During my semester abroad in Florence, I’ve had the opportunity to take courses but also work on a side consulting project for one of my classes. I am currently taking International Finance, Art Renaissance History, Italian 1, and Business Consulting.

The way I chose to schedule my classes here include taking all four of my classes on Monday and Wednesday so that I can have my Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Fridays available. I do have 1 class on Thursdays since my Italian class is 3 times a week but the rest of my classes are only 2 times a week. In my International Finance class we learn about currency exchange and the international market and that is my first class of the day. Right after, I grab a quick bite to eat from the Caffe Pasticceria La Loggia which is right near my Art Renaissance History class. For this class, we have site visits almost every Wednesday where our class is held in different museum, churches, and historical sites around Florence. We discuss different art work, sculptures, paintings, and learn a lot about Florentine history. It is a lot to memorize but is definitely one of my favorite classes I am taking here! Next, I have my Italian class where I interact and collaborate with my classmates. Lastly, for my Business Consulting class, we work in small groups to pitch our ideas for an organization outside of Florence. This class is formatted differently than my other classes because we get to go to the company and speak with the manager to discuss logistics for the event.

I think that the academic culture and environment differs from what I am used to back at Pitt especially when it comes to attire. Everyone is always put together and dressed up, so I have started to take a little more time in the morning to get ready. The classes here are also a lot smaller in size. They typically range anywhere from 15-25 students which is smaller than what I am used to back at Pitt. It is cool because I feel like I am able to participate more and interact with my peers. Looking back, school in Florence has been more than just a change of scenery. It has challenged me academically while also pushing me to grow in new environments and step outside of my comfort zone. I can’t believe we are already half way through the semester, but I can’t want for what the next 8 weeks has in store!