Hello all! The end of the semester is coming to an end! I cannot believe how fast this semester has gone! I can’t believe Christmas is just around the corner! Walking around Florence seems even more magical with all of the decorations and lights being put up. I come from a small town, so seeing a city with all of the lights is something I am not used to all of the festivities.
Buongiorno! Things have been great here in Florence and I learn new places to enjoy every day. However, there are a few places that I personally enjoy. Probably my favorite thing to do in Florence is to walk along the Arno River, especially at sunset. You are able to go and sit down below so you are looking up at the bridges and the Ponte Vecchio in the distance.
After having spent 3 weeks in Florence I left to participate in FUA Tuttotoscana program for a week in New York. I have not had much time to explore the city through all of my school time but thanks to walking everywhere I have been able to take in the sights! The biggest cultural difference that I am enjoying is the affair of food.
As part time locals, we have developed our favorite places in Florence for all sorts of life activities. From good eats to great shopping, we know exactly where to go to satisfy a need or want. Osteria all’ Antico Vinaio: It is here that you can find a well made, large sandwich for 5 euros and are guaranteed to walk away a happy camper.
After traveling around Italy, as well as several other countries, I can easily say I am happy with my choice to study in Florence. Florence is such an accessible city you can walk almost anywhere. After traveling to cities where I had to take multiple trains to get to one destination, I definitely appreciate a walkable city. Although I’ve only scratched the surface of this city, I have found some of my favorite spots.
After being here in Florence for a month, I have depicted a few major cultural differences. The Italians are proud people who truly appreciate tradition, art, family, food, and wine. Food in Italy is an art form; everything is made from scratch. Almost every business closes around 1 or 2pm and reopens later in the evening. I myself have adapted to this “afternoon break” in order to escape the hottest time of day.
I feel as though I am at a cultural advantage over some of my American counterparts. Having been raised in a rather large Mexican family, many cultural stereotypes tend to overlap with those said about Italians. For example, the volume levels of normal conversation, the wild hand gestures, and lack of personal space are things that my background suggest to be normal.
Hello again! Living in Florence continues to be one of the greatest experiences that I will ever have! There is something new to love about it every single day! I have been able to do a lot of traveling and activities such as hiking the Cinque Terre, visiting the Tuscan islands, Volterra, Pompeii, the island of Capri, Croatia, and Germany so far.
My first impression of Italy when getting off the plane was ‘holy crap I am never driving here’! They all drive like maniacs. First of all, on my trip, they lost my luggage. I thought the airport back home in Victoria B.C. Canada was small, but it is huge and bustling compared to Florence.
When I first arrived to Florence, I’ll admit I was very overwhelmed. I first arrived to my apartment and felt very alone and unsure of what was to lie ahead of me. After I took a short walk from my apartment, I discovered the Duomo and the quaint Piazza San Pier Maggiore. I spoke to locals with the small Italian I knew and got around fairly easily.
Ciao! I have finally made it to Italy and I am in love. I could honestly leave it at that, not telling you anything else. My point would be made and you would have to come see Firenze yourself. Not to worry though, I will not leave you in wonder. Instead, I will let you in on my first impressions and observations. Firenze is a small city and you really can walk anywhere.
Buongiorno from Firenze! So far getting settled into the city has been an amazing and great experience. My apartment has a fantastic location; it is just a street over from the Fiume Arno (Arno River) and is not even a ten minute walk from the city center. One thing that I noticed about my apartment is that it is a lot bigger than I imagined.
Well, I knew that my fun was going to come to an end at some point, but unfortunately it came way too soon. Since being home everyone keeps asking me about my trip and how much I enjoyed traveling. I always tell them that I felt so blessed to see so many places in Europe and there were so many amazing cities that I’ve seen; but none of them will beat Florence.
Brittany is a current student at Point Loma Nazarene University studying at Florence University of the Arts (FUA) in Italy during the Fall 2014 term. Tell us why you chose to study abroad. I chose to study abroad because I love to travel and I love new cultures. That being said, I have not been able to stay for an extended period of time in any of the locations that I have been blessed to visit.
Lisa is a current student at the Vancouver Island University studying at Florence University of the Arts (FUA) in Italy during the Fall 2014 term. Tell us why you chose to study abroad. I chose to study abroad because I would like to experience everything the world has to offer. I am so interested in cultures all over. The reason that I chose Italy is because of the food.
Holiday is a current student at the San Francisco Art Institute studying at University of the Arts London during the Fall 2014 term. Tell us why you chose to study abroad. I chose to study abroad in London so that I could focus on my family history, and its connection to textiles, which have been constant throughout my art practice. I felt that I could investigate this best by being closer to home.
Anne is a current student at Indiana University of Pennsylvania studying at Florence University of the Arts in Italy during the Fall 2014 term. Tell us why you chose to study abroad. I chose to study abroad because I am very interested in travel, but the biggest part of my decision was because of my sister. When I was still in high school, my sister studied abroad to Ireland and she absolutely loved it.
Rachel is a current student at Richard Stockton College studying at Florence University of the Arts in Italy during the Fall 2014 term. Tell us why you chose to study abroad. I chose to study abroad in order to experience another culture. I know that once college is over I am probably never going to have the opportunity to live in another country for 3-4 months. A few friends of mine have studied abroad and absolutely loved it.
It’s come that time to say “Arrivederci Firenze”. This study abroad session has gone by with just the right speed, not too fast and not too slow. Studying abroad for six weeks was just the right amount of time I needed in Italy to get what I wanted to get done. As far as studies went, my wine class was a wonderful experience!
After living in Florence for about four weeks now, I’m starting to feel like a true florentine. What do I mean by that? In a weird way I feel like a local in one of the most tourist filled areas in Italy.
Having spent over three weeks in Italy, I have witnessed a great deal of differences in this country, but nothing close at all to getting culture shock. Anybody can tell the huge differences of culture between the United States and Italy within the first day of a visit to this country.
My mother always told me that a first impression is the most important, and I guess Florence took that same advice. As soon as I stepped out of the gate at Amerigo Vespucci airport I was happily greeted by Alessandra and Alessandro from SAI (Yes, those are really their names). Immediately I felt welcomed and I could tell they were just as excited as I was to start this amazing adventure.
I have officially begun my study abroad here in Florence! As soon as I touched down at the airport in Florence, it was obvious life was going to a bit different for 6 weeks. I have been to this city before in years past, but this time I’m here to live as a temporary citizen and experience a side I have never seen before.
It’s hard to believe that this semester has come to an end. It has as already been 14 weeks and looking back to everything I have done fills me with excitement about how this experience will help me grow in life. One of the main things that I have learned is to appreciate every moment in life, in a city, in my everyday and in the things I see.
I can’t believe my time in Florence is finally coming to an end. Where did these past 4 months go? I feel like just yesterday I was adjusting to this new and beautiful city I was about to call home. Although I am extremely excited to see my family after a long four months apart, it is hard to grasp the fact that my time here is over.
As my time here is beginning to wrap up, I feel so bittersweet about leaving this beautiful city. It has been such a wonderful experience and opportunity to get to know the Italian culture. From the food, the wine, and the people, Italy has taught me about its roots and taught me more about myself as well. I will leave Italy with a large sense of satisfaction.
It’s hard to believe that as I sit here and write my last blog post, I only have a little over 2 weeks left in Florence. It feels like just yesterday I was saying goodbye to my parents in the airport and the concept of 4 months away from home seemed daunting. I cannot believe how fast this semester has flown by and all of the amazing experiences Florence has given me.
Alston was selected as an SAI scholarship recipient and blogger for the Summer. He is a current student at Virginia Tech studying at Florence University of the Arts in Italy during the Summer 2014 term. Tell us why you chose to study abroad. I believe that studying abroad is a must for all students. You will grow in so many ways and this summer is the perfect time for me to go abroad.
I definitely have some of my favorite spots to go to in Florence. Whether it is for eating, relaxing, and self-reflection, I have found some great places through the help of friends, locals, and exploring. For groceries, I definitely have been fond of Conad. It literally is a giant supermarket grocery store that has a huge selection of goodies. It reminds me of the grocery store I go to back at home, Kroger.
I have been in Florence for over half the semester now, and I can say that I fall more and more in love with the city every single day. I can’t possibly list my all time favorite places because I love every place (especially every restaurant), but I will do my best to explain what has impacted my experience thus far.
Getting to know Florence has been quite an experience and starting on my list of favorite places throughout the city is Giotto’s Bell Tower observation deck (Duomo’s Campanile) as it offers the perfect view of the Duomo.
Ponte Vecchio – The Ponte Vecchio never fails to catch your eye. It is a beautiful sight from anywhere along the Arno or many parts of the city. The Ponte Vecchio brings the whole city together and is the central focus point of Florence. In addition to the gorgeous exterior, the actual bridge is always fun to walk over, gazing at the breathtaking views of the city and admiring the cute shops along the bridge!
Boboli Gardens: This park is home to a collection of sculptures dating from the 16th to 18th centuries. When visiting this park, I roamed around for about 3 hours in the gardens. There is SO much to see. In all different parts of the parks you come across many different pieces of art, flowers, trees, and many beautiful views. There are many hills and secret passageways that you can end up anywhere!
Having been here just over four weeks, I can finally say it is starting to feel more familiar. The streets are getting easier to navigate, I finally know how to get to class without using Google Maps, and my apartment is feeling like a home – even with all the ups and downs that come along with it! Italian culture is so much different than American culture, and I LOVE it.
Out of two decades of experiencing what the world has to offer, culture have been one of the most interesting aspects of the later part of that time since I have been able to experience different ones.
I remembered telling myself to keep an open mind about the lifestyle here, in hopes that it would alleviate the culture shock. I luckily haven’t experienced much of a culture shock that many other students might have. There are definitely some differences that I experience every day, such as opening a door.
Being in Florence for almost a month now I have seen many cultural differences compared to America. I knew I would encounter many differences when arriving here and was ready to become cultured and broaden my horizons. One of the first things we saw at orientation was a video mocking, in a way, the differences between the way cars drive here versus other parts of the world.
When I first arrived in Florence, I experienced major culture shock. I noticed so many differences between Italian life and my own culture, some of which I liked and some of which were hard to get used to. After being here for a month now, I have grown almost fully accustomed to the cultural differences and have tried to understand Italian life. The first major difference I noticed between Florence and America is the pace.
Being a natural homebody, the idea of going abroad was very new to me. I was filled with many different emotions and did not know what to expect. When I first arrived in Florence, I was very overwhelmed by the city; in a good way. I was mesmerized by its beauty, but also very confused and did not know how to get anywhere.
The first thing I noticed when I arrived to Firenze on that Tuesday afternoon was the similarities between the outskirt of the city and Latin American cities. All of the surrounding mountains, low-rise buildings and motorcycles brought me back to what my life used to be like during my childhood. Though this was the feeling in the city outskirt, the city center was unique and completely surreal.
Finally I arrived in Firenze! It is a beautiful city. I am in love with my apartment, but the trip here wasn’t as wonderful as I had imagined. I spent the first week with some friends in London, so on the 28th, I flew from London to Florence. Still jet-lagged, exhausted and on little sleep, I traveled to the Heathrow airport to catch my 9:25 a.m. flight.
Stepping off the plane I couldn’t believe I was finally in Italy. The air smelled fresher and all I could see were magnificent hills and buildings in the distance. Regardless of the jet lag I was experiencing, the only emotion I could feel was excitement. From the second I landed, I knew I was about to embark on the best 4 months of my life.
The whole event of studying abroad made me more appreciative of every little thing I experience, even today. Having the opportunity to learn how to live in a culture different from the one I was used to forced me to push my boundaries in a way I had never challenged myself before.
It’s so hard to describe the crazy emotions when you first arrive in Firenze. My first breathe of fresh air was so… liberating. The air here feels so clean. The atmosphere is significantly different from home, in a good way. Firenze has hills that make you feel like you’re in the country, but then not too far away is the city. The streets here are very narrow and mostly one way, if you’re driving.
I’m from a reasonably large city [in Iowa], which actually means at the fourth largest city in the state, we have approximately 80,000 residents. I downsized a bit when moving to college: I now live in a town of 6,000 residents. I have loved my college experience more than most people (so much so that I’m applying to PhD programs to become a professor)
Studying abroad was the best decision I could have possibly made. Not only did I engage in a completely new culture, but I found myself in Florence. My gratitude reaches beyond the bounds of this letter. In fact words cannot accurately describe what I have gained in terms of myself, but I would like to share a few experiences with you in order to express my appreciation.
Studying abroad changed my life. I have never felt so free and unrestrained before. It helped me to see that I can do anything I want. I never thought that I would be studying abroad. I am not your average study abroad student. I didn’t come from money. This opportunity came about by impulse.
My semester spent in Italy were the best four months of my life. Not only did I learn more about the world, and the cultures within it, but I learned so much about myself and made lifelong friends along the way. Every day in Italy was an adventure; whether I was trying a new cafe, or walking through Florence to get to class.
As I walked with all my luggage, struggling with the weight and size of my bags, towards my family waiting just beyond the arrival gate, I remember thinking to myself: did I just do that? Was the last four months real? Did I really live in a foreign country?
Studying abroad in Florence through SAI developed my global perspective and offered an incredible learning experience on personal level. Learning to adjust to a different culture deepened self-awareness and helped to strengthen my sense of identity. As a young person, I am faced with decisions on how to move into the future as an independent adult. Upon returning from Italy, I graduated from college.
Now home for the first time in what feels like forever, so many things in my life have changed. I can’t explain the sense of urgency I have to find the same enjoyment here that I so easily found abroad. I miss dearly the sweet moments of Italian life: espresso, walking everywhere, slow pace life, Tuscan hills, and those tiny, tiny sidewalks.
You learn a lot about yourself when traveling. The experience makes one more self sufficient, highlighting and condensing your requirements for survival. To be gender specific, I feel women have a slightly trickier time at this. There is nothing wrong with abandoning makeup or hair products, and let’s not go so far as to say they are requirements for survival.
This past month in Italy has been a lot of me wondering through the streets and soaking everything in. My time here has passed so fast I can’t believe we’re all going home in a week. Florence during the winter is such a magical experience. The streets are all lit up with festive lights and decorations. I love seeing all of the different types of lights that each street has.
It’s hard to believe that it is my last week here in Florence. It seems like just yesterday I arrived at my home stay with all of my luggage completely exhausted from the journey. I am a different person than when I first arrived. I am independent and I can navigate public transportation like a pro! I now have this obsession with food, wine, and fashion, even more so than before.
I can’t believe that I am writing my final post for this semester’s blog. Where has time gone? I am finished with all my travels, excited to spend the last two weeks or so in Florence. This past month has been a great closing to the semester. My travels included Rome, Interlaken and Venice. Interlaken is a beautiful town situated between two lakes in Switzerland surrounded by a constant view of the Alps.
14 days . . . that is how many days I have left in this beautiful city. It amazes me how quickly time passes. I can still remember my first few hours in Florence and being totally taken aback by how beautiful it was. I still remember the taxi ride to the apartment and thanking God that we arrived in one piece after such a crazy ride.
As all study abroad blogs usually end: I can’t believe how fast this semester has flown by! I have absolutely fallen in love with Italy and the culture. But more than anything, I have fallen in love with traveling and meeting new people. Although I would never change a single aspect of my trip here, I am still excited to be able to go home to see family and friends.
Studying abroad has deepened the level of appreciation for both the American and Italian way of life. The time in Italy has been broken into general phases. For the first part, I was in awe of the new way of life and focused on adapting. Then I went through the phase of anticipating visitors: my brothers and my boyfriend. After the visitors left, I went through a phase of homesickness.
My last blog post addressed a realization that I was traveling away from Florence too much rather than exploring this charming city. After the post, I began taking more time to get involved with the community rather than sitting at home relaxing or surfing the internet. Constantly on my feet, I have burdened myself with perpetually throbbing soles, but the benefits far exceed the cons.
Italy is finally beginning to feel like home. My Italian is still minimal, yet slowly improving. I am realizing how easy it is to live abroad—you just have to recognize the differences and enjoy the changes! Florence really is a small town; you can walk anywhere within a matter of minutes. One of my recent discoveries is the flower market. It is every Thursday morning in Piazza della Repubblica.
Most of the beginning of October was spent indoors studying for my midterms. I did however, manage to make some really yummy food in my food, culture, and society class! Every week in this class we take on the challenge of making an authentic Italian dish. We make different dishes depending on what region we are currently studying.
Ciao tutti!! Last week was fall break and I visited Paris, Amsterdam and Dublin. It was amazing! I saw the Eiffel Tower and walked around the Louvre in Paris. There was a carnival going on while we were in Amsterdam that was full of out-of-this-world food trucks. And the Bram Stoker festival was going on while we were in Dublin.
In the last four weeks I actually got to settle down into my apartment, meet my roommates, and start classes. It was also at this point where I actually started experiencing life as a resident, and not just a tourist, though I’m sure a lot of locals still think that I am a tourist.
As my experience in Florence comes closer to an end I thought for this blog entry I would share some helpful tips and suggestions that may help future study abroad students. Know where you are going! If you have never been to Italy or Europe in general, then do yourself a huge favor and grab a travel book.
Studying abroad offers the unique and amazing opportunity of getting a taste of what it is like to live in a completely new place. Adapting to the new environment has helped me develop a deeper sense of self-awareness. The first half of my time in Florence was focused on adapting well to living in a historic city and traveling to nearby places in Italy. Leading up to fall break, life got especially hectic.
I spent my fall break traveling across a smattering of countries in Europe: Germany, the Netherlands, Belgium, France, and Spain. Through this experience, I was constantly reminded of the importance of place. The location in which people were raised greatly affects the outcomes of their lives—the situations they encounter, the personality characteristics they develop, the values they hold most dear.
My abroad experience has been such an adventure the past month! I have really started to travel all over Italy and appreciate all of the different cultures that make it up. With SAI, I went to Maremma, Giglio Island, Volterra, a secluded island, and biked through Lucca. The three day trip SAI took us on was so unbelievably amazing.
So it has been officially a little over a month since my arrival in Florence. I am definitely becoming more comfortable with finding my way around and knowing where to go for certain things. However, I am still exploring what Florence has to offer and every day I find a new store or market to venture through.
This past month has been by far the most jam-packed 30 days I’ve ever experienced. I have seen and done more new things in the past month than ever thought possible. Study abroad essentially should be called “vacation every weekend,” as it is the perfect description of “work hard, play hard.” Out of all the places I’ve gone, I can’t even begin to pick a favorite—all were incredible!
On September 12th I left my home in Boise, Idaho, to start my new life in Florence, Italy. Since my program was not starting until another 2+ weeks, my Mother, Aunt, and I were off on “holiday”. Due to the fact that my ticket was a one way, and theirs’ was a round trip, we were on separate flights except for our 1st departing flight.
On Mondays, I wander the Old City. On Tuesdays, I go to the market and learn Italian. On Wednesday, I have two courses: Italian Cooking and Everything Chocolate. On Thursdays, I have three courses: Italian Vegetarian Cooking, Daily Life in Pompeii, and Italian Language. On Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays, I travel. Everyday, I eat gelato, of course (cheesecake, wildberry tiramisu, yogurt and nutella, cookies, almond, fig, mango, dark chocolate hazelnut).
Living in Florence comes with the benefit that I am located relatively in the middle of Italy and right on a main train line. Because of this, I have had the great fortune of traveling to many cities over the weekends, or even just day trips on Thursdays or Fridays. I have planned almost every weekend with a trip to a new Italian city or nearby country.
I have had an amazing time for my first full month in Italy. I went to cinque terre and had the most amazing experience! I enjoyed all of the small towns and they all were so unique. I tried pesto pizza for the first time and it was one of the best things I have ever eaten.
I arrived in Florence just four days ago, completely overwhelmed by what was ahead of me. It has yet to fully sink in that this city will be my home for the next four months. I feel extremely blessed to discover the charm and flavor the Florentine culture has to offer. I already feel like I won’t have enough time.
I signed up to study in Italy without any knowledge of the italian language. Over the summer, I learned a few words online and then showed up in Italy ready to immerse myself in the language and culture for a semester of being part of the Florentine community.
My first week in florence has been fantastic! My roommates are great and very down to earth. I love my apartment! It has a great open area and it seems like everything is around our apartment. The people in Florence seem really nice and helpful. I don’t have much Italian under my belt but it hasn’t been that hard getting around and speaking to people and I am surprised at how many people speak English.
Years of planning and anticipation finally culminated in that moment…the moment I stepped off the plane and set foot in Florence, Italy. Prior to departure, I had a difficult time imagining what was to come since I knew the experience would be far outside my comfort zone. I knew I was in for an adventure, would meet new people, and learn new things.
I had never left the United States of America before August 26, 2013. I was nervous, excited and did I mention nervous? My biggest fear was getting lost in an airport in a foreign land, missing my flight and not knowing what to do because I did not speak the language. However, I had nothing to worry about because after NOT getting lost in three different airports I had arrived safely in Florence, Italy.
These last two days have been the longest of my life. I left the airport for the Airport on Monday at 5 am and didn’t actually get to my home stay until 3pm Florence time, on Tuesday. My host mama speaks no English but she is terribly funny and we communicate through the little Italian I know and hand motions. Last night she made me a traditional Italian meal.
It’s hard to believe that this summer has ended. Not only did time fly by, but I had the time of my life. When people ask (which they always do), “How was it?” I have a hard time trying to put this summer into a nutshell. It’s a story that will come out in bits and pieces across many months, as it should.
When I look back at my study abroad experience in Italy, the only thing I could think of was “Six weeks wasn’t enough.” It’s true. Six weeks is too short of a time period to really absorb the atmosphere of Florence. You need at least a regular semester, maybe even a whole year, to see almost everything there is to see in Florence.
Professor Anthony Viscardi was selected as the 2013/14 SAI Faculty Fellow in Florence. The Faculty Fellows Program recognizes faculty from SAI’s U.S. affiliate colleges and universities who are engaged in scholarship activities that promote global awareness, and deepen the understanding of the arts and sciences. In the following blog entry, Professor Viscardi shares some of his experiences living and working in Florence. To learn more about this program, click here.
My semester is already 2/3 over, and so far, I’ve been learning how to adjust to the slow-pace of Italy, how to set aside time to paint (because it is a very time-consuming process), and where sight-seeing can fit into all of this. My process is far from perfect, and I’m sad that things are coming to an end when I have just started to figure things out.
Leaving the country for the first time to study abroad for an extended period of time was an exciting but also frightening thought with so many things in the back of your head that could go wrong such as a delayed flights or lost luggage.
When I first arrived in Florence, I was not sure what to expect. I had read a little bit about Italian culture and what kind of etiquettes you should have. Being here for the first couple of days, I was really surprised at how receptive people are here to American culture. I was caught off-guard by how many shopkeepers here speak English as well as other languages.
I can’t believe that my time here is already half-way over. It feels alternatively like I’ve been here forever and like I got here yesterday. Everyday I am so grateful that I was able to choose the twelve week program. I love the experience of actually living here and experiencing this place that I have fallen in love with.
Trying to sum up my experience abroad in one short letter is an almost impossible task, but I ask that you bear with me as I attempt to convey how much studying abroad has meant to me and how much it has changed my life. I think it is a common belief amongst study abroad students that it is one of the single best experiences of their college career.
Looking back over my months studying and traveling in Italy, I feel an intense bittersweet twist in my heart. Spending a semester abroad was the scariest, most challenging, most joy-filled and most rewarding experience I have ever had, and my only regret is that it lasted only four months.
After traveling far away from my familiar everyday life, meeting new extraordinary people, discovering a mere fraction of what the world has to offer, I feel like a completely changed person. Now being back in my home, with familiar streets, sounds, and people, everything looks brighter. Being in Florence for the semester taught me so much about myself, my own culture, personality, and most of all it taught me about my aspirations.
Besides being able to see the world, before embarking abroad I envisioned this opportunity as a way to become more culturally diverse, as well as a chance for me to reach a certain level of self discovery, all while continuing my education. I can honestly say that this experience has been the greatest four months of my life and it could not have been possible without the help of SAI scholarship committee.
My semester abroad started with a whirl wind of emotions resulting arriving in a foreign country I had always dreamed of going to but also being so far from the country I had always called home. I moved into my apartment and met three girls who will remain my friends for the rest of my life. We quickly began to explore Florence and soak in the new culture.
I have now been back in the United States for two weeks. After the initial period in which there were seemingly endless things to do (bags to unpack, friends and family to reunited with), things have started to calm down again. That means that it is finally time to sit down and thoughtfully consider my experience in Florence. I have yet to find the ability to sum up my experience in a few short words.
I will be forever grateful for the opportunities that SAI has so kindly given me. The scholarship that I received greatly contributed to the chance of me being able to spend the past spring semester in Florence, Italy. The experience that I had while abroad was by far the best experience I have ever had. I will admit, my expectations were high regarding my time abroad and I was not disappointed in the least.
My time in Florence is beginning to reach an end, and I can’t believe how fast this semester has flown by! The past four months are more than cherished and will never be forgotten. This past month I spent a lot of time in Italy: I visited Rome, parts of Tuscany, and the Amalfi Coast. The Amalfi Coast was so unbelievably beautiful!
Well, it’s over. The most amazing four months of my life have come to a bittersweet end. I didn’t want to leave. The people I met, the places I saw, I didn’t want to say goodbye to them. But all good things must come to an end and this is one good thing I will never ever forget. May was a quick but fantastic month in Florence. The weather was absolutely glorious.
I cannot believe that my time abroad is coming to an end! I feel as if I am waking up from a dream that I will never forget! These past two days have been the most magical days of my life. Last night Florence celebrated “Notte Bianca” or white night. The streets were full of amazing artists, music from street concerts and performers filled air, and.
April has brought in the beautiful Spring weather to Italy. It has been absolutely amazing to enjoy Italy with the beautiful weather. Walking around the streets has become something of a dream now that everyone is bustling around outside and just strolling and enjoying the weather.
As May arrives and our time abroad nears an end you can’t help but to look back and think about all the great times that have already been experienced. April has been packed with some of my favorite trips so far with the highlights being Croatia and Stockholm.
I really cannot believe that it is almost time for me to leave Italy. The experience has been truly life changing, and I don’t think I can adequately describe it in a few words. I have spent the last month traveling quite a bit, but mostly within Italy. I visited Milan, Venice, Siena, Lucca, Assisi, and Arezzo. Each city is beautiful and unique in its own way. I especially enjoyed my trip to Arezzo.
March has rolled around and is quickly coming to an end. The time seems to be disappearing before my eyes. With March came spring break. During Spring Break, I finally had the time where I was able to visit two of my very best friends. One friend is in Paris and the other is in Villingen-Schwenningen, Germany.
It is very difficult for me to believe that it is already April! This past month was incredible. The beginning of the month was quite hectic as I was applying for summer jobs, as well as dealing with midterms. I was able to get everything done, and then it was time for spring break! I spent five days in Paris, two days in the Netherlands, and three days in Brussels. My journey began in Paris.
This has been a month filled with adventure and discovering new places in Italy. After our midterms, I headed down to Naples with a few of my friends from my program. One of my favorite parts about Apicius is how people come from all over the world and that I wouldn’t have the opportunity to meet them unless I was here studying.
Buona Pasqua, or Happy Easter! If I thought Florence was amazing before, I hadn’t experienced it during holy week or settimana santa. Coming from a Catholic family it’s been incredible to experience first hand all of the religious rituals and traditions Italy has to offer. It’s been great to fully discover and understand how big a role religion plays in the history of Italy including, but not limited to, its politics, economy, and architecture.
Greetings from Florence! I can’t believe it but there is only six weeks left. It’s a sad thought for sure. I don’t want to leave this beautiful city. With each day that goes by here Florence feels more and more like my home. I wake up every morning thinking of just how lucky I am. I’ve seen some truly amazing things and experienced some once in a lifetime experiences. Spring Break flew by.
March is gone just as quickly as it has arrived. A month filled with midterms, spring break and plenty of rain it was surely one to remember. In a just a few days I went from stressing over midterms and getting some last minute studying in to the long awaited beaches of Barcelona. I also visited Paris as well which was a beautiful city which reminded me much of back home.
The month of February gave me a chance to truly fall in love with Italy. I went on the trip to Rome on a SAI/FUA trip which was absolutely wonderful. I saw all of the major attractions of Rome and met friends that will last a lifetime. The trip was unforgettable. My favorite part by far of Rome was the Trevi fountain though that I made a wish I will never forget.
I have officially reached the half way point of my study abroad program and I am beyond pleased with my experience thus far. Florence has truly grown to be my home. I walk around the city streets as if I have grown up here my entire life. The month of March has brought a lot of rain, but the city still continues to look absolutely stunning.
I cannot believe that I have been in Florence for over a month. The time is passing quickly (a bit too quickly for my liking!). The first weekend of this month, I went on the SAI trip around Tuscany. It was a great way to start the semester and a great way to meet other people in the program.
This has been a month full of adventure! I have traveled to many cities and towns in Tuscany and finally feel like a pro when it comes to the train system here. A few of my favorite places were Sienna and Pitigliano. These towns were absolutely beautiful and looked like they had been ripped from the pages of a storybook.
I’ve now been in Florence exactly one month and I’ve enjoyed every minute of it. Every day that I’m in this beautiful city I grow to love it more and more. Each day brings a new discovery, whether it be a new favorite gelato place or a relaxing piazza, Florence is full of hidden treasures. Speaking of which, I recently went on SAI’s hidden treasures of Italy 3-day excursion.
Ciao! I have been in Florence for a month and a half now. The list of places I have been, foods I have eaten, and people I have met has grown more in one month than I thought possible! This experience continues to be challenging, fun, and full of good food and amazing sights. The weather in February went from being cold to very, very wet, and I see no end in sight.
Florence surprises me more and more everyday. I am very happy to be living in “Oltrano” which means the other side of the river. Everyday I meet new people (locals) that are willing to help me with my Italian, it is a less touristy area so it is easier to really become part of the authentic Italian everyday life.
Although short in numbers the month of February has been anything but short. Somehow in all 28 days I’ve managed to go to school full time and travel around some of the most beautiful places in Europe. Switzerland, Rome, Pisa, is just some of the few places that I’ve visited thus far in my travels abroad. Interlaken, Switzerland was absolutely amazing with its fresh powder snow and exceptional views of rolling mountains.
I have officially been here a month and I am so obsessed with the city! There is not a day that goes by that I don’t find something new to love. Whether it be a view of the city, a decadent treat, or a local cafe. Its amazing how fast you become accustomed to the city! I no longer need a map, and I have found my routes to get around the city.
My first week in Florence has been amazing. As soon as I began to explore the city, I was stunned by its beauty. I had, of course, looked at many pictures of the famous Florentine landmarks, but the pictures cannot truly reflect the wonder of this city’s sites. The first time I saw the iconic Duomo, I was astounded. Its sheer immensity continues to amaze me.
Having only traveled out of the US a couple of times for a grand total of 2 weeks, I was excited but also very nervous to be leaving home to live in a completely new place for a whole semester. I knew it would be an amazing experience and I knew that it would change my life. So I boarded the plane in Atlanta and looked forward to what Florence would hold for me.
A week ago today I arrived in the breathtaking city that is Firenze. Its been a week and I still cannot believe I am living in Florence. Its amazing strolling the city, and spotting sites of masterpieces I studied at my home institution. From dawn to dusk, Florence has so much to offer. The city is a hidden gem waiting to be discovered.
It’s official, after all he hustle of getting ready for a semester abroad in Florence the adventure has finally begun and I could not have asked for a better start. Even the long and tiring plane ride was a success laughing and meeting friends along the way.
I’ve only been in Florence for a few days and I already have enough memories and thoughts to write pages and pages of my journal. Coming here, I knew there was history and art and beauty.
January 22rd was the day that I began my adventure abroad! I left Denver, Colorado early in the morning and landed in Florence, Italy the morning after. When I was dropped off at my apartment I was so surprised at how spacious and gorgeous it was. Let’s just say, I feel so lucky to be living in such a beautiful space for the next four months.
When preparing for Italy I was told it would be hard to adjust to the cultural differences at first on the contrary I have fallen in love with the cultural differences here. I love walking everywhere around here and I have taken photos of my average walk to school that is not at all average when comparing it to the United States.
I cannot believe that I am actually sitting here writing my last blog entry for my time abroad in Florence! November went by in the blink of an eye and that meant that there were only a few weeks to be had in December. Looking back on this experience as a whole I am so thankful for all that I have learned.
I cannot believe that it is almost December! So much has happened it is strange to think that it is almost over. I am excited to see my friends and family back home but I will miss all of the new friends who I have made here. They have made my time here so much more memorable and enjoyable.
I’m not exactly sure how I feel about my study abroad experience coming to an end. There are so many things I miss about home, but it’s sad closing one of the most exciting chapters of my life. When I decided to come abroad everyone was constantly asking me what I wanted to get out of the experience, but I didn’t know. For some reason taking classes and interning wasn’t an efficient answer.
I seriously cannot wrap my head around the fact that this will be my last blog entry, meaning my semester here in Florence is quickly drawing to a close. It feels like only yesterday that I arrived here in the middle of a heat wave and was dropped on an Italian’s doorstep greeted by my host mom who spoke no English and her yippy dog. My heart is torn; “home” is now two places.
My last full month here in Italy went by so quickly, but I experienced so many wonderful things along the way that I can’t complain! It is crazy to think that I will be home next month, so I am trying to enjoy every bit of the time I have left in Florence.
I cannot believe that I only have three weeks left here in Florence! Once daylight savings time happens and the sun starts to set at four, the days just seem to fly by. The month of November just came and went. It feel like just yesterday that it was Halloween, and now it is already December. This past month has been so busy for me and unfortunately I have been sick for most of it!
The month of October was full of amazing people and exciting adventures. I continued to meet more and more people whom have all been welcoming. It is such a great feeling to meet new people and learn about their hobbies and passions. I have learned a lot about myself by making relationships with all different types of people. The friends I have made over here will last me a lifetime.
I can’t even believe that I am once again sitting in front of my computer reminiscing on my last month here in Florence. It is amazing that October has already come and gone. We are at the point in our journey where we have past the halfway mark and we are now on our way towards the last month-and-a-half of this adventure.
The beginning of this month continued with all the excitement of last month. Towards the end of September, I had the chance to attend Vogue Fashion’s Night out. It was the first time the event had been held in Florence. So it was a pretty big deal. I finally went to the Ferragamo museum and saw the Marilyn Monroe exhibit.
Another month down, and it was a month filled with all the adventure that I was hoping for! My roommates and I attended a lot of SAI-organized weekend excursions to awesome places in Italy such as Il Forteto (an organic farm in Tuscany), the Bardini and Boboli Gardens (which are right near our apartment)
Classes have started and homework has begun to pile up. On the first days of class we went over the course syllabi, which only made me more excited for the coming months. We went over the scheduled museum and church visits and the research project. As a student in multiple art history classes I get to go to most of the places two or three times!
There were so many thoughts running through my head the first day as I rode through the streets of Florence on the way to my apartment. It wasn’t what I was expecting. Europe didn’t look nearly as glamorous as it did in movies and TV. What was all the fuss about? Why were people so obsessed with Europe?
The other night my friend and I were casually sipping wine while perching ourselves against a window in my apartment where we sat and watched all the people below us walking by. As we were admiring the eventful nightlife of the Italians, she asked me if I felt like my heart was exploding here in Florence.
After being in the beautiful city of Florence for a whole month, I can now without a doubt say that I made an excellent decision in studying abroad! Already I have learned so much and have met many new friends that share the same love for the city that I do. Experiences here are always new and I’m finding that each day can turn into an adventure simply by being different from home.
The first month of my experience studying abroad in Florence has been fantastic. I have met so many amazing people from all over the country. I have already been making plans to visit different people at their colleges in the spring and also inviting people to come visit me in Kentucky. When I first arrived, the beauty of Florence overwhelmed me. Everywhere I walked I saw something even more interesting and unique than before.
Come si dice in italiano? Non parlo bene! (How do you say that in Italian? I don’t speak it well!) – My First Week in Florence! Though it was only about ten days ago that I hugged my family one final time before boarding a transatlantic flight, it feels like I have been here forever. I still cannot believe that I am living in Florence, Italy!
Entering into a country, whether you have been there before or not, is an exceptional moment. As over stimulating and overwhelming as those first moments may be, they are exceptional. Although my first moments in Italy were not when I entered Florence for my Study Abroad, I felt that same wave of awe and fascination mixed with over stimulation as I did when I entered Italy on my way to Venice by train.
I can’t believe I have to go home already. It feels like everything’s just begun. Having to leave Florence and all the wonderful people I’ve met here feels impossible. This experience is one I’ll never forget. The places I’ve been will forever be with me. It feels as if April flew by without me even acknowledging its presence to begin with. It began with a trip to Valencia Spain for Easter.
This last month I saw some of the most amazing places. I went on SAI’s excursion to Umbria and visited Cinque Terre. The trip to Umbria was incredible. We stayed in a bread and breakfast type of place in the Italian countryside and they cooked us the most amazing home cooked dinners. The first day we went to a ceramics school where we met the most kind and hardworking people.
“Don’t cry because it’s over. Smile because it happened”- Dr. Seuss On a daily basis, I repeatedly tell myself this quote as a form of comfort for the unfortunate fact that my study abroad adventures in Italy are coming to an end. For as long as I can remember, my biggest dream has been to travel to Italy so I could experience the history, culture, and language of this amazing country.
The past month has been a lot of travel. I went to the Amalfi coast, Barcelona, Rome, Venice, and Munich. Each trip was a different experience and got me closer to those I went with. Munich was my second favorite trip this whole time, Greek island hopping for spring break was my favorite. In Munich was a big festival and everyone dressed in old German attire.
The final weeks are finally coming to a close. That’s when I realized I had to make my bucket list of things I still wanted to do here in Florence. Sunrise at Piazza Michelangelo’s, visit all the parks in the outskirts of the city, climb the Duomo one last time, eat at every restaurant humanely possible and soak in as much Tuscan sun that appears through the breaks in the April showers.
I just returned from my last weekend trip of the semester and it seems unreal that I will no longer be able to travel to a different country for a weekend trip. This semester has had a lot of ups and downs, but mostly ups. This past month was definitely the most hectic out of my time abroad. There wasn’t one weekend in the entire month that I wasn’t abroad.
Time is flying by. We’re already talking about our final papers and exams in all my classes. I just want more time in Italy. It feels like I’ve only seen a small fraction of what Italy has to offer but I can try and be content for now. I’ve done a lot in my short time here in Europe. I’m ready to go back home soon. Spring break was fantastic.
Unfortunately, another month has passed, which means I am getting closer and closer to my departure date. However, with the month of March came great memories that I will never forget. March seemed like a short month because I traveled most of it. First, my boyfriend Troy visited me. We traveled to Pisa, Siena, and Rome. Then came spring break, where I traveled to England (London, Bath, Salisbury, and Stonehenge)
March has been the most eye opening month thus far. Many of my roommates went on Spring Break while I stayed in Florence and I was feeling very homesick and lonely. I was surprised because this was honestly the first time I felt homesick at all. This feeling only lasted for about four days as everyone started to come back and I traveled a bit.
March passed by quickly in a whirlwind of travel, and with every day spent in Italy it becomes harder and harder to accept the fact that our time here is disappearing and eventually we will have to leave. This past month was especially busy because we had our spring break. This was the first time that I ventured out of the country, and it was an amazing experience to travel throughout Europe with my friends.
It is now towards the end of my time abroad and it truly makes me sad. I think of how close I am with my friends here and that we only have a few weeks left together. Most of us don’t go to the same school and are not in the same states, which means it will be a hard time to see one another.
As the weather is getting warmer, the streets are getting busier. I found myself annoyed at all of the “tourist” wandering my city. At first I was caught off guard remembering that I am one of these tourist. But at the same time I feel like a local. I know my favorite restaurants to eat at and my favorite bars to go to.
The third week in February, Mother Nature started to give us a break from the snow. Monday-Wednesday is crazy and exhausting for me. I have over 7 and a half hours of classes straight on Monday and a little less Tuesday and Wednesday. However, my classes here are so interesting.
Florence is starting to feel much more like home. I’ve done a bit of traveling to Verona, Rome, and Venice and I am very happy Florence is my home base. The other cities were beautiful and interesting, as most of Italy is, but Florence has won my heart. Verona was very nice but cold and being not properly dressed, as I was, made the hours and hours of free time seem too long.
This month flew by so quickly! I am settled in now and still do not feel very homesick. I also haven’t really experienced that bad of culture shock, but maybe I am just lucky. I am taking three studio art classes, two photo and one drawing, so that is probably the most challenging thing thus far. I am taking intermediate Italian and got my first 100%.
The second week of February was extremely cold. It seemed like every person I knew had some sort of cold. When the weekend came around, my friends and I were trying to figure out what we should do and we decided to go to Pisa. It’s actually ridiculous how inexpensive it is to go some places. It was only 7 euro to go to Pisa for the day….cheaper to take a date to the movies.
I could have never imagined how much this study abroad experience would change me. I have learned so much and I have only been here for a little over a month! When I walk around Florence, I no longer feel like a lost and uncomfortable tourist in a strange country instead I feel a sense of belonging as though I am a Florentine and this is my home.
The adjustment period has gotten a lot easier in the past few weeks. The warmer weather is definitely a key factor. The nicer the city gets the more I explore. I’ve finally gotten to do the touristy things, such as climb the Duomo, visit Santa Croce, and tour the Boboli Gardens.
I can’t believe how quickly this month has flown by! It seems like only yesterday I was on the plane making the long painful journey to Florence. But as I explore more of Italy my love of Florence continues to grow, and I become more convinced that Florence was the perfect choice for me. I’ve spent three of the past four weekends traveling throughout Italy.
Since I have been in Firenze over a month now, I really see the city’s beauty. I first arrived and saw darkness, people always smoking, and colors of grey. Now I can see the buildings and churches with a new understanding of this great place.
The first weekend in February, two friends and I made the trek to Rome. It had been cold in Florence prior to our departure but we were unprepared for what we were going to see when we arrived in Rome. We had checked the weather and there had been a chance of snow, but when we pulled into the ROME TERMINI train station, snowflakes the size of baseballs were falling.
My first week in Firenze has flown by. Everyday here has certainly been an experience. My roommate and I both attend school in South Carolina where it is warm out and there are plenty of trees and grass everywhere. Not so much here, it is very different. But in this case different is amazing. The historical architecture of all the buildings is absolutely astonishing.
My first day here was a bit stressful. My financial aid hadn’t gone through and we were having troubles with our internet. I needed to contact my family back in Kentucky to borrow money for the permit to stay fee. My student cell didn’t work for my iphone so I could not call. I walked around trying to find an internet cafe but to no avail.
I’ve been in Florence for a week now and it’s definitely been a roller coaster of emotions. I’ve been switching from awe of Florence to just wanting to get back on a plane and go home constantly. Hopefully, in the next week, after my routine is fully understandable my bipolar phase of this trip will be subdued and I’ll relax into daily life.
On January 25th, tired and jet lagged I finally arrived in Italia. While flying over Italy, I caught my first glimpse of Tuscany. Looking outside of the plane window, my eyes landed upon the most breathtaking images. At first, all I could see were massive snow covered mountains. Then slowly the mountains turned into lakes. At last, I saw the image I had been waiting years to see, the picturesque rolling green hills of Tuscany.
I arrived in Italy on January 25 and it was everything I thought it would be. I love walking around the city and all my roommates, but culture shock is no stranger to me. The best expression would be I love it until I don’t.
Ciao tutti! Today is now my fourth day in Firenze. The trip to get here went immensely smoother than my previous trip to Italy. I left the Philadelphia airport around 10 PM on Tuesday and after flying through London and Rome, I landed in Florence at about 7 PM on Wednesday. The flights were great, practically empty, and I slept through most of them.
