As I arrived home from my study abroad program in Florence, I felt a deep sense of gratitude and fulfillment. This experience abroad was like nothing I have ever done in my entire life. For the first time, I was forced to adapt to a completely new environment and culture. Although there were some challenges, the journey was incredibly rewarding and insightful.
One of the most significant experiences I encountered for the first time was flying alone. For most of my weekend trips, I flew by myself and met up with friends and family who were visiting other countries. I used to be intimidated by the size of airports and the TSA process, but after going through it on my own so many times, I quickly became comfortable with it. As a result, I significantly improved my time management, problem-solving, and adaptability skills.
Another area in which I improved was becoming more comfortable with the unknown. One example of this was trying new foods. I am an incredibly picky eater, so adapting to an entirely different food culture was challenging at first. However, during my weekend trips, I tried a variety of foods from different cultures, which helped reduce my fear of trying new things.
Throughout the experience, my roommates were a big support system for me. Although all three of us go to Pitt, we did not know each other prior to the program. From going out to dinner together to studying for our Italian class together, we spent a great deal of our program working together to maximize each other’s experience abroad. Additionally, my instructors made my experience substantially more meaningful, both inside and outside of the classroom. My drawing instructor inspired me to appreciate all of the artwork I discovered across Europe, and my Italian instructor provided an excellent foundation for learning Italian and offered great advice on engaging with the Florentine community.
To students considering this program in the future, I could not recommend it enough. One of my favorite aspects was that my Italian course consisted of all Pitt students, which eased the process of making connections, while my elective course included students from universities across the United States. Similarly, while Florence does have a substantial study abroad population, it still has a prominent, rich Florentine population. This balance provided both comfort and new opportunities for connections.
Throughout this post, I have included photos of some of my favorite memories, both inside and outside of Florence. These include eating McDonald’s at the Trevi Fountain at 2 A.M., finding a gorgeous swimming spot in Ibiza, meeting my favorite music artist, Noah Kahan, finding the best sunset I have ever seen in Portugal, island-hopping by boat in Turkey, seeing the Eiffel Tower, and watching the sunset at Piazza Michelangelo with live music.
Studying abroad completely changed my perspective on the world. Although it was challenging at times, I gained a deeper appreciation for adapting to a new culture and stepping outside of my comfort zone. I returned to America with greater confidence in myself and a stronger appreciation for cultural exchange. I will carry these lessons and skills with me throughout the rest of my professional career.