Xu Dong Liu (XDL, CGIS Peer Advisor): Could you please introduce yourself and your role at CGIS?
Joy Richardson (JR, CGIS Intercultural Programs Advisor): My name is Joy Richardson. I am a study abroad advisor with the CGIS Office. I advise for programs in many different countries, one of which is Italy.
XDL: For your site visit, where did you visit, and for what programs did you go?
JR: I visited 3 programs in Italy. I first went to Sorrento, where I visited Santa’Ana Institute—that's for our humanities and social sciences program. I spent the majority of my time there, since that's the program we send most of our students to. Then I went to Perugia to visit Umbra Institute, where we send students over the summer during the multidisciplinary studies program through Arcadia. Finally I visited Siena for our Italian 230 program, which runs every spring term.
XDL What were some noticeable differences you observed between the three cities and programs?
JR: The differences were quite vast. In Sorrento, the tourism of the city hit me really hard. I went at the end of October—the tail end of tourism season—and it was still incredibly crowded. Sorrento was absolutely beautiful though; a coastal city with vibrant white and blue buildings everywhere. It felt very shiny and new, and a bit more bustling.
When I went to Perugia, it was like night and day. It was a lot more traditional, with beautiful architecture. Everything was more centralized. In Sorrento, I heard a lot of foreigners speaking English around me, but in Perugia, people would speak to me in Italian and just assume I was Italian—which was a very interesting dynamic. It was quieter, but not too quiet; there was just the right amount of activity happening.
Siena was interesting because it's definitely a place where you need to know Italian, which is why I think it's very fitting for our Italian 230 program. I walked into a coffee shop that the program provider recommended, and the cashier gave me a look of disapproval when it was clear I didn't know any Italian. But that's great for our students, because we only send students who know considerably more Italian than I do.
XDL: What might students get from traveling to these cities—culturally, academically, or personally?
JR: One important thing to consider is personal identity. If you are a person of color, or a Black person traveling in Sorrento, you are going to stand out quite a bit. I definitely stood out. Walking around Santa Ana Institute's campus, I only saw one Black student—the rest were white, which is expected, as programs in Italy tend to be less diverse than many of our other programs.
Perugia, however, was really different. I saw a lot more Black people and greater diversity overall. I think that's partly because Perugia is a university town with a famous university for foreigners, where people from all over the world come to study Italian. Students there are often forced to use Italian as a common language even with other international students—which I found fascinating.
For students with non-majority identities—whether that's racial minorities or LGBTQ+ students—I feel like Perugia would be a better fit. I saw pride flags and human rights campaigning in the city center, so it's clearly a more accommodating environment.
For students with physical disabilities or mobility issues, Sorrento is in a much better place, as it's flatter and easier to navigate being a coastal city. Perugia, on the other hand, is extremely hilly with stairs everywhere—definitely not ideal for anyone with mobility challenges. Siena is similar to Perugia in that regard.
JR: A few other cultural observations worth noting:
Pace of Life: In southern Italy, everything moves much slower. The staff in Sorrento literally told me "time is a suggestion." Coming from someone who also lived in South Korea—where punctuality is taken extremely seriously—this was a real culture shock. As you go further north to Perugia and Siena, people were more mindful of time, though still not strict about it. It was refreshing in its own way, even if it took some adjustment.
Coffee Culture: Italians are deeply devoted to coffee—drinking around 5 espressos a day. There's also an unspoken rule that cappuccinos are only acceptable in the morning because of the milk. When I told staff in Perugia that I only drink coffee about once a month, they could not fathom it.
Wine: Italians also drink a lot of wine—even at lunch.
Food Diversity: Sorrento had a surprisingly large number of vegetarian and vegan options, which is worth noting for students with dietary restrictions. A colleague of mine who is vegan visited earlier in the year and had no difficulty finding food.
Contradas in Siena: One of the most unique things I learned about in Siena was the concept of contradas—essentially neighborhood factions that families in Siena belong to, a bit like houses in Harry Potter. Each contrada has its own dedicated museum or shrine with artwork and banners from past competitions. Every summer, the contradas compete against each other in a famous horse race to earn pride for that year. It's a tradition entirely unique to Siena, and getting to visit one contrada's facility was a really special experience.
XDL: What would you recommend to students thinking about studying in Italy, and which programs are stronger for those who do or don't speak Italian?
JR: Food, culture, and history courses are super common across Italian programs. Without fail, every program has offerings related to the history of food and culture. Sustainability is another big theme—Italy is very focused on being sustainable. Both Sorrento and Perugia are strong in that area, offering service learning projects and community engagement activities around sustainability.
For students who don't know any Italian, Sorrento is a great place—locals are used to seeing tourists who don't speak the language and are very accommodating. Perugia is also manageable, as some locals are willing to speak English. Siena, however, is really best suited for students who know Italian, as it's a much more authentically Italian environment.
“I always thought American portions were the biggest in the world, but Italy is a close second, if not bigger.”
XDL: What was the highlight of your visit in each city?
JR: In Sorrento, it was definitely the food. I was given every bit of food imaginable—they're very well known for their seafood cuisine. Everything was incredibly fresh; I was eating right by the sea at a pier. The hospitality in southern Italy is also very noticeable. One thing that surprised me was the portion sizes—I always thought American portions were the biggest in the world, but Italy is a close second, if not bigger.
In Perugia, it was the architecture. I'm a sucker for traditional architecture and vibes, and I absolutely fell in love with the city. Going in, it was the program I knew the least about, but it ended up being a wonderful surprise. They also have a really lively music scene, which was unexpected. And, of course, the Perugina chocolate was excellent.
In Siena, my favorite part was visiting the homestay families. For our Italian 230 program, students live with homestay families for the full 6 weeks. I got to meet multiple homestay mothers, tour their apartments, and hear about the meals and activities they share with their students. They even made homemade coffee and food for me, which made me feel really welcomed. It gave me a genuine glimpse of what students actually experience, and it made me so much more confident that this is an excellent program that we should continue to promote.
“Have fun, and go on adventures.”
XDL: Is there any parting advice you'd like to give students going on these programs?
JR: Keep an open mind. You might think you know a lot before going—I did a lot of research on Italian culture and heard many stories from students—but actually experiencing it is completely different. Don't rely solely on what other people tell you. Be open to learning things for yourself, get out there, and explore.
After visiting my program providers each day, I made a point to just walk around whichever city I was in and absorb the environment. I even took an aerial hoop class at a studio I found in Siena, which became a wonderful way to connect with locals over something I already love. Find your version of that—whatever it is that lets you engage with the place in a meaningful, personal way. Have fun, and go on adventures.
Contact Joy at joyrich@umich.edu if you have any questions about programs in parts of Asia, Ireland, Italy, South Africa, or internships with Sage Corp!
Learn more about Programs in Italy!
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