I think most people reading this know already, but just to put it in writing, I am moving out of Chicago. To Italy. In one month. Yeah.That is my lame excuse for this being the first post of the year on this blog. The last month has been filled with the excitement of bureaucratic arm-wrestling, selling off all my possessions, and speed-learning Italian. As a side note, there is nothing like the threat of moving to a foreign country to motivate you to learn a language. If only I could have convinced myself that I was relocating to Beijing as a kid.
What on earth am I doing in Italy? I will be enrolled at the University of Gastronomic Sciences as a master's student in their Food Culture and Communication program. The campus is located in Colorno, Italy, a little outside of Parma, which is the namesake for Parmesan cheese and Parma prosciutto. The program lasts for one year, and the language of instruction is English. (Phew!) Course titles include "Medieval Food History," "Sociology of Food Consumption," and "Food Economics."
The other popular question is what I expect to do after my year is over. Obviously there are no Monster listings for gastronomers, but alumni have gone on to work for wine importers, marketers, agricultural NGOs, etc. I'd like to go into food writing, but we'll see where the darts land. The program also ends with an 8-week internship, so that might help open some doors. At the least, it will be a year-long adventure in Italy, with a few trips to neighboring countries (Belgium, France, Spain, Greece).
The economists, suffice it to say, are supportive but a bit confused. The Fed is meant to be a fertile training ground for future econ phds, so my departure for something completely removed from econ grad school has been met with a bit of surprise. Overheard in the kitchen last week: "Did you hear? She's going to gastronomy school...yeah, I don't know. With a G."
Happily, my economists have also been nothing but supportive. I've gotten tons of unsolicited advice, well-wishes and (most importantly) translation help. The finance team held a happy hour last week, and as I left, I felt truly lucky to have worked with such smart, witty, rationally choosy people. It's been a great run at the Fed, and now that the financial crisis is over (at least according to credit spreads), I am moving on new projects.
My flight out of JFK leaves on March 7th, and classes start on March 10th. I just told HR that my last day at work would be Feb 26th. I have been continuously employed since high school, and the thought of not having an income scares the hell out of me. In case you are wondering, I am funding this entirely on my own. With Chester in college and the economy in its current shape, money is tight at home. So, while I won't be sleeping in the streets, I am definitely passing on a trip to El Bulli (not that I'd be able to get a reservation).
Seeing as Chitown Chatter suggests that Chicago will be topical, I've decided to start a new blog for my new adventures in Europe. Further information will be posted after I figure out some design details.
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