Kyle Patterson
Year: Junior
Destination: Italy
Hometown: Albemarle, Va.
Major: Chemistry
“Chimangia bene viva bene…, Who eats well, lives well.”
Kyle Patterson participated in the Virginia Commonwealth University faculty-led program to Perugia, Italy in summer 2008 with 14 other VCU students. Patterson wanted to study abroad and learn the Italian language, history, culture and food. He also wanted to learn more about his family’s heritage, who were Italian immigrants.
While in Perugia, Patterson took an Italian culture class in English and an Italian language course taught by a Perugian native. The classes were challenging but he was able to learn a lot from the course content. Apprehensive about finding his way around, Patterson looked to the students in his group for help.
“I couldn’t get enough of it.”
“We all helped each other find our ways around,” he said.
Patterson lived in a studio apartment very close to the university.
“It was a great experience,” he said. “It was nice to be able to have alone time after classes in my own apartment.”
During his time there, Patterson and his group traveled all around Italy including trips to Rome, Venice, Naples, Florence, Assisi and Pompeii. He found it was easy and cost effective to travel around Europe with the efficient public transportation system.
After Patterson’s summer study abroad experience he’s ready to go back to Italy and Perugia again.
“I couldn’t get enough of it,” he said. “I could see myself living there for a while, maybe not for the rest of my life, but for an extended amount of time.”
