Alumni Interview with Miranda Lozano

What inspired you to go abroad?

BEST DECISION EVER. I knew I always wanted to travel, but I did not know how it was going to be accomplished until I came across the University of Dallas's Shakespeare in Italy program. I was a senior in high school at this point in time and was looking for a college to attend in the coming Fall. I did not intend to find UD's summer program, but I am so grateful that I did.

I began to do research on the program itself and fell in love with the opportunity and the layout of the trip. I watched youtube videos and called the school until the only thing left to do was tell my parents. They were unable to help me finance the trip so I did it all on my own. I got myself a full-time job and babysat on the side. I had more than enough money to cover the cost in the span of five months. Going abroad and traveling is just a part of me and one of the easiest decisions I've ever made. You will not regret any bit of it.

Why did you choose the University of Dallas Shakespeare Program in Italy?

I chose Shakespeare in Italy because I know that I personally excel in literature and writing. I also wanted to challenge myself with the great author and playwright himself, Shakespeare. It also would be an amazing opportunity to prepare for my college classes and meet three of UD's finest professors.

To be honest I would not have cared what we were studying as long as I was abroad. I had the time of my life. It was the perfect homework/class-load over the span of time we had. Balancing travel and studying during this program was not difficult.

What was your favorite part about Rome, Italy?

There is so much history in Rome that there is no time to be succumbed by boredom. Every corner I turned I was in awe, whether it was the narrow streets leading to the Vatican, the piazzas filled with scores of people from different cultures, or ancient buildings ready to tell me a story.

Another city we visited was Padua. Padua is like a college town in some aspects and had its own unique vibes. There were more young people since the University of Padua is right there and the town at night is so fun for staying out late.

The other city we visited was Venice. Venice was my favorite city and still is to this day. This city is so unique as well. It's definitely more touristy, but I enjoyed exploring the places and streets where people do not normally go. The water is an important part that makes Venice, Venice. There is so much history to this city as well that I think will surprise you. I felt like I was on an island full of happy, bustling people. The sunsets are beautiful and the gelato is endless. I loved absolutely everything about this country.

What made your experience abroad unique?

My experience was unique because my Shakespeare in Italy program brought along their prestigious drama professor. I had the opportunity to act out a scene from Shakespeare's the Merchant of Venice in the ghetto of Venice. All of my professor’s passion for the subject and love for the cities we traveled to made this experience so fun and entertaining. I had my own built in tour guides that were willing to go off the map and show us the uniqueness of these ancient cities.

How did local staff support you throughout your program?

The staff was amazing! They are just as excited as you are to send you abroad and they are willing to help you in whatever this may entail. Everyone is so sweet and excited for you to experience something that not very many people get to do before they are 20. The staff truly cares, which is something I cannot say about any other program. Stand out and study abroad!

What's one thing you wish you would have done differently?

I wish I had taken a polaroid camera with me or a real camera rather than my phone to document everything I wanted to. I also wish I wasn't super paranoid about fitting into the Italian culture when it came to clothing because I would have been more comfortable while traveling.

Describe a typical day in the life of your program.

A typical day would entail us waking up around 7:00 a.m. to make it to the Mensa to eat breakfast with friends. After, we would walk to class and spend that morning prepping for all of the sights we were going to see. We had class for about two to four hours with breaks in between.

We then would eat lunch, and if we had an excursion into Rome that day we would do that. We also had opportunities on certain days to meet in groups with our "tutors" (UD grad students in Literary Traditions) and talk about what we were reading.

We had plenty of free time where we either did laundry, hung out in the common area, slept, studied, took a walk in the vineyard, swam, played sports, or went to the chapel. After, we all came together, if we weren't already, and ate dinner.

The days varied because on travel days to other cities we did not have class. In addition, whenever we would get back early from Rome, we might have class in the evening. It was very flexible and easy-going. We kept up with the readings on our own, but there was an entire week that nothing was due, and a few days in a row that I didn't even touch a book.

What did you enjoy doing in your free time?

In my free time I enjoyed playing soccer with friends on campus, taking a walk through the vineyard, or exploring the city with gelato or pizza in hand. I loved watching Italian sunsets and staying up late talking with my roommates and suite-mates.

What was your accommodation like? What did you like best about it?

Due Santi is a beautiful campus overlooking a small town and a few miles away from the Pope's summer villa. I was on the second floor with three roommates and three suite-mates. My room was small, but it was the perfect size. I had a big window that allowed natural sun to come in and provided me with a view of the rolling hills of Italy.

The Hall that we slept in opened up to a common area that was surrounded by every room (think of a big giant cube and in the middle was the common area). Everyone got really close and I enjoyed the social aspect of the campus. There is a vineyard in the front as well as a cafeteria with local Italians who cook meals for you. Everyone becomes friends with the cooks!

There is also a library, a phone booth, computers, and two classrooms. There is a soccer field, a pool, tennis court and basketball court, as well as an on campus Church. In addition, there is an outside section where you can eat and even a grill area (which can be rented out by UD students during their semester abroad).

There is an on-campus laundry room where I spent some nights reading and Skyped friends back home. There is a balcony that is really nice to read on and watch the sunset. I found myself on the balcony a lot and I treasured those moments of serenity.

What is one thing every participant should know before participating in your program?

The meat that is prepared by the cooks is "mystery meat"—we never know what it was. The campus is gluten-free/vegan friendly, it's not gourmet food but there will be food provided for you. Be open to meeting new people!

Now that you're home, how has your program abroad impacted your life?

I catch myself escaping to serene places in my mind that I can remember. I miss everything about Italy, it feels like a dream—a dream I do not want to wake up from, but always do. I have a better perspective of the world now, my boundaries and scopes have been broadened, and I cannot wait for the time I can broaden my boundaries even more.

I miss it so much. Traveling will never be a waste of money or time. It hit me from the moment I stepped into the Italian airport—different cultures were represented everywhere, people from Africa, Saudi Arabia, China. I want to be surrounded by that and never lose that perspective. Challenge yourself and go.

Would you recommend University of Dallas programs to others? Why?

YES! A THOUSAND TIMES YES! Even if you do not want to study Shakespeare, go. Just go. You will have so much fun and the professors are amazing. The University of Dallas also offers a scholarship for participants who attend and choose to get their Bachelors degree at UD.