Clemson University and other South Carolina Students Travel to Reggio Emilia, Italy

Ciao! This blog was created as a portfolio of Ashley Epperson for the Clemson University Study Abroad program in Reggio Emilia, Italy. This year from May 9-31st approximately 25 students, (myself included) from Clemson University, the University of South Carolina, and Benedict University, are travelling to Reggio Emilia and immersing in the Italian culture. While in Italy our group will be living with local host families, taking language lessons, observing students at local preschool and primary schools, and traveling to nearby cities.

Reggio Emilia is a small city located about an hour South of Milan, Italy. For several years, Dr. Dee Stegelin from Clemson and Dr. Powers- Costello from the University of South Carolina have taken education, psychology, sociology, and nursing students to Reggio Emilia to observe the "Reggio Emilia Approach." The approach is a very unique program implemented in the schools in Reggio Emilia and other local areas. The approach focuses on the student as an individual and promotes the use of language, music, and arts into all learning strategies.

I am a Clemson Nursing Student so my research on the trip will focus on the organization of health care in Italy and the nurses role in providing care. Since we are spending the majority of the trip in local schools, I will also be observing the role of the school nurse and the growing epidemic, childhood obesity. Since Americans tend to be much more overweight and obese than other countries, I will observe what factors prevent overweight or obesity in Italy. I plan on observing the school children interact with one another at work, play, and eating times and discussing the issue of overweight children with members of the family and of the school.