Hello from Florence ! 

I am Megan, a junior studying Finance and Marketing here at the University of Pittsburgh. I grew up outside of the vibrant city of Boston. I lead an active lifestyle and find joy in new experiences. My enthusiasm for the unknown played a significant role in my decision to study abroad. Whether it’s meeting new people, trying a new food, or delving into my studies with curiosity, I thrive on exploration. On top of that, I was influenced by my parents’ love for travel when they were young. Consequently, I am studying under the Global Business Institute program and have just begun my first week of classes. I chose this program specifically for the seamless transition with class credits and programming. 

My goals for my abroad experience are to be open minded and living more spontaneously. I have always been a very structured student, but I think a trait to work on is an unconstrained outlook on time. With spontaneity comes adaptability. As an abroad student you must balance work and traveling, and be flexible creating a schedule that optimizes time, enjoyment, and productivity. With this comes discipline. Another goal of mine is to work on discipline for things that matter to me. My studies and my health must always be prioritized over the many opportunities in Europe. Sometimes we have to say no to experiences in order to get proper sleep or to fit in a workout! This has pushed me to join a gym here in Florence and my goal is to stay consistent.

We landed in Florence on January 9th and hit the ground running with walking tours through CEA Capa programming. It was super helpful to have guides walk us through the city and share some ground knowledge of the history of Florence. It is one thing to read about a city preparing to travel there, but a different experience entirely to learn it while walking around the places it actually occurred. The program has gone above and beyond my expectations. There are so many staff members committed to helping us through any hurdles. They are extremely responsive and passionate, and have made the adjustment seamless. Although it is early to speak much on classes, I am fascinated by the classes I get to take here. The classes here are in smaller groups, which has allowed us to get to know our professors more. I am taking Italian, Sculpture, International Marketing, International Finance, and Cross Cultural Psychology.  All classes have incorporated historical or cultural elements of Florence which has been super interesting. In the sculpture, we actually walked to see the David (replica in the plaza by our class), and then got to create a piece similar to one of his facial features. In International Marketing, we discussed class concepts while considering the businesses we have experienced walking around Florence. In Finance, we have discussed foreign exchange and have been able to actually discuss examples of buying products in Euros compared to the US dollar. 

I am surprised by how much the program has brought students together. With the various events held by the program, I met students all across the United States. There is such a strong sense of community that simultaneously allows you to be out of your comfort zone. I don’t feel pressured socially to remain with University of Pittsburgh students. Furthermore, I have really enjoyed my living situation. We are the perfect distance from class, taking around fifteen minutes. This allows us to enjoy the city, while also being in a quieter area. I have three other roommates which makes a lot of activities more fun and social! Our favorite time is dinner, where we all cook and then eat at the table together. It’s the perfect time to share how our days went and what we experienced!

Looking forward to rest of the semester!