Hi everyone! I cannot believe that we are already in our sixth week of being abroad! I can finally say that I have a pretty set routine for my time here. I have created a schedule that factors in my classes, internship, and free time to shop, travel, or hang out with my roommates! The transition from America to Italy did have a culture shock factor- which I always knew was coming. However, I wasn’t prepared for how different life would be! Life here in Florence moves at a slower pace. You do not see as much hustle and bustle, but you see a lot of tourism. People on the streets move at a slower pace because the majority of people here are trying to soak in the scenery. Even the Florentines move at a slower pace, they take more time for themselves and really emphasize the importance of scheduling time for friends and family in their daily schedules. In America, we move at a million miles per minute- we are always multitasking and frequently forget to stop and enjoy what is going on around us, so this has been a breath of fresh air!
One of the hardest adjustments has been the language barrier. In all aspects of life here in Florence, there is some sort of language barrier, whether it is the cashier at a local grocery store or my co-workers at my internship. I am lucky enough to have a team that encourages me to speak Italian, even if it is wrong. My co-workers constantly teach me informal language to use while I am out and about, and it is something that I appreciate! Although there is a language barrier, Florence is a very touristy spot, so many people understand basic English. Learning to navigate the Italian way of life has been exciting but also stressful! They have very different daily tasks but every day I learn to respect and adapt these characteristics!
In general, I have gotten lucky with my internship. I was expecting some ambiguity with my taskwork, but over the summer, Global Blue had multiple interns through the CEA CAPA program, so they are equipped with how to treat an intern. My boss and supervisor are extremely clear with their expectations and push me to my highest ability. During my first week, they told me that I am not “just an intern” I am an asset, which I did not believe- but as I finish up my first full month at Global Blue, I feel like I am just a part of the team as anyone else!
In the classroom, I have noticed that my professors are not very straightforward. Unlike my internship, my classwork is very ambiguous. The professors here are lovely but do not set the same expectations for us as the professors from home. There is never a set of guidelines to follow for projects or homework, they give you a general idea of what they want and expect you to go with it! It has been exciting and stressful learning to adapt to these sets of expectations, but it has allowed me to be more creative and spontaneous with my work.
This is not my first time navigating living on my own, but learning how to adapt to a new way of life has been one of the most character-building experiences for me! These challenges have allowed me to grow and adapt to my surroundings, which has given me the chance to immerse myself fully in this experience!
