Ciao! My name is Crista Amaya. I am a junior at the College of Business Administration, double majoring in Finance and Global Management with a minor in French. On campus, I am actively involved in Smart Women Securities, an all-women investment club. Last summer, I gained professional experience as a Project Cost Analyst at Exelon, a leading energy corporation. This semester, I am studying abroad in Florence, Italy through the Global Business Institute.
I decided to study abroad in Italy because I had never been to Europe before and wanted the opportunity to fully immerse myself in a different culture and environment. I had also heard from past students who studied abroad in Florence, and loved their experience. I was eager to learn more about Italy’s rich history, cuisine, and cultural traditions. Living in Florence has given me the chance to travel throughout Italy thanks to its accessible transportation system. So far, I have visited Rome and Pisa. One of the biggest culture shocks I noticed is that at grocery stores, customers are expected to weigh their produce and attach the price label before checking out, which was completely new to me. Coming from a Hispanic background, I have also found that Italian is somewhat similar to Spanish, so this has helped me communicate more easily with local residents.
In comparison to Pitt, my institution abroad is much smaller and primarily uses two academic buildings. Class sizes are significantly smaller as well, with only about 15-20 students per class. I prefer this learning environment because it allows for more active engagement with both my peers and professors. My favorite class so far is my Business Consulting class, where we are able to provide professional advice to a medium-sized business.
My apartment abroad is approximately 20 minutes away from the center city and my classes. Because my apartment is a little far from the center, I am able to live in a place that is not as touristy and get the chance to interact with Italian locals daily. I currently live with 4 additional roommates and we all get along very well. Both the commute and my living situation has been an adjustment compared to life at Pitt, where I live 5 minutes away from campus with one roommate. Overall, I have really enjoyed my time here and am excited to see where the rest of the semester takes me.
