It is hard to believe that it is already time to write my last blog post. With two weeks of my program left, I can’t help but think about where the time went. However, at the same time, I reflect on everything I have done and am amazed at just how much I have been able to experience.
I am so grateful for this program for giving me the opportunity to immerse myself directly into the Florentine culture and environment. As someone who had never been to Europe before, I arrived eager to explore, to understand cultural differences, and to experience Italy firsthand. Looking back, I can confidently say that I have done exactly that through my courses, site visits, conversations with locals, and the memories I have created with my peers and professors.
I have grown so much since arriving here, whether that be academically or personally. Courses like Italian: Here and Now allowed me to build confidence in my language skills while forming meaningful connections with my classmates. Another one of my favorite courses, Foundations in Oil Painting, introduced me to traditional Florentine techniques and allowed me to apply them to my own artwork. These classes showed me the value of experiential learning and reminded me how impactful smaller, more personal classroom environments can be.
Beyond the classroom, this experience has challenged me to grow on a personal level. Studying abroad is often portrayed as a picture-perfect experience, but true immersion means embracing everything: the good, the uncomfortable, and the unexpected. Through my urban studies course, I began to understand the impact of overtourism and gentrification in Florence, and I quickly noticed it in my daily life. The city welcomes thousands of international students, especially from the United States, and in some ways, it has begun to adapt to them. Seeing this firsthand made me more aware of my role as a visitor.
Because of this, I became more intentional with how I engaged with the culture around me. I made an effort to speak Italian whenever I could, to respect local customs, and to appreciate the deep history rooted in every street and building. These small actions helped me feel more connected to Florence, not just as a visitor, but as someone who genuinely cared about the place I was temporarily calling home.
If there is one thing this experience has taught me, it is that the world is vast and meant to be explored. Traveling to new countries almost every weekend with my friends opened my eyes to just how much there is to see. It made me question why I hadn’t traveled more before, but it also helped me realize that exploration doesn’t have to be limited to international trips. While time and money can be barriers, this experience showed me that I can be more intentional with my time anywhere. There are still so many cities and national parks in the U.S. that I have yet to discover.
Traveling and speaking with locals across different countries also gave me a deeper appreciation for my life back home. While my dream was always to come to Europe, many of the people I met shared that their dream was to visit the United States. Conversations like these reminded me how important it is to appreciate the opportunities and experiences we already have.
As I prepare to leave Florence, I know I’ve grown into a better version of myself. I’m leaving with new perspectives, meaningful relationships, and a deeper appreciation for this experience and how much it has changed the way I see the world. While this chapter of my college career is coming to an end, it has only strengthened my desire to keep learning, traveling, and exploring everything the world has to offer. I’m excited to carry everything I’ve learned into the next step of my life, and I know this experience will stay with me long after I’ve left Florence behind.
