I have just finished week 5 of my classes, and I’m loving every moment of it! This semester, I’m taking a mix of courses that really excite me: Italian: Here and Now, Analyzing and Exploring the Global City, Renaissance Art History, and Beginning Oil Painting. Back in Pittsburgh, I have taken mostly business classes, so it’s been such a refreshing change to dive into topics like art, history, and culture, especially in such a historically rich city like Florence! These subjects are new to me, and studying them in this new environment has truly brought them to life.

While I have no prior experience with Italian, the Italian: Here and Now class has been amazing in helping me pick up useful phrases and cultural expressions. I’ve already found that knowing these phrases has made it so much easier to navigate the city and connect with the locals. It’s a great feeling to be able to understand and interact with people in their own language, even if it’s just for simple things like ordering food.

Analyzing and Exploring the Global City and Renaissance Art History are both lecture-based courses, but they also include site visits, which has been an incredibly enriching experience. Being able to learn about the history and culture of Florence in the classroom and then go out into the city to see these historical landmarks with my own eyes has added a whole new layer to my understanding. 

Beginning Oil Painting has become one of my favorite classes. I haven’t taken a fine arts course in some time, so it feels so refreshing to engage in something so different from my usual coursework. I’ve always loved being creative, but it’s been a while since I’ve had the chance to express that in such a hands-on way. It’s a great balance to the more academic classes I’m taking.

I’ve been able to keep up with all of my coursework and studying, which has allowed me to make time for exploring Florence as well. Time management has been a key skill in this process. Florence is such a vibrant city, and there’s always something happening, so it would be easy to get caught up in the excitement, but staying organized and focused has helped me manage my responsibilities while still making the most of my time here.

Another thing I’ve noticed about the classes here is the emphasis on collaboration and discussion. Most of the classes are smaller than the ones I’m used to back in Pittsburgh, so there’s a lot of collaboration and engagement. These engaging conversations have made learning more dynamic and have really helped me absorb the material. 

All of my classes have allowed me to grow and develop, as well as learn so much about this amazing city. I am super excited to see what the rest of the semester has in store!