When preparing for Italy I was told it would be hard to adjust to the cultural differences at first on the contrary I have fallen in love with the cultural differences here.

I love walking everywhere around here and I have taken photos of my average walk to school that is not at all average when comparing it to the United States.

My roommates and I have been walking to and around the Duomo everyday since we landed in Florence.

We have discovered lots of small places to eat all around the area that are phenomenal. Also, we have enjoyed going to the grocery store and cooking with the groceries that we have found here.

Starting school here was intimidating but my classes are absolutely amazing. I am not accustomed to small classes. My Italian class is six students and our Italian teacher speaks to us only in Italian which I thought would be scary but it is wonderful because I truly learning Italian for once. Everything that I came to Italy to find, I have found and I have only been here a week and a half. I have found amazing food, wonderful people, and beautiful architecture everywhere. I could not have asked for more out of my first month here.

– Michaela, University of South Carolina