Alumna Kristen Portanova recently returned to the Villa Rossa where she spent some time doing remote work (for NBC Universal) in the Villino Library while staying in Florence with her family. She has returned many times since studying here, but this was the first time she stayed more than a few days. She told us about how her experience studying at Syracuse Florence changed her life.
You were a Radio, TV and Film major at Syracuse when you studied in Florence. How did your coursework here relate to your studies at home?
I was not able to take any classes that counted directly towards my major, however the electives I took in Florence were engaging, interesting, and impactful. Italian language was a requirement which I was grateful for, as it assisted me in providing the foundation for conversation with my host family as well as throughout my experience living in Florence. Art History was necessary as it gave me great understanding and appreciation for the art, history, and architecture of Florence. I also took writing and Italian film which were both similar to my Newhouse coursework and certainly assisted me with my senior year courses once I returned to campus. I hadn’t previously been exposed to Italian cinema before I took this course in Florence and I feel it was a vital part of my film education.
Please tell us about your experience with your host mom Giovanna and why you said you’d recommend every student do this.
Giovanna and Piero were wonderful host parents! I absolutely loved the experience of living with them, and would definitely recommend all students live with host families as it provided me with an unmatched immersive experience into Italian culture within the comfort of a home. Giovanna was an amazing cook, who prepared fresh dinners every evening where we sat at the table for hours which assisted me in not only learning Italian language but also understanding the culture that is placed around meals. Giovanna’s amazing dishes are still some of the best food I have ever had in my life. I appreciated how she allowed me to observe her skills, and took so much time and care in the preparation of each meal. She showed me how Italian culture is so strongly linked to food and the experience of meal time.
You had quite an experience studying art history with the renowned Professor Rab Hatfield and “Robocop” as your TA. What was that like?
Yes, that was absolutely amazing! To study Renaissance Art History with the expert who wrote the textbook was inspiring and unparallelled. Professor Hatfield provided me with the knowledge and appreciation for the art and architecture of Florence and Tuscany that I have cherished throughout my life. He provided such a solid foundation for understanding the city of Florence as we frequently ventured out to see the actual pieces of art in person!
Peter Weller (“Robocop”) was so animated and passionate, I could tell how much he loved Florence and the art he was teaching us about–he really instilled an excitement in learning!
Another gift Professor Hatfield gave me was introducing me to Vino Nobile di Montepulciano. During our field trip to the city he had urged us to try a bottle of wine there, and since then my life has changed as this wine has been a staple throughout my life as well as the lives of my family and friends with whom I have shared this knowledge!
You mentioned fun differences like writing your papers by hand and arranging to meet friends at the Duomo without a cell phone. How else has Florence changed since you were here as a student?
I loved writing our papers by hand, since I could sit down with my notebook at a cafe overlooking the Duomo, or on the floor inside the Uffizi, or in a pew at Santa Croce. We did have cell phones at the time and were just introduced to text messaging at the time. Though Florence has since embraced technology now like WiFi, I don’t see many differences to when I studied here in 2003. It’s exactly like going back in time, and being here makes me feel like a student again. The Villa Rossa is still the same warm, welcoming, beautiful place it was when I studied here though it is now full of memories experienced by a younger version of myself. I still go to the taxi stand and sit down at a restaurant for lunch here, instead of grabbing an Uber or ordering Door Dash which I would do at home in New York. It’s comforting to be in such an old unflappable city that has withstood so many generations. It’s part of the many charms that make Florence such an enchanting city to visit.
How did your experience at Syracuse Florence influence your life and/or career?
Studying abroad in Florence changed my life, and I would not trade that experience for anything. It had such a huge influence on the trajectory of my life, as it opened my mind to the amazing experience of travel, of living in other cities, and meeting new people. When my time in Florence ended, I returned back to Syracuse more cultured, more appreciative, more compassionate, and with an overall greater understanding of my tiny place in the world. I believe it impacted my professional life, in that I was able to navigate through the chaotic film and television industry with flexibility, and the inspiration to travel and work in all of the different places I have worked in throughout my career.