My first impression of Italy when getting off the plane was ‘holy crap I am never driving here’! They all drive like maniacs.

First of all, on my trip, they lost my luggage. I thought the airport back home in Victoria B.C. Canada was small, but it is huge and bustling compared to Florence. There was no customs to go through either… Just an Italian man in an airport uniform with a super cute German Shepherd dog looking at you suspiciously.

I took public transit to get to the hostel where I was staying the one night I did not have housing. 6€ is not so bad to get to town but the bus system is awfully confusing so the 20€ for a cab seemed like a good idea when I got hopelessly lost after transferring busses at the train station. Thank goodness for all of the wonderfully helpful Italians :). Sadly my Rosetta stone courses were very unhelpful because it taught me the wrong words apparently but after some slow speaking and beloved Italian gesturing, I found my way.

School is amazing! The days are long but so rewarding. This is one of the hardest things that I have ever done but this is so much fun. The chefs are so knowledgeable and I feel like I can’t absorb enough of what they are saying. And the food…. GOOD GOD THE FOOD!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Should I get homesick, I will drown my sorrows in gelato in front of the Canadian store.

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Lisa is a current student at the Vancouver Island University studying at Florence University of the Arts in Italy during the Fall 2014 term.