Hi! My name is Lauren Epps and I’m a rising senior pursuing a major in Human Resources Management and a certificate in International Business at Pitt. But lately, I’ve been a student at CAPA in Florence, Italy!
My program is the Global Business Institute: Florence Summer Term. So, I’m studying here in Florence for 6 weeks and taking two classes for 6 credits. I’m taking International Economics for Managers and Cross Cultural Psychology. My professors are so caring and so knowledgeable about their topics and how they apply to Italy. It has been a dream of mine to study abroad for a long time and it also fulfills credit for my International Business Certificate. I chose Florence specifically, because I had many friends recommend it and I’ve heard so many good things about being in Italy! So far, all those expectations have been exceeded. I’ve loved my experience here in every aspect. The views, the architecture, the art, the food … it’s unlike anything I’ve ever experienced. What I want to get out of this program is really immersing myself in the real Florentine culture. As in any big city, it is easy to be pulled in tourist traps. But I want to push myself to really get a feel for genuine Italian culture and experience.
This is a picture from Piazza del Michelangiolo! One of the best ways to get a view of the whole city! Something that has really been an added bonus to this experience is how encouraged and easy it is to travel new places on the weekends! This past weekend, I took the train up north with a few of my friends and visited Lake Como! It was so incredible and so picturesque. Fun Fact: it was actually used as a backdrop in Star Wars: Episode II – Attack of the Clones when Anakin and Padme are in Naboo!
These past few weeks have been so incredible. The study abroad life was definitely hard to get used to though. Not only are we in a new city, but we have new roommates, new teachers, new classmates, and never in my life have I had to google translate everything in a grocery store before! It was a huge adjustment, but as I’ve settled in, found good friends, established relationships with my professors, and took full advantage of my free trial of Super Duolingo, I am really feeling at home here. I am so grateful that I took this leap to come here and I know that I’ll cherish it for the rest of my life.