Ciao! I’m Ella Yurick, a junior at Pitt double-majoring in finance and accounting with a minor in computer science. I’m currently studying in Florence through Pitt’s Global Business Institution in partnership with CEA CAPA. I love traveling and exploring new places, which is a big reason I decided to study abroad. While I have always felt drawn to studying in Italy, what ultimately sealed my decision was how different it is from Pittsburgh and Pennsylvania as a whole. Florence isn’t one of Italy’s largest cities, and I think that’s helped it preserve a lot of its original culture, even with the rise in tourism.

One of my main goals with this trip is to grow and strengthen my independence. Moving to Florence has been a major lifestyle change, and I’ve been pushing myself to face new challenges without immediately seeking help. This has meant working through the language barrier, learning to explore unfamiliar areas on my own, and adapting to the Italian way of life.

I have found CEA CAPA to be quite different from the University of Pittsburgh. Unlike Pitt, where the majority of my classes are either in Sennott or Mervis, I have lectures in museums, art studios, and in CEA CAPA’s own buildings. Luckily, I was placed in an apartment near the city center, so my walk to class is about the same as it was at Pitt (approximately five to ten minutes). My neighborhood is a piazza filled with orange trees and people constantly strolling through it. It hosts a market every Tuesday and Thursday, featuring stalls with clothes, jewelry, and antiques. It has the classic Italian charm you’d expect and is conveniently near a grocery store. Adapting to my living situation has been pretty easy, as I only share the apartment with two roommates, and it’s a good size for each of us to have our own space when needed. However, the biggest adjustment has been having to air-dry all of my clothes since my apartment does not have a dryer.

I have been in Florence for a little over a month now, and I have only positive things to say about my time here. Moving abroad has been one of the best experiences and decisions I’ve made during my time at Pitt, and I’m excited for the months to come!