Ciao! My name is Catherine Kiebort, and I am a junior in the College of Business Administration at the University of Pittsburgh. I am majoring in Marketing and Supply Chain Management. This semester, I’m studying abroad in Florence, Italy, through the Global Institute at CEA CAPA Florence. 

Before even coming to college, I always knew I wanted to study abroad sometime during my academic career. I chose Florence, because I wanted to study in a place I never lived before and push myself out of my comfort zone as someone who never been to Europe. Also, Florence has a rich cultural history, amazing food, and an awesome environment. What’s not to love about that? 

Coming into this program, I have set several personal goals for myself. My main objective is to create as many meaningful memories as possible, since this is a once-in-a-lifetime experience. I also aim to improve my Italian language skills through my Italian course, build new friendships, and deepen my understanding of Florence’s history and culture. Through these goals, I hope to grow both personally and academically while fully immersing myself in this unique opportunity.  

Now that I have been in Florence for over a month, I am beginning to feel adjusted to what once felt chaotic and overwhelming. Academically, my experience at CEA CAPA Florence has been quite different from my time at the University of Pittsburgh. The class sizes are much smaller, usually consisting of about 15 to 20 students, compared to large lecture halls at Pitt. The smaller class sizes have made it easier for me to form connections with both my classmates and professors. At the same time, the academic structure is similar to Pitt, which has helped me feel a sense of familiarity and stability in my studies. 

My living situation has been a part of my adjustment. I live about fifteen minutes from the Duomo and twenty minutes from the center of Florence. This has made it easy to explore the city on foot. I share an apartment with eleven other girls from the University of Pittsburgh. This has been a significant change for me, as I have never lived with so many roommates before. While it was challenging at first, we have learned how to communicate and cooperate. 

Overall, this experience so far has pushed me out of my comfort zone in so many positive ways. I am learning how to adapt to a new environment. Each day in Florence continues to help me grow personally and academically. I am already beginning to see how these experiences will shape me long after this program ends.