Me, during a quick trip to the Dolomites

Studying abroad is a journey I have always yearned to experience and a goal I have always been adamant about achieving. In the summer before arriving in Florence, I was filled with excitement with the inevitable bundle of nerves stemming from all the unknowns. In my first few weeks abroad, I was in awe of the beauty of Florence, the immersive culture, yummy foods, and my bucket list that kept getting longer. After the adrenaline set aside and the excitement withheld, I just felt off and I could not put a finger on it. I quickly realized my class load was not as challenging as my coursework back home and I wanted to transform my free time into something to make the most of my time in Italy. I decided I wanted to get involved in SAI’s Global Leadership program and it opened the door for the opportunity to teach English at the school Istituto Comprensivo ‘Piero della Francesca’.

In each volunteering session, I presented lessons that aligned with the topics in the students’ curriculum. For example, one time I taught about family, and in another session I taught about types of films. Through this experience, I was not only teaching the children, but they taught me. My communication skills grew by learning how to convey lessons to non-native English speakers and adjust to the different learning styles of each individual. I will forever cherish the connections I made with the students and the teachers and the things I learned from them. One of my favorite questions the students asked me was if I put pineapple on my pizza and when I said no they all clapped… that is something I know never to do especially in Italy!

Through this blog, I wanted to convey the message that abroad is an adjustment and it will take time, but take advantage of every opportunity. Immersing yourself in new situations abroad will create friendships, learning moments, and growth. You never the value of things unless you try them.

Written by: Brooke. Fall 2024 FUA student from Miami University