Anja Lange

Senior Instructor, Herbst Program for Humanities
Global Intensive: Designing the Renaissance (Florence, Italy)

What is your international experience?
I was born into a seafaring family and I reached my first foreign shores at age 10 days. My dad was a sea captain and it was quite normal for the family to spend much of our lives abroad. Subsequently I have been to five of the seven continents. I was lucky. My first solo trip abroad was in middle school at age 13. With a ticket in hand and a few basic French language skills, I kissed my mom goodbye and started my adventures in Southern France. I repeated this for many years and this annual voyage became a decisive cornerstone in my life, as it ignited my love for Mediterranean culture, and, above all, the world of art and literature. Later I spent my senior year of high school abroad and as soon as my finances allowed me, I ventured into getting my university degrees at foreign institutions.

Why should first year students take a course with an international travel experience?
It is never too late to study abroad. But one should try to go before junior or senior year in college. Once we get too settled into our routines, it becomes harder to gain different perspectives. I have been taking students abroad for a decade now, and the freshmen seem to benefit most from the study abroad experience. Young students gain valuable self-confidence on these trips and subsequently have a much better grasp of what they want to accomplish academically in their four years on our campus. A trip to Europe so early might feel a little daunting at first, but it is an incredible opportunity to become part of a very special academic community on our campus. Since academic success depends on a supportive environment, the bonding that happens on these study abroad seminars is absolutely priceless. It helps students to become more focused and goal-oriented, which is a truly good investment of time and finances. Once my students return from my study abroad trips, they tend to be more involved, end up with valuable friendships, and are more motivated to pursue their studies.
 
Why is Italy such an excellent location for your Global Intensive?
Florence is a relatively small city and offers many sites and activities within walking distance. It is a special experience to study architecture and art in the place where it was created. No slideshow or PowerPoint presentation can do any art work justice. On-site we step right into the Renaissance and see how it continues to live on in modern times. 

What is your favorite Italian food?
All Italian food is delicious and not that foreign to the American taste. Of course, a real Italian pizza, fresh pasta, delicious cheese, aromatic olives are the best. Above all, I love to share a multi-course Italian meal around a table with a lovely group of people, while we digest the impressions of the day. I always leave room for an authentic Florentine Tiramisu. And for a coffee drinker like me, Italy is certainly one of the premier places in the world to visit.
 
What aspect of the program do you look forward to the most?
The Global Intensive is an incredible opportunity to literally go beyond the textbook and to engage with what otherwise would seem to be standard classroom materials. When the immense structure of the Florence cathedral looms over you, you truly appreciate what the architect and the engineers accomplished centuries ago. History makes sense all of a sudden, because you can touch it, breath it, and you have become part of it. I like to make students understand that their own world makes more sense when they follow the streets and alleys that great minds such as Michelangelo, Dante, and Giotto have walked.
 
Is there anything else you would like to add?
I am looking forward to sharing my passion for Florence. What you will learn in this seminar will be valuable for your career as a student and for the rest of your life. Learning on-site in this way truly is an incredible experience that will impact everything you do, even decades from now.