3 months later and my study abroad program is coming to a close. Coming here on January 9th, this day seemed so far away, but after tons of trips, museums, restaurants, and memories, I only have 2 weeks left. This experience has been more exciting than I could have imagined.

Through studying abroad, I have learned about myself and the people around me, as well as Italian culture. Throughout the experience, you can often find yourself in intense, dynamic situations you have never experienced before. These are the times when you figure out how you react to these stressors. What is arguably more important, though, is how you adapt these reactions throughout the program. Getting lost, missing transportation, and culture shock are some of the exhausting, stressful situations that you experience studying abroad. I have learned to remain calm and try not to let it affect my mood. Simultaneously, you also see how other people react in these situations. I have learned how to communicate differently with my friends and what to say during these times. 

I have also learned a lot about Italy and Italian culture! My biggest piece of advice would be to lean into their norms and customs. Long dinners and pastries for breakfast, among other things, are staples of Italian culture. Following traditions and local norms helps to integrate yourself into the culture, but also create a more memorable experience. While it can get exhausting after 3 months, you are only here once! Pushing myself out of my comfort zone and having a more authentic experience has really helped me to create unique memories I know I will remember. 

There are a few things I wish I knew at the beginning of my experience. The first is how exhausting travel can be. Especially working with a college budget, I found myself having to wake up at 3AM for 12+ hour travel days, only to spend less than 48 hours in a new city. Some of my favorite weekends have been staying right in Florence. Studying abroad gives you the opportunity to explore the non touristy and hidden gems of the city you are in– take advantage of it. Going along with that, another thing I wish I did was make a bucket list of everything I wanted to do in my city when I got there. When study abroad comes to an end, you want to make sure you have done everything in your city. Taking a paper map from a tourist office and checking off all the main attractions is an easy way to make sure you have accomplished everything. One of things that surprised me was how many people spoke English. On one hand, it was nice to be able to communicate with almost everyone in the city. However, it also made me feel like I was lacking that authentic experience. 

As study abroad comes to a close, I could not have asked for anything more. Taking the time to explore and creating a personal, authentic experience is the best way to make the most of your study abroad experience. There is no wrong way to study abroad, but I hope these tips made it just a little easier!