Ciao! My name is Lucy and I am originally from the Chicago area. I’m currently a junior at the University of Pittsburgh, studying Marketing and Finance. I am a part of the Global Business Institute in Florence this semester, and I’ve been here for roughly 3 weeks. I chose this program because it allows me to complete my International Business certificate, and because it offers a unique way to experience another culture that would rarely present itself otherwise. While I am taking classes towards my degree here, I feel that a lot of my learning will come from outside of the classroom. I have previously taken part in GBI London, an experience I am forever grateful for, and wanted to challenge myself to live somewhere the culture is even more different than the U.S. 

While I’m here, I’ll be taking 3 business classes and Italian. I took Spanish for most of grade school and all of high school, so I’m curious to see how Italian goes for me. I can already pick up some things locals say and can respond to basic questions while I’m out – although I’m grateful most Italians speak English too! So far, my courses are going well and I enjoy the smaller, more interactive class sizes. Similarly to Pitt, I walk about 15 minutes from my apartment to the study centers and stay in the area to study, meet-up with friends,  and browse coffee shops/boutiques in between classes. My apartment is across the river in the Santo Spirito area, and I love being in a more local part of the city. 

After being here for a little while, I am enjoying the fact that Florence is so walkable and that I can get to most places in 20 minutes. The culture in Italy is a lot slower and more laid back than in the U.S. I have experienced this the most while dining out, meals are a time to savor food and be with friends/family. It is normal to stay for a while after you are done and I’ve noticed that Italians rarely take food on the go. Overall, I can say that I am adapting well to life in Florence and am doing my best to embrace the differences between here, my previous abroad experience, and home!