Ciao! It has been another week in Florence and everyday I fall in love with something new in the city. It’s insane to think I have been here for a month and midterm exams are coming up next week! I am taking four classes this semester: Renaissance Art History, International Marketing, International Finance, and Italian 101. Every class has been drastically different from one another, which I enjoy because it provides a huge change of pace. Three of the four classes are two and a half hours long, which can be a huge adjustment for me, coming from hour and fifteen minute long classes.
My week starts out with Italian on Mondays at 3pm. This class is very special because it is taught by Jenny, a professor from Pitt. It is very comforting to have her as a support system because she is an amazing resource to reach out to for ANY needs, academic or otherwise. Learning Italian has been challenging, but since I minored in French I have a solid language learning background, so those skills have really helped me.
On Tuesdays at 8:30am I have Renaissance Art History, which might be my favorite class. It is definitely challenging, but every week we go to a different site for a visit – so far we have visited the Basilica of Santa Croce, San Miniato al Monte, and Santa Maria Novella. It is really cool to get to see these churches that I may not have otherwise visited. I have a long break where I usually make lunch, go to the gym, and wander around Florence until I have International Marketing at 5. This class has been really interesting so far, but definitely more similar to my business classes at home.
Wednesday is my Friday here – which has been amazing! This day I have another 8:30am class which is International Finance. This is definitely my hardest class here that I know I will have to study for the most. Then, I end my week in Italian the same way it started. Overall, my classes have been very manageable and really interesting.
Almost every aspect of school feels very different here. CAPA center is one building with nine classrooms, much different than at Pitt (the featured photo is from the CAPA lobby area). I even have multiple classes in the same room. The staff is all so kind and helpful, it is apparent that they truly care for the well being and success of their students as well as getting to know them. The academic and professional culture is much different than in the US. I have noticed that things move much slower here and they never seem rushed. They also have a great work/life balance! There have been instances where I was asked to put my computer away in cafés as I was ruining the atmosphere with my work.
My International Marketing and International Finance classes have been very interesting coming from the point of view of a European contrasted with my business classes at Pitt. Their outlook is generally more globally focused and less American centralized, which has been really interesting to observe. With midterms exams coming up next week (where did the time go?), I am definitely very nervous and know I have lots of studying to do over the next few days.