One of the more complex variables I’ve had to master while being abroad is balancing all of my academic responsibilities, as well as learning how to study in a different environment. Though I am not participating in an internship while abroad, I am filling my weekly schedule with four CEA CAPA courses: Renaissance Art History, International Marketing, Italian: Here and Now, and a Dante-based literature class. These courses are all interesting in their own ways, and I find myself enjoying all of them for unique reasons. Aside from a handful of learning curves, I feel lucky to be having an academic experience that feels fun and engaging!

Renaissance Art History is probably my favorite course of the bunch, as I’ve really loved to learn about the different artworks that shaped the Italian Renaissance. The curriculum even has us taking weekly site visits to different churches and museums in the area, allowing for us to see some truly remarkable works in person.

International Marketing is a very stimulating course pertaining directly to my major, covering all sorts of real-life scenarios of international marketing at play. I’ve found it especially interesting to learn about this side of marketing as someone who’s actively witnessing it abroad, offering me hands-on examples that I feel contribute meaningfully to my business studies as a whole.

Italian: Here and Now offers me a crucial foundation to the Italian language, which has come to be an incredibly valuable resource as I navigate Florence. Our professor incorporates a steady mix of speaking activities, grammar exercises, and educational games that keep the course interactive, making for a generally fun learning environment.

Finally, my literature class channels my love for reading and writing in a way I often miss while pursuing a degree in business, something I’ve come to really appreciate while studying here. I enjoy learning about Dante’s acclaimed Divine Comedy, as well as the different historical contexts that helped to shape his work.

There are a number of factors I really enjoy about CEA CAPA’s learning module, many of which differ from my home university (Pitt) considerably. I love the student-staff ratios implemented in our classrooms, as the smaller class sizes make for a much more engaging atmosphere than a comparative lecture hall. I’ve found that the heavy emphasis on participation has led to stronger relationships with my professors than I typically have, creating an environment where I feel comfortable asking questions and seeking help. Though the attendance policy can sometimes feel overwhelming, I’ve come to appreciate it as a true motivator to keep me in class, helping me take as much as I can away from these courses.

Of course, there have also been some considerable learning curves. Perhaps the biggest adjustment has been learning how to study without a designated library. Though some space is set aside for studying in our academic buildings, I’ve found it somewhat difficult to find distraction-free locations, with many of the public alternatives feeling too overstimulating to focus. It’s also worth mentioning that the general balance between focus and fun is objectively difficult; I believe it is a right of passage for students in my position to figure out their best method of time management, and it has certainly been a struggle with new experiences and travel opportunities arising each day. In the midst of midterms, however, I’ve managed to find ways to focus despite the unconventional circumstances, leaving me with newfound knowledge on how I can study despite disruption to normalcy. I feel as though I’m truly sinking into a strong routine!

Ciao!