Name: Yuhan Jin
E-mail: yjin4@nd.edu
Location of Study: Siena, Italy
Program of Study: Dante Abroad – Summer Intensive Program
Sponsors: Mimi Ravarino

 

A brief personal bio:

I am Yuhan Jin, born and raised in Shanghai, China. I study a bit of this and that at Notre Dame, and I am always very confused.

Why this summer language abroad opportunity is important to me:

I have always admitted that starting Italian was an accident, because the intensive French course was cancelled; but I have never regretted since then. I chose to add an Italian Major, and I hope to practice Italian during this upcoming summer. To me, studying a new language is not only about new opportunities, but it is also about discovering a more complete self.

What I hope to achieve as a result of this summer study abroad experience:

I am going to Siena this summer, which is situated between Rome and Florence, two of my favorite cities in Italy. I hope to gain reasonable fluency, which means being able to express fifth grade ideas in Italian. Learning language is a tough process. Physically being there doesn’t automatically cast a magic spell on you, but it does give you the motivation to go on, and I hope to use that motivation to learn more about Italy.

My specific learning goals for language and intercultural learning this summer:

At the end of the summer, I will be able to know many Italian idioms that can’t be translated into English ore Chinese. 
At the end of the summer, I will be able to dream in Italian. 
At the end of the summer, I will be able to speak Italian, without saying too much “e” and “eh”.

My plan for maximizing my international language learning experience:

The geographical location of Siena is perfect. Aside from being a beautiful city itself, I will be able to go to Rome and Florence via public transportation very often. Other than that, speak Italian, read Italian and listen to Italian.

Reflective Journal Entry 1:

Entry 1
浪漫主义的情怀让我觉得罗马是一个让人想要做爱的城池。对于一个痴迷共和国历史和对神曲稍有入门的我来说，尚未踏足，便魂牵梦绕的有两个城市。两个都在意大利，第一个就是七丘之城。
大一的时候总喜欢在建筑系的图书馆写作业，与其说是写作业，还不如说是发呆。一楼通往二楼的楼梯拐角处就是一张罗马城市的规划图。两年之后正式上罗马史 时，Aventine，Capitoline，Palatine，似乎熟悉的出门右转的佘山一样，可是，我其实并不确定佘山在上海的精确方位，正如我也不 知道七座山丘在哪里。
在申请这个Grant的时候，我和我敬爱的推荐人Moevs教授说，我是做好失望的准备的，因为单单是罗马和佛罗伦萨就给我的期望太高了。我向来不理解， 也不打算理解行事永远积极乐观的人，因为我并不认为他们真正懂得生活。这一次，我仍然相信我是对的，因为保持一颗准备失望的心，才能时不时获得意想不到的 惊喜，这就是世界给我的礼物。
是吧，那就随爱情，赴罗马。To Rome, With Love.

Reflective Journal Entry 2:

Entry 2
佛罗伦萨太小，而留不住但丁。
1302年但丁流亡之时，蓓祈丽彩早已身死十二载而不能忘，此时的佛罗伦萨，没有米开朗琪罗，没有圣母百花的惊世穹顶，更没有那个只手遮天的美迪奇家族，有的只是吵不完的架，流不完的血，有的是一个琐碎的江湖。
不过，坏人都下了地狱，至少在但丁的世界里是。世人只留下了对《神曲》的记忆，而那些个阴谋阳谋的，研究中世纪的老教授有兴趣知道，手下的研究生不知道也得知道，但让我吃惊的是那些个搞电影的，拍电视剧的，竟然没有兴趣知道。
此时，街上开过一辆宾利，游客四散。

Reflective Journal Entry 3:

Entry 3:
以下意译自Le Grande Belleza的结尾：
一切都是这样结束的：都得死光光。不过，之前呢，是藏匿在那些个扯鸡巴蛋下的生活，栖息在叽叽喳喳，呜哩妈哩，沉默和忧郁。感性和恐惧里 。然后突然是那一闪而过，朝生暮死，稍纵即逝的美丽。可接踵而至的却是苦雨凄风和悲惨世界。最后，苟活于世间这块仅存的遮羞布，把这些通通埋葬掉。呜哩妈哩，呜哩妈哩，举目所及，到处皆屁。
我根本不在乎这“到处”。
就让我的小说这么开始吧。因为，归根结底，不过就是变个戏法罢了。嗯，变戏法。
@Cinema Fortezza

Reflective Journal Entry 4:

Reflective Journal Entry 5:

Reflective Journal Entry 6:

Reflection on my language learning and intercultural gains:

Reflection on my summer language abroad experience overall:

How I plan to use my language and intercultural competences in the future: