On February 1, 2020, my wife Mary Pat and I arrived in Rome to meet up with the students, faculty and staff for the University of Georgia’s Studies Abroad Program for the spring, 2020 semester. This was to be my 5th time teaching photography for the program and, as usual, I was excited to be participating in what I think is an exceptional study abroad experience.
Our several days in Rome went as planned, as the students, guided by an art historian, visited the usual Roman sites, after which we headed for the program’s home in Cortona, Tuscany.
Cortona is a small town in southern Tuscany. The city, enclosed by stone walls dating back to Etruscan and Roman times, sits on the top of a hill about 1968 feet above sea level. The University of Georgia has had a presence in this town since 1970, having just celebrated its 50th anniversary this past summer.
Instruction began in earnest once we arrived in Cortona. In the news, we began to see news tidbits about the coronavirus, primarily as it spread in China.