Hi! My name is Emily Wincko. I am a junior at the College of Business Administration, double majoring in Finance and Accounting. I am currently studying abroad in Florence, Italy, through the Global Business Institute. As someone who craves new experiences and loves stepping outside of my comfort zone, studying abroad felt like the perfect opportunity to immerse myself in a new culture and see daily life from a completely different perspective. I have always enjoyed trying new foods, exploring unfamiliar places, and learning through experience, so living in Italy, a city rich with history and character, seemed like the best opportunity to do exactly that.
As I’ve settled into life abroad for the past few weeks, my experience has been shaped by both the transition of adjusting to a new university and the culture in Florence itself. I have never traveled outside of the United States before, so I had little idea of what to expect as I observed differences in living styles. My goals coming into this experience were to become more independent, open myself up to new cultural experiences, and learn how to appreciate the slower, more intentional pace of life that people value in Italy. Even in the short time I’ve been here, I’ve already learned more than I could have imagined.
The campus in Florence and the University of Pittsburgh turned out to be more different than I expected. Even though both are part of a city, Florence feels a lot smaller and more personal. On my way to and from class, I’ll stop at local grocery stores, cafés, and pass landmarks like the Duomo, which makes everyday routines feel really unique. I’ve also noticed that people here move at a slower pace and take time to enjoy their surroundings. That was a big adjustment for me, since back home daily life felt much faster and more focused on staying productive all the time.
In Florence, I’m living in an apartment with five other girls that’s about a five-minute walk from class. It’s been a really positive experience so far, but there have definitely been parts of daily life here that took some getting used to, like doing laundry without a dryer, carefully separating our trash, and even paying attention to changes in humidity.
Once reflecting on the past month of living and studying here, I can say that I have grown more comfortable with my new routine and surroundings than I ever expected. What once felt unfamiliar has slowly started to feel normal, and I’ve learned how to adapt to the small differences in daily life that come with living in another country. All in all, I feel so grateful for the chance to learn and grow in such an incredible city like Florence!
