I believe that I have learned so much about myself through my study abroad experience thus far. Reflecting on difficult situations has helped me realize how I approach problem-solving. Being in a new place is one of the best ways to consistently navigate new variables, especially through balancing traveling, interning, commuting, classes, homework, meeting new people, hanging out with friends, and learning more about the culture around me.

This example of time management has been a challenge for me to work through. I want to ensure that I am getting the most out of this experience in every aspect, but that sometimes calls for hard decisions about what takes priority. Especially with the internship, balancing my other cultural experiences has been a learning curve, as I have had to compensate for missing an activity due to an assignment and vice versa. While these decisions have been challenging, they have made me more intentional about the choices I make during my (minimal) free time.

Other difficult situations that I have experienced were brought on by traveling. During spring break, there were many unfamiliar situations that my friends and I encountered. For the week, we first flew to Palermo, a very southern city in Italy, and proceeded to make our way back to Florence throughout the trip. We stopped in Catania, Naples, Pompeii, and the Amalfi Coast on our journey, with each place bringing completely unique atmospheres. During this trip, we encountered transportation changes, cultural and language barriers, as well as planning challenges that we needed to navigate quickly. I not only learned how to think more proactively but also how to better prepare for future travels.

One amazing aspect of spring break and other travel adventures has been meeting more native Italians and getting a more authentic cultural experience. In Palermo, for example, we met students from the local university and were able to learn more about what being an Italian student looks like in reality. We were also forced to use our Italian skills in most restaurants and cafes. In Florence, we can usually get away with very little Italian, so it was exciting to continue pushing ourselves out of our comfort zone in that regard.

When I reflect on this trip, I will remember the people and the very different cultures we experienced in each location. There were moments that were uncomfortable and others that were beautiful, but all of these elements made the trip so memorable and worthwhile.