These have been the best 3 months and with all of these experiences, I have grown so much. I have become more open minded to different styles of living, cultures, and mindsets. Traveling every weekend to a different city or country has instilled this in me. I’ve also become much more adaptable, learning to adjust when plans change at the last minute, when bus tickets are delayed, or when unexpected rain forces a change in our itinerary. Along with being adaptable, I have learned how to think better on my feet quickly when these plans change. Whether it’s finding new methods of transportation, figuring out how to communicate with someone through language barriers, or making quick decisions, study abroad has taught me how to problem solve. Managing train and plane tickets, hostel bookings, homework assignments, and travel itineraries has overfilled my Google Drive. Yet, being abroad has made much more organized, so I can easily find what I need.

Even on an airplane in America, we just sit in our seats, read, sleep, and leave when the plane takes off. However in Europe, I’ve found the atmosphere on multiple flights to be quite different. Passengers are frequently up out of their seats, chatting in the aisles, and walking to visit friends and family. Initially, I was confused. Over time, however, I came to appreciate this cultural difference. I found it fascinating how Europeans use every opportunity to socialize, even in the confined space of an airplane.

Being abroad, I have really learned how to manage my time effectively. At first, it was really overwhelming juggling time to go to class, plan for trips, go on trips, do homework, cook, sleep, and have free time. As the semester goes on, I have found how to balance my time effectively so that I have time to do everything but also leaving in time to just relax and absorb my time in Italy.

Initially, I would prioritize completing required assignments first, but I soon realized that this consumed my entire day. Now, I reserve my evenings when most places are closed, for homework and planning, leaving my daytime free for exploring Florence, reading in cafes, or even doing my drawing assignments outdoors. This shift in my routine has helped me maximize my free time and truly enjoy my experience here to the most by finding time everyday to take it all in.