Hello! I have officially been in Florence, Italy, for just over a month now. Time is flying by here. This experience has already been life-changing, and I am super excited to continue to grow in the next month that I have here. Florence is a pretty touristy city, and therefore the streets are always packed with people. It creates a super upbeat and exciting lifestyle. I live near the Piazza Della Republicca and the Piazza del Duomo, both very centrally located. I would say most people in Florence speak at least basic English, so you will never feel uncomfortable if you are not a pro at Italian yet. That being said, it’s fun to be able to communicate with the locals by knowing some basic Italian. They appreciate the effort when you take the time to learn how to order your meal in Italian here. I, unfortunately, am not taking an Italian class while I am studying here, but if you have the opportunity to take one, I definitely would recommend it. A friend of mine who is in one through a different school is enjoying it and says it has been super helpful with day-to-day communication.

I have traveled alone numerous times in the past which I believe benefitted me regarding culture shock. I felt pretty comfortable and at home in Florence just after a week of being here. I will say the one thing that has been challenging is not having the same routine as I do at home. With three other roommates and a smaller living area, prioritizing alone time and self-care is super important and not something I realized I needed until about a month into my program. Overall, I love the lifestyle here in Florence and could potentially see myself living here after graduation as well. I feel very safe in the city for the most part, and everyone I have met so far, both locals and tourists, have been very welcoming and friendly. I have no bad words about my abroad experience so far, and I am super grateful to be given such a fantastic opportunity.

(We took a school trip to Siena last week, and it was so much fun. We stumbled upon this fantastic restaurant, and in the back, there was a whole farm with the cutest animals.)