I cannot believe that my study abroad experience is coming to an end and I will have to leave the place that has felt like home for the past four months. I have loved every minute of this experience and will cherish the memories I have made forever. Since my time being here in Florence, I have grown in many different ways. I have learned to appreciate a slower, more relaxed lifestyle where I do not have a strict schedule to follow. Some of my favorite activities to do between my classes have been visiting new places such as the various churches and museums here in Florence that showcase the city’s rich renaissance art history. I also love to roam around the city stopping in different shops and trying new cafes and restaurants. Most importantly, going to new gelato places, trying to find the best gelato in Florence. I have tried so many new foods as well, my favorite being pear ravioli, which is something I might not have tried back home.
After taking my Renaissance Art History class, I have grown to love and appreciate art. I know I have mentioned this class a lot, but it is truly one of my favorite parts of studying in Florence. Before coming to Florence I would go to art museums occasionally with my dad because of his love for art, but I would get bored easily. Now, I am excited every time I get to go to a new museum. I love learning about the background of the artists and history behind each painting. We often learn about details within a painting that the viewer would not know without being told, which I think is really cool. Not only do I appreciate all of the art history within Florence, but I have also learned to love learning about any place I visit. It makes it so much more interesting when you have some background information about where you are and what you are seeing to make the experience that much more special.
I am so grateful for this experience and the friends that I got to share it with. I am fortunate enough to have traveled to different countries on the weekends. My favorite trips were Switzerland, Morocco, and Budapest! I also loved visiting different places within Italy such as Venice, Orvieto, and Cinque Terre! I have always wanted to travel, so after being in Europe for so long and hearing about everyone’s travel experiences, my list of places around the world that I want to visit keeps growing. Visiting somewhere is different from living there, which is why I feel beyond lucky to have studied in Florence. I will miss you Firenze!!
