My academic experience in Florence has been completely different from my experience in Pittsburgh, and I’ve been loving every second of it. I’m taking Beginner Drawing, Beginner Oil Painting, Italian Here and Now, and International Finance, none of which I’ve taken at Pitt. The change of pace has been refreshing, especially with the art classes. They give me a designated space to be creative, something I didn’t realize I was missing in my usual academic routine.

Art classes challenge my brain in ways that my finance-heavy coursework never has. Unlike studying for an exam, where you can cram information the night before and still do well, art is about patience and practice. No amount of memorization will make me a better artist overnight—it takes time, practice, and commitment. Last week, my roommate and I worked on our drawing homework at an outdoor library in Florence, which was such a peaceful way to spend the afternoon. Our drawing professor said that once the weather warms up, we’ll have class outside to sketch Florence’s beautiful architecture, which I am so excited for! I have my oil painting class at 9 in the morning, which has been such a fun and peaceful way to start the day.

My Italian class has been fun as well even though Learning a new language as an adult is humbling. I have been making a conscious effort to apply what we have been learning in class everyday like when ordering my coffee at a cafe. It’s very rewarding to have a successful conversation or interaction in Italian even if it’s just a few sentences. The class is filled with constant participation, group work, and presentations which is a great change from traditional lecture style classes. Just like with drawing and painting, learning a language isn’t about perfection it’s about effort and practice. My finance class has been very engaging as well, and it’s interesting to learn about finance on a more global scale rather than just American practices and corporations.

One of the biggest differences in studying here is the pace of life. In Pittsburgh, my days often feel like rushing to meet deadlines and responsibilities, but in Florence, I’m slowing down. There’s time to appreciate the process of learning, to sit in a cafe and actually enjoy the moment, to spend an afternoon drawing in a cafe without feeling rushed. It’s a shift in mindset that I didn’t expect but one that I’m really grateful for.