CAPA Fall 2018 Diversity Advocates scholar Lauren Ehrmann reflects on her time teaching English at Anelli Mancanti in Florence and how her experience teaching locals with diverse backgrounds completely changed her preconceived ideas about Florence.
I arrived at the specified time to a historic building with bright orange hallways decorated with optimistic murals about community and diversity, ready for my first day of volunteering. Linguistic confusion ensued when I asked the young adults at the front desk where to find Jacopo, the person I was supposed to meet: they cheerfully tried out their English on me, while I further confused things by attempting to use my rudimentary Italian. Just as I was about to despair, I was saved: Jacopo came down the stairs, shook my hand, and greeted me (much to my relief) in excellent English.
Continue Reading