Since being abroad in Florence, I’ve had plenty of opportunities to learn and adapt to the Italian culture and way of life. While all of this has been an exciting change, there have been some challenges I’ve had to face as well. A big adjustment for me has been the large gaps between my classes. Since my apartment is over a 20 minute walk away, I like to stay out between classes so finding new places to eat or sit and do homework has been an interesting adaptation to my daily routine. Normally I would go back to my apartment or go to the library to do work but this has motivated me to explore the new and small gems of Florence. 

Class structure here also varies greatly. While back home, the classes have a more defined syllabus and scheduled due dates, here things are much more flexible. Some aspects of this are nice while other times I find myself a little confused by what I’m actually supposed to be turning in. However, this has pushed me to be more comfortable with speaking up in class and making sure I get that clarification. 

Navigating cross-cultural situations has been one of my favorite parts of my study abroad experience. I enjoy interacting with locals and getting to see how their way of life differs from mine. I find myself taking a lot of inspiration from their style as many Italians here are well dressed. This also allows me to reflect on my own identity as an American. I definitely notice my own cultural habits when I’m by myself or out with my friends. The way we speak and use mannerisms here differs much from the slow, quieter pace of Italian life.

Overall, these sorts of experiences have helped me academically as well as navigating through social settings. I’m learning how to adapt to unfamiliar situations and learn from my environment and the people around me. This is something that will help me not just throughout my time abroad, but through the rest of my professional and academic career.