Although I am still abroad traveling with my family, my time in Florence has sadly come to an end. Having the opportunity to live like a local for six weeks has been an incredible experience that has taught me a lot. It was different than simply being a tourist for a few days because I was immersed in the culture and had more time to understand it. By the end, I had a corner coffee shop that I frequented every morning for a caffè and cornetto. I had a path I walked each day to class. I started to figure out which restaurants and gelaterie were my favorites.  And most importantly, I learned to take life a little slower and enjoy the little moments. I feel as if I understood Italian culture much better after having lived there for six weeks. They like to take their time. Meals are eaten slowly, and no one is in a rush to kick you out at a restaurant. Most people walk slower (although I didn’t always follow this cultural norm). People also care significantly more about the environment in Italy. They sort their trash and recycling into more categories, they use less plastic, less energy, and most people walk or bike instead of driving. I definitely want to bring some of these habits back to the US when I return home. I want to live a slower life and make more sustainable decisions to help the environment. 

In addition to absorbing the culture and growing personally, I also enjoyed the classes I took. Although I am a neuroscience major, I thoroughly enjoyed taking art classes in Florence. I’ve always had an artistic side, and it was nice to have the time to tap back into my creativity. Florence was the perfect city to revive my love of art because it has so many iconic artworks and architectural feats. Here is Primavera, one of my favorite works by Botticelli. 

I felt that my drawing and painting skills improved immensely just in the six weeks I was here, and it taught me that I need to consistently practice to become a better artist. I hope to spend some more time drawing and painting when I get home. I also felt like my Italian improved greatly since I was surrounded by the language. At home, it is hard to become fluent in a language that I don’t have the opportunity to practice very often. In Italy, I was able to listen to people speaking the language around me at all times, which helped me develop my listening skills. Plus, I was able to order in Italian in any restaurant we went to, and I tried to challenge myself to speak it even when I didn’t necessarily have to. 

Finally, I developed communication and empathy skills that will help me in my future career. I built a support network with my professors in Florence, and I gained a greater understanding and respect for people learning a second language. It is difficult to move to a country where there is a language barrier, which I learned while living in Florence and trying to learn Italian. This experience will provide me with a greater patience and understanding when working with different people in the future. I also organized a lot of weekend trips to different countries and regions in Italy, all while balancing schoolwork. These planning and organizational skills I developed will help me in my career as well. 

Living in Florence for six weeks was truly a unique experience that will stick with me forever. Though I will miss Italy, I can’t wait to return home with new memories and lessons I’ve learned from living abroad. I hope to visit Florence again soon. Ma per ora, arrivederci Firenze!