We’re already on week four; it’s definitely going even quicker than I ever anticipated! So far, my neighborhood and living situation have been pretty ideal. I live on Via Degli Artisti, which is about a mile from classes and about 25 minutes from the city center of Firenze. We have tried to venture around our street in hopes of finding places we can continue going back to. So far, we have our current favorite spot called Taverna Degli Artisti, only about a five-minute walk from our apartment. The first time we went there, the workers were so kind and accommodating; they gave us a lot of samples to try new things. Since the first time, we have gone back multiple times and even brought our other Pitt friends for some aperitivo and dinner. They offered to let us behind the counter to make the pizza dough ourselves and put it in the oven – it was so much fun! One of the people in our house goes there almost every day, even just for something small like a coffee on the way to class!
Regarding class, the CEA CAPA program is definitely different from Pitt. The classes are much smaller and personable, which I enjoy for an even more immersive learning experience. The professors have all learned our names pretty quickly because the class sizes are smaller, and they are keen on participation and active involvement during class time! There is definitely much less work outside of class compared to at Pitt as well. I think teaching styles differ as well, considering our Italian class, for example, is taught by Jenny, who only teaches Pitt students here in Florence and no other students from any other school. We all adore that class, and Jenny has certainly been our favorite professor by far because of how much she cares about our well-being and understanding in class!
Besides Italian 1, I am enrolled in International Finance, and Beginning Composition Drawing, and Art Renaissance History. These courses definitely differ from what I would typically take at Pitt, considering I would typically take a lot of finance- and accounting-related classes, or classes related to my Certificate in Leadership and Ethics. I wouldn’t be taking Drawing, Italian, or Art History if I was at Pitt, that is for sure, but I am so grateful that I get the opportunity to take them in a European country! Also, taking International Finance involves topics I see almost daily, considering factors like foreign exchange rates and the depreciation of the U.S. Dollar against the Euro.
I think a key skill or strength that is essential for the academic environment I am in is being open-minded. Speaking Italian for the first time is not the most comfortable thing to do, especially with pronunciation and having conversations with Italian locals. I am working toward remembering that this is a learning experience for myself, and it’s okay to make mistakes while I learn! Keeping up with all of my assignments will assist me in staying organized and on top of the topics we cover in classes. I look forward to continuing my classes and remaining open-minded through these next few months!
