Ciao, my name is Adam Donowitz and I am currently a junior at the University of Pittsburgh studying Finance and Business analytics. I am from Port Washington, New York (a small town on Long Island), where I have lived my whole life—until joining the University of Pittsburgh, of course. I will be studying abroad in Florence through the Global Business Institute offered by the University of Pittsburgh.
I chose to study in Florence because I wanted to immerse myself into a city that takes pride in its culture. Unlike many cities in America, Florence is all about the history of the city and its people. You see that from the second you arrive here; from the food that they eat, to the artwork that engulfs the city, everything has a story behind it. There is so much to learn about, and that is what drew me to Florence–along with the food, of course. I have never been to Italy, or anywhere in Europe for that matter, so I am super excited about this life-changing experience. I hope that through this journey I will gain a greater appreciation for different cultures and for being on my own. I also hope to learn things about myself. I have never traveled on my own before, so this journey will be a great opportunity to step out of my comfort zone, build independence, and discover new aspects of who I am.
I have really enjoyed my time abroad so far. It was definitely an adjustment at first, but as I learned more about the city and the community that lives here, it became easy to acclimate. I am living in an apartment with 5 other American students which has been a really cool experience. Our apartment is very close to the City Center, so it is easy to explore. The neighborhood is beautiful and is filled with both Florentine natives and foreigners. This gives us the experience of living like a Florentine, while having familiar faces around which has made it very easy to adapt to this new living situation.
So far my classes have been really fun and rewarding. I am taking four classes through CEACAPA: Italian101, Analyzing and Exploring the City of Florence, International Finance, and a course that supplements my internship. While these classes have been enriching, they are very different from what I am used to at Pitt. The teachers here are very straight-forward and the work is formatted differently. My teachers also don’t allow any electronics in class, so I am going to have to get used to taking notes on paper again.
As my time in Florence continues, I am excited to keep exploring everything this incredible city has to offer. Studying abroad has already challenged me in ways I never imagined, and I am grateful for the chance to embrace this experience fully. I can’t wait to see what the rest of my journey holds and how it will shape my personal and professional future.
