Laura Blum

UCSD Global Seminar Math In Rome

Heat and humidity hit me like a wave as I exited Leonardo Da Vinci Airport just outside of Rome. An eager International Studies Abroad (ISA) staff member ushered me and a few other UCSD students to a lineup of taxis and spoke to one of the drivers in Italian. I slid into the front seat of the taxi and the driver said, very quickly and enthusiastically, “Buongiorno! Mi chiamo Fabrizio.”

All at once it hit me: I was in Italy…and I spoke only a few words of Italian. I got out my phrasebook and stumbled through a conversation with Fabrizio as we sped off down the highway, flanked on both sides by miles of farmland, toward the city. Soon we arrived at our apartment in Trastevere, one of residential areas of Rome. I stared up in wonder at the towering, brightly colored apartment buildings and thought to myself, “What on earth have I gotten myself into?”

I had gotten myself into what would prove to be the greatest adventure of my college career. I was in Italy for a UCSD Global Seminar called Mathematical Beauty in Rome. The goal of the program is to introduce students to principles of structural engineering, architecture, and geometry by studying the construction of the ancient monuments of Rome, Florence, and Pisa. Students also learn how to create two-dimensional computer-aided designs (CAD’s), an essential skill for anyone who hopes to go into engineering or design related fields. After completing the seminar I found that I had a firmer grasp on the concepts of geometry than I ever had when I took it in high school.

In addition to the academic aspects of the curriculum, the program also seeks to provide students with a superior cultural awareness of both ancient and present-day Italy. With the program I went on excursions to the Colosseum, Musei Capitolini, the Uffizi Gallery in Florence, Via Appia (the oldest road in Rome), the Sistine Chapel, the leaning tower of Pisa, and many more similarly awe-inspiring locations. Simply being able to live in Trastevere for five weeks amongst Italian families was worth the trip.

During the program I spent a week touring parts of northern Italy, including Venice, Florence, and Pisa. The visit to Venice coincided with the annual celebration for Redentore, a Venetian holiday celebrating the disappearance of the Black Plague. There I witnessed what must have been the most spectacular fireworks display on the planet. It went on for over forty minutes and all I could think on that fantastic night, standing amongst my American classmates, was that we were the luckiest students in the world.

One weekend a few other students and I planned a train trip to the south of Italy. We were surprised by wonderful weather when we got to Pompeii and spent the better part of a day investigating the picturesque and incredibly well-preserved ancient city. Rolling green hills and a cloudless sky painted a perfect backdrop for the city and, towering above everything, was the infamous Mount Vesuvius. We continued south and stayed in a hostel just outside of Sorrento with rooftop garden from which you could see for miles in all directions. The next day we rented a boat, hired a guide, and went to the island of Capri. The island was beyond beautiful and our guide let us out of the boats for a swim through the Green Grotto. We returned to Rome with deep suntans and huge smiles on our faces.

When not in class or on excursions my days were filled with exploring the city in constant search of gelaterias, shopping along the side streets and alleys that bordered Campo dei Fiori, or sampling some of Italy’s best pizza at the pizzerias found on almost every street corner. At night I went walking with classmates along the banks of the Tiber River to take part in the nightly fairs held there or played soccer with newfound Italian friends. I also had the pleasure of attending a professional soccer game (AS Roma vs. Belgium). Sitting in the stands with my friends and listening to the complicated Roman cheers was one of my most cherished memories of the program.

Not only was Math in Rome the highlight of my time at UCSD, it was undoubtedly one of the defining moments of my life. If I was able to I would return to Rome for this Global Seminar every summer for the rest of my life. I have a very structured major, so I am beyond grateful to have been able to study abroad during my time at UCSD. I would encourage students thinking about studying abroad to forget all of their uncertainties and just go for it! No matter where in the world you choose to go, I guarantee that you will not regret your choice to study abroad with the help of the Programs Abroad Office.