This article originally appeared in the December 2022/January 2023 issue of Dream of Italy. Become a member to access 1,000+ articles like this – designed to help you enjoy an authentic trip to Italy and live your best Italian life!
An Italian expression remarks “Molise non esiste” meaning “Molise doesn’t exist.” Easy to miss at first, Molise is home to only about one percent of Italy’s population and is the country’s second-smallest region. Americans Meagan and Scott Holcomb took a chance on this special corner of Italy and started Molise Italian Studies after seeing a CNN.com article about the region offering grant money to those willing to start a business in one of its underpopulated villages.
Meagan and Scott are firm believers in the importance of intercultural competence (IC). This is the importance of understanding cultural influence on behaviors and beliefs and bridging relationships across those differences. They encourage participants in their adult study abroad programs to do as they have done and explore the Molisana cuisine and landscapes while fostering friendships with the lovely locals lucky enough to call this magnificent, albeit lesser-known, place home.
Their adult study abroad programs take place between the two provinces of Molise –Campobasso and Isernia. Local communities are ready to welcome participants with open arms for truly immersive Italian living. Optional Day trips to Naples or Rome are available and the cities are easily reached with the help of the Molise Italian Studies team.
Associate Editor Danielle Abbazia spoke to Scott and Meagan and their love and appreciation for Molise are infectious. Their programs are dynamic and customizable, opening up the entire region to learning opportunities.
Danielle Abbazia: How did your dream of Italy begin? Why Molise?
Meagan Holcomb: We were sitting in our living room in our house in Tucson that came with this gigantic painting over the fireplace of just the most typical Italian village scene. We were staring at this picture that even had a cat in it that looked just like our cat. Scott saw this CNN article talking about the Molise regional government offering this grant for people to bring a business and we were like “Okay what kind of business could we create?” We thought, “What is this telling us? A coffee shop or a bookstore? Nothing resonated and really lit a fire within us at first.”
Scott Holcomb: We just fell madly in love and I’d been doing all kinds of researching on Google street view as an armchair traveler.
DA: So you chose Molise without ever visiting it?
MH: We’d gone on nothing but faith! We had a trip planned, but then the pandemic hit and we didn’t get to go. We finally got to go in 2021 and we were just taken aback, we could not have even dreamed of how extraordinary it is.
DA: How did you decide to do a study abroad program?
MH: We’re both educators by trade. Scott teaches Latin and he traditionally has taught older grades and I’ve taught elementary at high-risk schools predominantly. We were looking at the education system and thinking “Man, something is missing here.”
DA: Who did you have in mind while building your curriculum?
MH: Back then our ideal participant was college students.
SH: But it has really evolved from that. We’ve expanded it to include adult study abroad. Some of the students are coming in as second career students that have said, you know, COVID was my opportunity to really dig deep and figure out what I actually want to do as opposed to my kind of autopilot survival mode here.
DA: How is your program different from other adult study abroad programs?
MH: It’s really rooted in intercultural competence, which is that ability to bridge across differences in a more complex way. We are more multi-faceted. We bring in trauma awareness, historical and cultural contexts and intercultural communication. Emotional intelligence. There’s so many different pieces of the human being that are a part of the whole of being. We thought—How can we work hand in hand with Molise to really build this beautiful extraordinary place up and create mutually sustaining learning relationships.
DA: Can you tell us about your digital nomad program?
SH: Our digital nomad program is a way to live like a local and immerse yourself in the culture. You learn to bridge cultural differences while sampling unparalleled local food. The program is customizable—you can pick what accommodations you’d prefer, if you want to be in a city, in the countryside, by the sea. You can choose to have Italian lessons in-person or virtually. Our add-ons include hands-on experience, cultural, historic and outdoor activities such as visits to wineries in Larino, truffle-hunting in Busso and cheese-tours in Agnone. You have our 24 hour on-call support for any questions or emergencies while in Molise as well as pre-trip and post-trip support.
DA: You are the parents of four. What about families who wish to experience Molise with their children in tow?
SH: Our “Bridging Across Molise: Family Program” is set to run in April, June and October next year for eight weeks each. This program is similar to our others in that you get to experience local food and culture but the itineraries are created with children in mind. Kids love the hands-on cooking classes and spotting wild horses in the Pantano della Zittola. A visit to a donkey farm is also a fun time.
DA: What’s your main philosophy when creating your curriculum?
SH: I think it boils down to helping people bridge differences and really delving into the importance of curiosity about the human story and the significance of meeting people where they are and who they are.
DA: What makes Molise special?
SH: You have the feeling of “coming home” when you come here. That welcoming feel of being part of the family. We love that small scale.
MH: You get the real Italy there with still having access within a couple of hours of Rome, Naples. It’s this kind of magic, perfect combination.
DA: What do you hope your participants gain from your programs?
MH: We’ve been really talking about the power of the human story and the relevance of the human story. So, we encourage our participants not only to absorb and take in knowledge as an active learner but then to have the time to reflect and say how has that impacted you?
DA: One last question I have for you—Are there any “Italianisms” or things that you’ve taken from the people that you’ve met in Molise that you’ve brought into your life at home in the States?
MH: It’s a motto: piano piano. When we’re butchering a conversation in Italian. I think “sto imparando” (I’m learning) and they’ll just say “piano piano.” It’s okay, you’re learning it, you’re doing fine. And that’s one thing that the Italians really get that us Americans struggle with understanding because it’s not how we were raised. We were raised with “go go, go, go, go!” And if you have free time, you’re doing something wrong. Whereas the Italians are saying, if you don’t have free time doing something. Take time for coffee. Take time for dinner, take Sunday afternoon to relax. Take time for your family and for yourself.
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“You are not a typical tourist and this is not just travel, so choose purposeful adventure!” Molise Italian Studies’ adult study abroad programs are widely customizable based on personal preferences but the core pillars of the programs remain the same.
The Digital Nomad program starts at $2,500* for four weeks with two meals a day included and accommodations in homestays, hotels or B&Bs. Language classes available virtually or in-person. *Please check for up-to-date pricing.
Bridging Across Molise starts at $3,900* per person and $2,500* for children under 16. Accommodation in double rooms for up to 18 nights, daily breakfast and local transportation included. *Please check for up-to-date pricing.
Italian Language programs in Campobasso are available in two levels. The Intensive program starts at $2,200 per person for three weeks, with two meals a day included and lessons five times a week. The Conversational level program starts at $3,000 and runs for six weeks, two lessons a week. Both include accommodations in a homestay, apartment or B&B.
Soon, Molise Italian Studies will launch a program called Italy in Image and Imagination: A Literary and Cinematic Tour of Naples, Molise and the Human Story. Taking place in both Naples and Molise, the program challenges participants to dig deeper than Italian stereotypes.
For more information, visit www.Moliseitalianstudies.com
–Danielle Abbazia