I’m not exactly sure how I feel about my study abroad experience coming to an end. There are so many things I miss about home, but it’s sad closing one of the most exciting chapters of my life.
When I decided to come abroad everyone was constantly asking me what I wanted to get out of the experience, but I didn’t know. For some reason taking classes and interning wasn’t an efficient answer. That’s truly all I wanted though. Because I lived in a relatively small town and never had the opportunity to really travel, I didn’t know much about the world besides what went on in Lexington. So I had no idea what to expect from Florence or this experience in general.
Saying that all I wanted to do was study and work I’ve learned is very American. Just by observing the way Americans quickly walk around the city compared to Italians, one can tell that Americans are obsessed with work and getting ahead. Having the opportunity to get away from this American mindset has been amazing. Because Italians don’t stress about work or every little thing they have to do in a day’s time, they’re able to focus on the things that matter most to them, such as family.
One of the things I loved most about Florence is that it is so family-oriented. Even by the way Italians greet each other, you can tell that they put a lot of emphasis on making and maintaining relationships. In my seminars, we discussed how getting jobs often depended connections. Two brothers owned the stored in which I interned, another brother managed the distribution of the clothes, and their aunt would come by the store and see how everything was going. The great thing was, even if I weren’t apart of the family, they treated me like family. So being away from my family wasn’t as bad because just about everyone made me feel at home.
The thing I’m going to miss most about Florence is La Bella Figura. I love that everything about the city is beautiful, even down to the people. Everyone is just so stylish. When you’re surrounded by amazing art and architecture, one can’t help but put more focus on the way that they present themselves. Even the way Italians shop for clothes is slightly different from Americans. Italians understand the cut or silhouette of pieces and how they’re supposed to fit on the body. Americans just try to see if they can fit into the clothes. Italians look more for quality while Americans focus on style. It’s going to be so weird going home and seeing all the plain buildings and poorly dressed people.
The great thing about studying abroad is that you can’t predict what you’re going to take from the experience and be able to apply in your life at home. I didn’t love everything about Florence, but the adventures I’ve had and the friends I’ve made make up for all the bad.
Having the time to learn about myself and another part of the world through SAI is definitely the highlight of my college career and is something that’s going to have a beneficial impact on the rest of my life. My time abroad is something I wouldn’t trade for anything and that I’ll cherish forever.
– Francis, University of Kentucky
