What do you all think of a quick personal introduction thread to put some personalities behind the names? Nothing overly personal, just something like what program/year you're in, age, maybe what you're hoping for with this journey. Sound good?

I'll start it off. I'm working on my BA with a double major in Anthro (Archaeology specifically) and Classics. I'm doing this for all sorts of reasons but I suppose some big ones are just to expand my horizons, to see some of the people and places I study, and to have a great social experience with a group of like-minded people. Oh, and I'll be 28 in a couple weeks. (Does that make me one of the oldest people here?)

Dave

Good idea

My name is Ian McCarthy and I am from Halifax Nova Scotia. I go to Mount Allison University and am in my 3rd year. I am doing my BA with double major in Classics and History. I am so very excited to get to Italy! I have been there once before and loved it! I am a huge european soccer fan, and plan to take many trops to Milan to see my favorite team play, Inter Milan

Cya you all in Jan!

Ian

Excellent. Catching a game is high on my list of things to do. I don't know the teams at all but I'd love to go to one with somebody who knows something about it.

Hello I am Maria, I was born in Colombia and came to Calgary five years ago. I am taking a combined program of Archaeology and Art History and I am in my third year.
I am ecstatic about going to Italy it will be my first time, but literally a dream come true. btw I am fluent in Italian I could play translator if needed.
I look forward to meeting most of you next week!
Maria

Hi everyone. My name is Marissa Warshawski. I'm in my third year at U of A with a double major (seems like everyone is getting one!) in History and Art History. I was interested in the Cortona program because I did a similar one through Queens that was located in southern England. I learned more in that summer than I think I have the rest of my degree. I'm really looking forward to getting back to Europe! Oh and I'm 19 but turning 20 next week.

Hello everyone I’m Barbara Bogucki. I currently live in New Mexico but I am a Midwestern (Iowa, Illinois) girl at heart. This will be my first visit to Europe and I could not be more excited. I am going to try to get to Switzerland, London, Greece etc. as well if anyone’s interested.
I am in my 3rd year majoring in Art History, minors in History...possibly Museum Conservation and Anth as well but that’s another story
I will be 25 January 19…talk about a birthday present!

Hi Barbara,

Just wondering how you found out about the Cortona program? Doesn't seem like the U of A does a very good job of advertising it so I was suprised to hear that there were 3 non-U of A people coming.

Hi Marissa
My understanding is that the director of our Study abroad program happened to be at the University of Alberta last year and arranged to bring the program back to NMSU. The word he used was ‘piggy-back’ off your University!
But I actually heard about it from a history Prof. who has lived in Italy herself. I cant believe how blessed I am to have this opportunity. I actually feel like I will be in a foreign country twice-when I am not with Italians I will be with Canadians.
That’s a GOOD thing, I feel like I am getting twice the experience and enrichment for the price!
Barbara

Hey guys! I'm Candace. I've lived in and around Edmonton for most of my life. Unlike most of you I am not a History, Art history or a Classics major. I am a forth year U of A Campus Saint-Jean (woo!) Psychologie-Arts student. (yeah it's a mouth full) So after Cortona I will (should) be done my Degree! I will be 21 on the 21st. (Also I'm having my birthday in the basement of the black dog on whyte on the 17th, feel free to join me for a drink). This will be my 3rd trip to Europe and i'm super pumped!

Hey!

Well unlike all of you I'm a science student! I'm using the Cortona program as a way to fill up arts credits and travel at the same time. My major is Biological Sciences and minor is Arts Psychology. I'm a fourth year but it's going to take me five years to get my degree. This is my first trip to Europe so I'm very excited, and plan to see as much as humanly possible!

***plan to see as much as humanly possible!***

I second that !

Hey guys, so my name is Nana and I'm in my 4th year doing an arts degree majoring in econ and minoring in soc, although I'm not graduating this year, I have what I like to call a victory lap aka my 5th year. I can't wait to be in Italy, and I'm totally up for catching some soccor matches. Oh what else can I tell you guys, I'm 22 and like long walks on the beach. Haha kidding, well I don't mind them but that's not really important. Haha

Hey everyone,

I'm a third year student with a major in Political Science at the Faculté St. Jean (french faculty of the U of A) and a minor in Italian. So I guess you can all figure out that I am fluent in french. It was my first language. I am really excited about Italy! I've been to Europe before, but not to Italy.

Elise

Woohoo, I finally figured out how to work this forum thing, I feel so accomplished! Hehe. I`m Stephanie, I`m 20 yrs old and was born in England, moved here when I was two, and have since then lived all over Canada (I lived in Dartmouth (beside Halifax), Nova Scotia for a long time too!). I`ve only ever traveled around the U.S.A./Canada, and in England visiting family so this is definatly going to be my first big adventure and I`m not gonna lie, I`m totally scared! I`m in my second year at the UofA and I`m an English Major, Anthro minor; however, I tend to go off on tangents and decide that my life`s calling is to be a Marine Biologist or something else way out in left field, so who knows what degree I`ll end up with! I hope to do other transfers abroad in the next few years as well, and I figured the Cortona one would be a good one to start with as it seems very well structured, and like we`ll be well taken care of
Stephy

Hey Guys,
Im Merin, i'm a 3rd (and a half technically) year anthro major and history minor (wow it seems like theres a lot of us in anthro of some kind, maybe i'll recognize some of you!) at the uofa. I've never been to Europe before so i'm super excited to see it up close. I love travelling and meeting new and exciting people so im pretty stoked. Also, i love rock climbing so if any of you are also into that let me know and we can hopefully organize some kind of trip! I'm getting super excited from all the talk about Italy and look forward to meeting you all. Also, if any of you can tell me how to add a picture that'd be sweet.