January 22rd was the day that I began my adventure abroad! I left Denver, Colorado early in the morning and landed in Florence, Italy the morning after. When I was dropped off at my apartment I was so surprised at how spacious and gorgeous it was. Let’s just say, I feel so lucky to be living in such a beautiful space for the next four months. A few hours after settling in, my roommates and I walked around a part of the city, not really knowing where we were going. To be honest, we were a little concerned about our first adventure because we weren’t too thrilled about the appearance of the city. After being here for a full week, our first impression was completely inaccurate! The city is beautiful! We just chose to go down the wrong street that first day because the city is truly breathtaking.

So far, I have been all around town. I pass the Duomo and San Lorenzo church almost anytime I leave my house to go somewhere. One of my favorite parts about my time so far is getting accustomed to the city and finding my way around. I now have my own little routes to certain places, and the thought of driving has completely left my mind.

Having to walk around the city has been a god send based on the amount of delicious food that I have been stuffing myself with!

Classes have started and I am so excited to see what they bring! They seem like they will be challenging, but I am happy about that because it gives me a chance to learn about how european students are taught.

So far I am so in love with the city and my roommates! I am having the greatest time, and can’t wait to see what the semester has in store for me!

– Jennifer, Colorado State University