I can’t believe I’m more than halfway through my program here in Florence. Time is flying by too fast, but I’ve been trying to squeeze every possible experience out of it!

As I’ve been living here, I’ve had the opportunity to observe the differences in the culture and community between here and the United States. There is a strong sense of community and everyone is very welcoming here, which I really enjoy. I’ve been trying to practice my Italian, and the locals are always very encouraging and appreciative of my attempts to learn the language. It has helped me a lot to be able to practice speaking and listening.

My typical day in Florence starts with making breakfast at home, then going to the local bar (coffee shop) for a caffè and a pastry. After that, I walk about ten minutes to get to class. I’ve really been enjoying my drawing and oil painting classes – it’s been nice to have a creative outlet for the first time in a while! After class, I usually grab a panino for lunch with a friend and then either explore, shop, or work on schoolwork. Italians typically have a siesta, or break, in the middle of the day to go home and rest. However, I haven’t really been participating because there is so much to do here! I eventually return home and either make dinner or go out to a restaurant with my roommates. Italians typically eat dinner later, around 8 or 9pm, which has taken some time to get used to. After dinner, I might get a gelato before heading home and getting ready for bed. The pace of life here is a lot slower than back home, which I really like. The food is incredible, and very fresh. I’ve noticed I feel a lot better after eating here than back home, likely because they use less preservatives here. Everywhere you walk, you are surrounded by history and beautiful architecture and art. Florence is a beautiful city, and I am thoroughly enjoying my time here!