Sonya Dunham
This past May, I had the amazing opportunity to study abroad in Italy through Syracuse University’s NSD 452: Mediterranean Food and Culture program. Alongside 15 classmates, I traveled through Florence, the Tuscan countryside, Bologna, and Modena while learning about the Mediterranean diet beyond the classroom. We visited working farms, cooked authentic Italian meals, and experienced the farm-to-table lifestyle firsthand. Seeing the fresh ingredients, rich traditions, and pride Italians have in their food gave me a whole new appreciation for their culture. What made this experience so special was that it wasn’t a typical tourist trip—we connected with local Italians who generously shared their traditions and way of life. It was an unforgettable experience that deepened my understanding of both nutrition and culture. I’m so grateful for the memories and lessons I brought home from Italy.
One thing that surprised me was how long meals lasted. In Italy, meals are much more than just eating, they are a time to slow down, relax, and connect with family and friends. Dinner often lasted several hours, which was a big change from the fast-paced lifestyle I’m used to in the United States. I also enjoyed learning about Italy’s food laws and government regulations during our farm and production tours. Seeing how differently food production and quality standards are approached compared to the United States gave me a new perspective on the relationship between nutrition and public health.
This experience helped solidify my interest in conducting nutrition research, particularly on eating behaviors and dietary patterns. For my Honors thesis, I hope to build on what I learned in Italy by developing a research question related to the Mediterranean diet and its impact on health behaviors. Seeing the Mediterranean lifestyle firsthand inspired me to explore how cultural practices and eating patterns influence overall health. I look forward to pursuing research that combines nutrition and behavior while applying the knowledge and experiences I gained during this study abroad program.
Receiving an award from the Honors Program made this experience possible. The scholarship helped cover the costs of the program, including housing, meals, activities, and other travel expenses, which significantly reduced the financial burden of studying abroad. Because of this support. I am incredibly grateful for this opportunity, and without this generous support, I would not have been able to experience this life-changing opportunity, and I will always be thankful.
As a Nutrition Science student, this experience allowed me to take everything I had learned in the classroom and see it come to life. Instead of only studying the Mediterranean diet and its health benefits through lectures and textbooks, I was able to experience the farm-to-table lifestyle, traditional food practices, and daily habits that make this way of eating so effective. It was especially interesting to see how different the lifestyle is in Italy and how food, family, and physical activity are naturally incorporated into everyday life. Seeing these concepts in action gave me a deeper understanding of nutrition and reinforced the importance of considering culture and lifestyle when promoting healthy eating. This experience strengthened my passion for nutrition and will help me apply what I’ve learned throughout my future career in healthcare.
