Hi! My name is Maya Seltzer-Clinton, and I’m a Junior at the University of Pittsburgh from Rochester, NY, majoring in psychology and minoring in business. This semester I am studying abroad in Florence, Italy through the Pitt in Florence program, partnered with CEA CAPA abroad. Studying abroad has always been something I wanted to do, even before coming to college. I have always enjoyed learning about other cultures, and actually living and embracing a new culture was something I was highly looking forward to.

Since being here, I’ve had to adjust to living and thriving in a new culture rather than just learning and hearing about one.

One of the first surreal “wow” moments for me was walking into the city center on our first night and seeing the Duomo Di Firenze towering above the cityscape. Seeing it up close in person is truly like nothing else I’ve ever experienced, and being able to walk past it everyday on my way to class is something I’m truly grateful for and try not to take for granted.

Beyond moments like that, the adjustment has also been more subtle. Everyday things like grocery shopping, ordering food, or figuring out public transportation take more attention and patience than they would at home. Even when people speak English, I try to use Italian whenever I can, especially since I’m learning it three days a week in class, which has pushed me out of my comfort zone in a really positive way.

As a psychology major and taking Cross-Cultural Psychology while I’m here, I’ve become more aware of how these small daily challenges build resilience and adaptability. Even the little differences in routines and daily life are helping me grow in ways I didn’t expect. It’s one thing to talk about cultural differences in class, but it’s another to experience them every day.

Outside of the classroom, I can already feel myself growing both personally and professionally. Personally, I feel more independent, whether that’s navigating my walk to class, exploring Florence on my own, or figuring out how to spend my free time meaningfully. My classes feel especially relevant because they connect directly to what I’m experiencing. Some of them even meet in churches, museums, and art studios, which is very different from being in a typical classroom at Pitt, but makes learning feel more immersive and memorable.

There have definitely been moments of culture shock. In the U.S., I’m used to a faster pace of life. In Florence, there’s more of an emphasis on slowing down, whether that means sitting at a café longer than I expect or taking extra time just to enjoy the walk somewhere. At first it felt unfamiliar, but I’m starting to appreciate it. It’s helped me focus on being more present and not taking this experience for granted.

I already feel so lucky to be here. Florence is teaching me more than I expected, not just about Italian culture, but about myself. I’m excited to see how the rest of the semester continues to shape me.

Ciao!