As the date got closer to my departing flight to Italy, I began to feel simultaneously anxious and excited to go abroad. Traveling alone, I can expect to be forced out of my comfort zone throughout my six weeks abroad. I usually struggle with taking advantage of opportunities and putting myself out there, especially when I’m unfamiliar with the area or the people. Before arriving in Florence, I didn’t know anyone else who was participating in the program. I knew I wanted to take this opportunity abroad to work on taking risks and embracing independence in a way that I was unable to back home. In the week I’ve been in Florence, I have been able to create relationships with some of my peers, especially my roommates. I realized that I was not the only person in this program who didn’t know anyone else or was nervous about the upcoming weeks. Based solely on the time I’ve been here so far, I can expect that I’ll continue to meet new people and eventually feel more comfortable with these types of situations.

Both personally and professionally, studying in Florence will expand my familiarity with multiculturalism, emphasizing the similarities and differences between the United States and Italy. I’m enrolled in a class about cross-cultural psychology which I think will be interesting and beneficial to acquiring a better understanding of world around us. When the program ends, I expect that I will have a different perspective that I can apply when I’m back at Pitt. As a psychology major, I’m curious to know which factors affect the societal differences I’ve observed so far between Italy and the United States. Exposure to a different language will also help me grow as a global citizen. It will help me connect to other cultures, and add onto the knowledge I have from the ones I am already in. I’m excited to see where this experience takes me!