Hi, my name is Steven Ortiz, and here are some facts about me!
- I am from Long Island, New York
- I am a rising sophomore from Baker College
- I am pursuing a BS in Mechanical Engineering and a minor in Engineering Design
I chose the Bologna program because of the opportunity to travel and experience the other side of the pond while taking courses required for my major and minor. Based on my first week, I made a fantastic decision to choose Bologna. The first set of classes with Dr. Dugani has been very insightful into the world of Arduino. As a class, collectively, we have made significant progress in coding and understanding the gap between modern innovations/devices and the underlying code and framework, allowing these processes to occur.
During this first week, I have traveled and explored a majority of the landmarks and suburban areas of Bologna, all entailing great architecture and food! This past weekend, we completed day trips to Venice and Milan. We visited notable palaces and churches in Venice, such as Doge’s Palace, Basilica Santa Maria Della Salute, and Saint Mark Basilica. We were able to traverse the island via surprisingly convenient and trustworthy local vaporettos (water taxi/ferry).
The next day, we took a three-hour bus ride to Milan. We explored landmarks such as the Duomo, the Galleria, Castello Sforzesco, Parco Sempione, Arco della Pace, and the Navigli District. Milan was the best city I have visited; it had amazing attractions, food, and architecture, and I can see myself living there one day.
This first week in Italy has truly enhanced my world view and excites me for the remainder of the trip, where I will continue to learn and take vital classes for my major and minor, while exploring the rest of Italy and the surrounding countries.
Venice
Bologna
Milan
Bologna