Over the past six weeks, I can say with certainty that I have gained opportunities and knowledge I would not have been able to without this experience. Although I did take a cross-cultural psychology class and learned about cultural differences, it was different to walk through the city and observe those differences. I’ve learned new ways to understand and perceive different cultures and environments. This helped me become a better global citizen and I can now apply that knowledge when I return to Pitt.

As someone who takes mostly humanities classes, it’s important to have an open-minded view of cultural contexts and differences. When I was in Florence, I was able to gain these new perspectives, and can apply them to future experiences. I adapted to the societal expectations that may have been different to what I knew, like how people tend to dress or eat. Being more open to change has been an important skill I’ve learned over these past weeks. The ability to adjust to sudden or unfamiliar situations will help me with any academic obstacles I may face when back at Pitt. I’ll be able to think faster and accept situations that I have no control over.

Personally, I have grown into being more outgoing and independent. As I had hoped, spending time abroad in an unfamiliar country with unfamiliar people has forced me to get out of my comfort zone. Coming back to Pitt, I will be able to continue working on this and use what I have learned to create stronger connections with people around me, whether it be peers or professionals.