Being in Florence, Italy for just over a month now, I think I have my footing for the remainder of the semester. I have been able to get in the groove of things here between commuting by bus or walking, classes and my study workload, my internship, and daily tasks. I have been getting a little bit overwhelmed with the workload that I have to complete and worrying about the time I have to study or to be able to enjoy my time exploring the city. I have been working on devoting more specific time in my day to studying and going to other places that are better for me to concentrate like the University of Firenze lecture buildings in Piazza San Marco or public libraries like Oblate or Giunti Odeon. I’ve also prioritized my mental health and am devoting a day or just an afternoon to decompressing. I spent the day with my friend Grace walking around the city attending different markets and popping into shops that sparked interest in window shops. 

In my internship, I think I have a really interesting situation. I work at a Canadian school based in Florence. We operate like a Canadian school and business, but we have to take into account the Italian government and the sanctions around us. A mix of nationalities makes up the workforce here. The school is also growing at a fast rate and just this academic year, they hired 22 new faculty members. I am here to create different processes and policies from scratch. It is hard to make sure that I’m fulfilling the needs of the staff because HR is only my manager and I am a part-time intern. There is a lot to balance and I try to pick up more work from my manager for her to focus on other tasks. 

Adapting to the city and Italian culture was pretty easy for me. I have been studying Italian language and culture for about 9 years now. I immerse myself in Italian pop culture by watching different movies, TV shows, and music. My top Clifton Strength is adaptability, followed by futuristic, positivity, woo, and empathy. With minor hiccups in understanding dialects, working styles, or even other smaller social cues, I can figure out how to navigate the Italian lifestyle and culture. 

Here in Florence, I  have already put these skills to use when figuring out the best way to order a meal at a restaurant, taking a bus learning Italian bus etiquette, and walking on a sidewalk. There is still so much for me to know and learn on the way. My main goal is to immerse myself in the Florentine lifestyle fully. The next part of this journey is meeting locals and making friends!

A Presto,

Logan Skelly