Hello everyone!
My name is Giselle, I am a sophomore majoring in psychology and minoring in communications and neuroscience, and I am in Sicily.
I am currently abroad on a wine studies Jan Term program about volcanic vineyards, and I am here to talk to y’all about what we did today (being January 17th, 2021).
Real quick though, I wanted to address the following: for those who are thinking about doing a jan term or studying abroad but feel like you don’t have the pre-reqs or the “right major”, what it takes is passion! I care about wine, I love Italy, and I love traveling. While on paper it may seem like my major does not fit the syllabus, but let me tell you, it doesn’t matter if you are invested in the subject. So, if the person reading this has heard about a program that sounds interesting, and you care, and let’s say you have no experiences with the affiliated classes (like me), let me be the first to say, do not let that stop you from applying. I have never taken a wine class but this has been the best adventure and I am enjoying learning everything I have been given the opportunity to experience, and I am an aspiring personality neuroscientist loving learning about volcanoes and grape varieties.
So, onto the point of this blog post. We are in Italy (Sicily specifically) and today was our day to be immersed in Sicilan culture by first hand walking the Catanian fish market. A little background information:
This fish market is located in the Alonzo Piazza by the Ameanno Fountain built in the 1800s. This historical fountain was dedicated to the Ameano river that once flowed beneath the city before the Etna explosion of 1669. and happens every Monday-Saturday from morning to afternoon. While it is called the fish market, seafood galore is not only what is being sold. Cheese cashiers, spice sellers, and vegetable vendors alike line the streets to sell their wares. Let me just tell you, you have never seen such fresh food. The fruits and such had been picked that day, and were every color of the rainbow. And most of the seafood was so fresh, it was still alive.
Wandering around the streets of Catania and stocking up on the best food I have had the privilege to buy, was awesome. We also had a sense of the culture of the fish market. You could tell who sold the best foods, and for the best prices by the size of their lines. The more people, the better the food. Everybody there was also the nicest people I have met. All they wanted to do was talk and feed you, not a bad situation if you ask me. I especially loved it because I am Sicilian and it felt like I was finally experiencing first hand what my mother would always describe her grandmother’s house to be like: full of life, good food, and good people.
So overall, this little day trip held more genuine cultural experience in three hours than most full day guided tours or sightseeing bus rides. So, 10/10, I would recommend, and for me, all it took was taking the chance to apply. Me, a psych major in a wine studies course!
Sincerely,
Giselle G