The Umbra Podcast

In this episode Cheryl Mei, an Umbra Student from Endicott College in Beverly, Massachusetts, presents her academic project for the Positive Psychology course taught by Professor John Dennis. She had a straightforward idea: to stop passers-by and ask them what happiness means to them.  Enjoy listening to the voices Cheryl collected from the US, Canada, Italy, Germany, and Egypt! By the way, what d...

This podcast is the result of a project of the Communicating Taste course that was held in the Fall 2023 Semester, taught by Professor Jacopo Cossater. In this episode students explore culture shock under a very special point of view: food. What are the differences between Italian and American food? What is the value of food for Italian people? How to get along with these different values? The stu...

In this second episode on the Fear of Missing Out we will hear some professional voices about this topic. What is FOMO and why does it happen? What is the link between FOMO and Communication? Join this conversation with Gabriella Klein, PhD, international expert in Communication and professor of Intercultural Communication at Umbra; John Dennis, PhD, psychologist and professor of Positive Psycholo...

What to expect? Where to look for support? How to manage your doubts? In this episode Emily Chuco (Uconn) and Julia Newmann (Bates College), two of our Fall23 Students, share their experience on how they prepared themselves mentally for their semester abroad.  Amanda Fontana, our Enrollment Management & Institutional Relations Assistant, is the host for this episode. 

During the summer, Professor Michael Di Giovine from West Chester University introduces his students to Anthropology and Ethnography. This educational journey takes place at Umbra. Join in the conversation with Umbra students from WCU, Kate Sharbaugh and Jordyn Dale, and professor Di Giovine. They share riveting accounts of their time at the field school and the interactions they experienced in Pe...

Food is much more than just a daily intake of nutrients: it’s a way of being together.  In this episode three of our students from Ohio Wesleyan University, Abigail Eyerman, Lindsay Wolverton, Samantha Diaz together with Professor Christopher Fink (professor of Health and Human Kinetics at Ohio Wesleyan and professor at Umbra since 2014), explore the value of community in nutrition. 

Have you ever experienced FOMO, the Fear Of Missing Out? Join the conversation with Amelia Daly (Uconn), Manal Maigari (Babson College), Sophie Raducanu (Arcadia University) and Taylor Sheehan (Quinnipiac University) our Umbra Reps for Fall 23 who share their thoughts about FOMO and some ways to cope with it. 

Join host Jacopo as he embarks on an immersive archaeological adventure in the Umbrian town of Castiglione del Lago, Italy. In this riveting episode, Jacopo is joined by two returning students, Emilie Prince and Morgan Lawson, from DePauw University. Together, they delve into the enthralling world of the archaeology field school program, an extraordinary collaboration between the Umbra Institute o...

Join Caden Freer (Lebanon Valley College), Diego Pena-Parr (University of New Mexico) and Tyler Nelson (University of South Carolina) as they explore the essence of cultural immersion, bringing real examples from their academic and student life here in Perugia. 

Are you wondering what it is like to study and do arts in Perugia and in Italy? In this episode Bailey Schiering from Clark University tells us more about her artistic experiences: a solo trip to Florence to find inspiration, hours spent in museums observing sculptures and paintings “live”, special spots in Perugia to draw… and much more!  Host: Alexandra, Student Services & Extra-Curricular A...

What is it like playing soccer in a local team during your study abroad semester? We have asked three Umbra students who have joined the Perugia University soccer team to practice and play side by side with Italian students: Hannah Mohan (University of Denver), Loreah Klimas (Babson University), Olivia Maltbie (Babson University). The hosts of this episode are Alexandra and Jacopo.

In this third and last installment of the series of “Volunteering at Umbra”, Kasey Kfouri (University of Vermont) and Manuel Barbato (Coordinator For Community Engagement) discuss about Orto Sole, Umbra’s Community Garden, its story, evolution and current opportunities both for Umbra students and community of Perugia.

In this episode, the second of the series of “Volunteering at Umbra”, Sarah Markmann (Endicott College), Neha Checka (Ohio State University), and Lucey Walton (Lebanon Valley College) discuss the volunteering opportunity of being English tutors.  Several Umbra students were assigned to a class in a local Italian high school and would help the teacher with activities and presentations for the stude...

This episode begins a short series of conversations that present Umbra’s Community Engagement opportunities. These academic and professional extracurricular activities are a vital part of learning for students in Perugia and at the institute.  In this episode, students and staff talk about volunteering at Fuori di Zucca, an ethical purchasing group that brings together consumers and local producer...

“Would you go back to the Amalfi Coast? 100%, I am already planning my trip back!” Some of our students recently returned from an optional trip to the Amalfi Coast, offered through the Umbra Institute. In this episode, the students, Caroline Butt (Quinnipiac University) and Charlotte Leavitt (Clark University), discuss their experiences on this trip traveling with a large group in a tourist hotspo...

It can often be difficult to understand the emotional impact study abroad has on a student’s well-being, especially when the experience is meant to be filled with learning and transformation. However, adjustment to a new culture and host country can be experienced by any student traveling and studying abroad, and the degrees in which students experience it vary. But what exactly is culture shock?...

In this episode Nicholas Abruzzi (Arcadia University), Eileen Jeon (University of Maryland), and Mohammad Mundiwala (University of Connecticut) take over the Umbra Podcast once again to chat about culture shock. Are you an Umbra student who has experienced culture shock when moving to Perugia? Tell us your story using the poll and the voice message feature on the Umbra podcast's page in Anchor: &n...

In this episode (the first available on Spotify both as video and audio), Margherita sits down to chat with students about how to manage stress while studying abroad. They highlight certain activities that keep them engaged and relaxed during what can be a difficult transition time.   Thank you to Lucey Walton (Lebanon Valley College) and Jessica Morgan (Binghamton University) 

In this third installment of the Umbra Podcast, four Umbra students take the lead and talk about their first weeks in Perugia, best places to visit in Italy, and how to make friends abroad and make the most of your new university life. A huge thank you to Nicholas Abruzzi (Arcadia University), Eileen Jeon (University of Maryland), Mohammad Mundiwala (University of Connecticut), and Jessica Roberts...

In this episode, Alexandra will interview five Umbra students who are enrolled in a full immersion Italian program at the University for Foreigners of Perugia.  A very special thanks to our guests: Maxwell Gagnon (University of Richmond), Elizabeth Gonzalez Avalos (Washington and Lee University), Sierra Hiner (The University of Vermont), Victoria Snyder (Penn State University), and Clara Shap...

In this first episode, we interview Aubrey (a.k.a. Ciccio), a former Umbra student from Ole Miss who decided to come back to Perugia to receive his M.A. We will talk about his experience at the Umbra Institute, his trips around Italy, and all the Italian dialects that he has learned.