua blue of the island beaches.

(Both pictures show the wonderfully clear, blue water along the rocky coast)

We spent nearly the whole day beach hopping, with a little window shopping before it was time to board the ferry again. I was quite sad to leave as swimming and exploring are two of my favorite activities, both of which the island was perfect for. We stopped for some street food (once again delicious) on the way back to our place, settling in for a relatively early night to make up for all the crack-of-dawn wake ups. In the morning, we had some time before needing to head to the airport and decided to visit the Olympic stadium. As a current athlete (and former track athlete), it was both an awe-inspiring and humbling experience to be in the stadium. An audio tour was included with our 5 euro student ticket and I very much enjoyed learning about the history and meaning of the stadium. We even got to walk through the entrance tunnel, leading to a hall with the torches and posters from all the modern Olympic games. Especially with the summer Olympics so close to starting, it was an unforgettable experience (and I can say I ran in the Olympic stadium, even if it was just one lap).

(First picture at the end of the Olympic stadium showcasing the Olympic rings, second picture of my standing on the podium near the front of the stadium).

After the stadium, we grabbed a quick lunch and went on to the airport for what should’ve been a quick trip back to Naples. Unfortunately, our 1 ½ hour flight ended up being delayed over 5 hours. Fortunately, we still made it back to Sorrento at a reasonable hour, ready for the week ahead. Most of the week was uneventful with most of my time spent preparing for my final presentation and final exam in Marine Biology, which I took on Thursday. I felt confident in the exam but was sad the class was over as I very much enjoyed learning about the oceans I love to swim in so much. I did not have much time to dwell, however, as I left from class straight to the train station to start my trip up to Switzerland! I met up with one of my friends in Rome, and from there we took about 7 different trains before arriving in the cozy mountain town of Zermatt,Switzerland Friday evening. It was nice to get a break from the heat of southern Italy; I needed to wear a long sleeve for the first time on this trip! That night, we had delicious fondue and did a little chocolate shopping (nothing beats Swiss chocolate). Saturday morning, we set off on one of the most scenic hikes I have gone on. Aptly named, 5 Lakes Hike brought us to 5 separate lakes, with 360 degree mountain views the whole way. My breath was constantly being taken away by the mountains and I must’ve taken at least 100 pictures during the hike alone. We timed it almost perfectly, as we got caught in a mountain rain cloud just as we were finishing up the hike.

(A few of the many, many mountain pictures now in my camera roll. The first two are at different points on the trail, the last two are 2/5 of the lakes)

The rest of Saturday and Sunday morning were spent exploring the town, souvenir shopping, and (more) chocolate eating. I’m now on my overnight train headed back toward southern Italy and though this weekend had by far the longest travel time, it was 100% worth it and is my favorite trip so far. I am sad to be leaving Switzerland, but excited as this next week is the start of the second session, meaning new classes and new roommates to meet. See you next week!

Marika Ruppart

Mechanical Engineering

Engineering in Sorrento, Italy