I can’t believe it has been about a month since I first arrived in Florence. It’s been an amazing experience so far, and I am very excited to continue learning about and exploring this culturally rich city.

Over the past few weeks, I’ve had the chance to explore new places such as Pitti Palace, Cascine Park, and Piazzale Michelangelo. I’m still navigating the perfect balance of exploring, studying, traveling, and interning while being present in every aspect of this experience.

I am enjoying all of my classes so far. I have appreciated learning about Florence’s history in my Exploring the City class. So far, we have compared Florence’s old political, social, and hierarchical structures to what they are today. In International Finance, I’ve enjoyed learning about everything from the international bond market to currency exchange patterns. My Italian class has been excellent for getting familiar and comfortable with genuine Italian interactions.

The internship experience has been amazing as well. As mentioned before, my internship is a marketing and growth planning consulting project for a commercial cargo bike business. This involves conducting market research, finding ways to grow the client base, creating marketing materials, and developing growth plans for company expansion.

The company sells professional, family, and everyday models to provide the perfect bike build and accessories for everyone. The company is focused on making Florence a greener city. I’m passionate about ESG and sustainable business, which only makes me more excited to work with this business.

One exciting opportunity I had through the internship was going on a trip to Montepulciano for a bike delivery. I filmed the ease of dismantling the bike from the roof as well as the bike’s ability to carry heavy weights uphill. The mayor-elect was purchasing the bike as an example to others of how much easier and greener biking is than other gas-operated options.

In both my internship and academic environments, I’m building key skills in time management, problem-solving, communication, adaptability, and critical thinking. In my internship, I’m developing hard skills in market research, growth strategies, international business, and social media marketing.

I’m noticing that the work culture is very different here than in the United States. From what I can tell, people here tend to care more about working towards freedom of time, while in the states, there is an emphasis on gaining financial freedom. This difference is apparent in the nuances of the workday, such as going out for longer lunches and making time to go home midday.