By Amanda Bambrick
Reflection
Reflecting back on the writing project for Canal brings fond memories of my time as a student of Italian studies. I wrote for the inaugural issue which was a great honor and quite exciting! The work was, in part, an examination of an essay by Peter Stallybrass titled “Worn Worlds: Clothing, Mourning and the Life of Things.” Working with professors Giulia Po Delisle and Eugenia Paulicelli allowed me a unique opportunity to develop a confidence in my ability to connect Italian language with important, complex ideas. It was also fun to learn more about the connections people have through fashion. The editing process was my favorite part because it gave me insight into the nuances of the Italian language. Learning Italian through this process gave my brain an alternative way to discover how Italians express themselves. It even allowed me to identify differences in cultural attitudes.
Since then, I have visited Italy several times and was able to navigate it easily because of my comfort with and handle on the language and culture thanks to my studies with Dr. Po Delisle! I was lucky to complete a study abroad program through the L’Università di Reggio, in the city of Reggio Emilia, where I made lifelong friends.
The most exciting part in my pursuit of Italian has been a pathway to Italian citizenship. Writing for Canal was a great confidence boost, and a part of a bigger journey that, at the time, I had no idea lay ahead. I married into a family with Italian citizenship, and as a spouse, was required to demonstrate proficiency in the Italian language at a B1 level. Thanks to my studies, I passed the exam!
If I had to impart any wisdom specific to learning a new language, it would be an expression that another influential Italian teacher at UMass imparted on me. She said, “Amanda, leave the bag of perfection at home!”
Biographical Statement - Amanda Bambrick
Amanda Bambrick lives in Elizabeth, Colorado with her husband and two-year-old daughter. She works as a clinician, doing psychiatric evaluations for a hospital. She’s worked in mental health for several years but hasn’t forgotten her Italian roots! She continues to do Italian lessons through iTalki and after obtaining Italian citizenship, plans to potentially live part-time in Italy with her family.