Hi there. My name is Ethan Johnson, and I am a junior at the University of Pittsburgh majoring in Finance. This spring 2026 semester I am studying in Florence, Italy through the Pitt GBI program with CEA CAPA. I had only traveled outside the U.S. for the first time a few months before this program which is what heavily influenced me to choose Florence as my destination for an entire semester. I was looking to immerse myself in a culture and within a society that was much different from what I was used to, and Florence offered the perfect opportunity to accomplish this. I also am an avid enjoyer of history, arts, and food – what better place than Florence! While I mentioned I wanted to live within a culture different from my own, my main goal was to get out of my comfort zone and get uncomfortable. When I decided to study here, I was not familiar with any other Pitt students, so it was an entirely fresh start which was both nerve racking and exciting. What better way to grow as a person than to expose yourself to new experiences!
My host institution consists of a conglomeration of students from many different U.S. institutions, not just Pitt. The institution is also much smaller than Pitt, and in turn, the classes are much smaller, averaging about 20 students per lecture. This lends to much more personalized and hands on lectures than I am used to seeing back at Pitt.
I live in a neighborhood called Santo Spirito – my apartment being a mere 45 second walk from the famous Ponte Vecchio bridge. While this main street can get very crowded with tourists and everyday activities at times, if you walk even one block back you can begin to get exposed to more authentic Florentine life! In a piazza not more than 6 minutes away there is a market held where one can purchase fresh fruits and vegetables, meats and cheeses, clothing, artisan goods, and so much more. I often find myself getting lost in thought walking from stall to stall. One of the most convenient factors of my location is the fact that my roommates and I live above a grocery store. My apartment consists of 8 total roommates the majority of us coming from Pitt, and it has been a genuine joy living with them. Between the 8 of us there is one shower and one washer (no drier). While this can become difficult to navigate at times it has never been a big problem for us. I was worried coming here going into a random living situation, but I believe I got quite lucky!
Apart from my living situation, I have been adapting to a new everyday life here in Florence! I enjoy trying new delicious sandwiches after class… almost every day. I also enjoy going on long walks by myself and exploring new areas of the city and trying my best to learn it as well as possible. On the weekends I have been traveling to new cities and countries which has helped me acclimate to the transportation systems rather quickly. These past few weeks have flown by, so I am making sure I take in every minute of my experience here and enjoy it to the fullest potential!
