Submitted by Matthew Lochstoer on the 2019 winter session program in Italy sponsored by the Department of Finance and the Department of English…
Paderno has been very quiet so far, and very different from the other cities/towns we have been in. There are only about 2,000 residents in the entire town, so it is much smaller than everywhere else we have stayed. While there is not much to do here, I think it was time for us to settle down and rest a bit, since we have been traveling nonstop since the beginning of this program. We still visited two more companies, one is a ski and outdoor apparel group, and the other is a frozen foods factory. These were both very interesting to visit and gave us a chance to see how companies in Italy function.
We spent a weekend in Bologna, which I think now is my favorite city in Italy. The food was amazing, the people were very nice, and there was so much to do and see. It was a bustling college town, and while it was somewhat “touristy,” it still seemed very peaceful and quaint. If I ever come back to Italy, which I’m sure I will someday, I will definitely be making my way back to Bologna.
We also had the chance to learn how to make pizza, which was one of the best moments in Paderno. After learning the history behind pizza making and the steps in the process of making it, we got to make our own personal pies and eat them for dinner. I have to say it was much harder than it looks.
While Paderno has offered a nice break from the busy lifestyle we have been living, we don’t want to miss any opportunities. This weekend, a few of us are planning to go on a ski trip and then stay in Venice for a few days. I haven’t been skiing since last year so we’ll see how this goes.
