One of the most impactful moments from my time abroad happened during a trip to Seville, Spain, where I went to visit a close friend I had met years earlier when she was an exchange student at my high school. Going into the trip, I expected it to feel similar to other places I had…
Trinbago: A familiar feeling
After a few days in Trinidad and Tobago, it is time to reflect on the experience I had during my time there. I was very excited to be there; it was my second time out of the country and my first time in the Caribbean. There was also a sense of ease leading up to…
A Moment That Made Florence Feel Like Home
One meaningful moment during my time abroad happened while I was exploring Florence and beginning to feel more comfortable navigating the city on my own. One afternoon, after finishing classes, I decided to walk around the city instead of immediately heading home. I wandered through some smaller streets, eventually finding a quiet area with a…
Adjusting to Life and Learning in Italy
One of the biggest challenges I have experienced while living in Italy has been adjusting to differences in daily routines and communication styles. Things like store hours, restaurant schedules, and transportation can be very different from what I am used to at home. For example, many places close in the middle of the day or…
The Business & Academic Environment
During my time studying abroad, I am focusing on my classroom experience rather than an internship. This semester I am taking several courses including International Finance, Immigration, a literature class about Dante, and Italian language. Each class focuses on a different aspect of understanding Italy and global perspectives, which has made the academic experience very…
The Gondola Gondolier
I recently had the opportunity to go to Venice with my program. It was extremely beautiful, just how I had imagined it for so many years. Of course, I had to go on a gondola ride while I was there, it was pretty much a mandatory activity for me. Little did I know, it would…
Adapting to Florence
Adapting to Italian culture has been one of the most rewarding but genuinely challenging parts of this experience. The biggest adjustment for me has been the pace of life. Coming from a background rooted in efficiency and deadlines, Italian culture operates on an entirely different rhythm. Meals are long, afternoons slow down, and there is…
The Professional Environment in Florence
I am currently a Finance and Business Analytics major with an Economics minor at the University of Pittsburgh. Throughout my time at Pitt, I have had multiple internships spanning both aspects of my major, from an Analytics Test Engineer role to a digital Finance position. This summer, I will be working as a Specialized Industries…
Florence Diaries: Late Dinners and Local Lessons
Ciao! The weather in Florence has finally hit a steady period of warmth (50s–60s), and there have been far fewer rainy days. However, the weather here was the last thing I needed to “adapt to,” as it was in the 40s when I arrived (as opposed to the negatives in Pittsburgh). One cultural aspect I…
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