Hello there. My name is Joe Thomas, and I am a junior at Pitt majoring in Finance and minoring in Economics. This semester, I am studying abroad through the CEA CAPA program in Florence, Italy. I’ve traveled my whole life, but I have never been to Italy. However, it seemed like the perfect place to study abroad because of the history, art, and last but certainly not least, the food. Growing up in Pittsburgh and going to Pitt made this experience extremely exciting for me because I have never really lived far from home. This brings me to my main goal of this program: to get uncomfortable, and as a result, grow! I have only been here for about a month, and I think I have grown so much already.

My host institution is a lot smaller than Pitt, with classes mostly in 2 main buildings. The classrooms themselves are also smaller. However, my classroom for ‘Museology’ has beautiful paintings on the ceiling. There is so much beauty and history everywhere you look. A similarity to Pitt is that my classes are in English, which makes the academic experience feel very comfortable.

I am living in the Santo Spirito neighborhood, which is an area that is truly authentic and rooted in local culture. I enjoy going to the markets in the main square, where you can browse through clothes, watches, jewelry, and food. I also live next to Ponte Vecchio and walk on it daily, which is a 14th century medieval stone arch bridge known as the city’s oldest and most iconic crossing over the Arno. How cool is that? Finally, the food in Santo Spirito is phenomenal. I have had some of the best pasta, sandwiches, and gelato of my life. I also really enjoy it because I live on top of a grocery store. I live in an 8-person apartment, in a triple. There is 1 shower and 1 small washing machine for us. It has been a great experience, as getting uncomfortable is my main goal. I have learned to adapt to my new environment over the past weeks. Also, I love my roommates, which helps!

Apart from living, I have been adapting quickly to life abroad. I found a gym in Florence, which has allowed me to keep working out as a priority, even though it is different from Pitt. It is nothing like the new Rec Center. I have also adjusted to transportation systems, not only in Italy but throughout Europe, which has made traveling more accessible and exciting. Communicating with people who don’t speak English has been another learning experience, pushing me to be patient and confident in uncomfortable situations. Overall, I am having so much fun and getting more comfortable with being uncomfortable.