Cultural differences are a given. The world is full of a vast array of people with a vast array of cultures. While the United States is built on much of European history, actually experiencing Europe is much different. Your favorite food may be Italian, but until you experience real Italian food, there is a vast difference between Pizza Hut and ordering a Napoli at an Italian Pizzeria, trust me.

One of the first things I took note of was vehicular traffic. Vespas are a real thing-they are EVERYWHERE, and they far outnumber cars. Pedestrian rights are almost non-existent; there is no guarantee that a car, bike, or Vespa will stop for you to run across the street. Just wait your turn, because they won’t wait for you. There is a sort of unspoken rule of traffic in Italy. Cars do their own thing, Vespas do their own thing, bikes do their own thing, and pedestrians mind the traffic. I have yet to see or hear of any traffic accident, though there’s few stop signs or speed limit signs. Like I said, everyone does their own thing and is under the impression that everyone knows what they’re doing. In the states, pedestrians always have the right of way. When it comes to vehicles, it can sometimes get muddy who has the right of way and who doesn’t. Sometimes you’re unsure if anyone has any idea what they’re doing while driving on a freeway in America. But somehow, just about everyone in Italy has full faith that everyone is on the same page.

The dining experience is different from that of America. Your waiter/waitress does not hover, it is assumed that you will order wine or some kind of cocktail, you follow your meal with coffee instead of cake, there is usually a cover charge that ranges per establishment, checks are never split, and you do not tip. Fortunately I learned of a lot of these before I arrived in Florence, but for many students and tourists, these all come as a big surprise. I found out the hard way about the cover charge after having a lovely discussion with our waiter one night after seeing what my friend and I thought was a double charge for wine. Language barriers and frustration did not help in trying to explain to unaware Americans the concept of a cover charge. There are some restaurants that are catered towards American style dining, but personally, I prefer the authentic Italian.

Europe is an absolutely beautiful continent, and each country has something different to offer travelers. While in Florence, you will walk, and walk, and walk some more. The city is pretty central, and a typical walk from location to location can vary between 10-30 minutes. With all of that walking, adding in the humidity that feels like it takes the temperature up about 10 degrees, you will want to stay hydrated. Great rule of thumb, tap water is clean and safe to drink, however it is not free. As in ‘saving money by ordering a water with my meal’ is not really a thing. You might as well order a glass of wine, because you’ll be paying close to the same amount. I try to bring my water bottle with me everywhere, and fill it up in fountains or sinks as I go. If you are extra cautious, then invest in a Brita filtered water bottle so you know you’ve got good water wherever you are. This is a big difference from America, where at restaurants water is usually free and you drive to just about every destination. But in Europe, it is just as easy to walk, as well as more enjoyable. Some of the most breathtaking views and things to see I would see by just walking around and getting lost. You never know what’s right around the corner, whether it be the Duomo or the Mediterranean Sea.

The number one difference that I love about Europe is that there is so much to see and do. I have gone to Rome twice, Cinque Terre twice, Barcelona, Milan, Venice, Viareggio, and the Amalfi Coast. Many of my friends and roommates have gone to the Czech Republic, Paris, London, the French Rivera, Prague, and more. During my time in Europe, I have seen so much, even just day to day. Like I mentioned, you never know what’s right around the corner. While I visited all of those places, I just explored. I didn’t always have a goal in sight, and that’s when I would run into things like the Roman Coliseum, the Spanish Steps, the canals of Venice, and the most spectacular view of a sunset on the Amalfi Coast. Every day in Europe is an adventure, and it makes me want to take the adventure seeking and spontaneity back home with me. Because you never know what’s around the corner.

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Dominique is a current student at Washington State University studying at Florence University of the Arts in Italy during the Summer 2015 term.