Wesley Marcum
I made the decision to come to Urbino for the ieiMedia program because I thought it would be a great professional experience and would give me valuable material for my portfolio. What I actually got out of the experience was so much more than what I bargained for. The assignments I worked on took me far out of my comfort zone and taught me skills that I never thought I had needed or wanted to learn. However, the value of these skills cannot be overstated. Learning how to not just survive, but competently navigate through a foreign culture and language is an experience I believe everyone should seek out. Learning how to push my photography, videography and writing skills beyond anything I’ve previously done has been invaluable for me. I’m glad that opportunities like this exist for American students, and I hope that more will take advantage of these kinds of experiences whenever and wherever they can.
Soft chatter and vibrant laughter echo across the rococo-style friezes in the 17th century Church of Saint Philip. The atmosphere is warm and convivial as men and women of all ages greet each other and casually converse awaiting the main event. Listening more closely, however, reveals these conversations are marked by bittersweet memories.