Falling in Love with Florence

Studying abroad in Florence, Italy was the best experience of my life. I was able to study in a culture that I had never experienced as well as travel to the most beautiful places in the world. I had always known that I wanted to study abroad, and when it came to deciding where, Italy was the first place that came to mind. If I could do it all over again, I would in a heartbeat. From waking up and crossing the famous Ponte Vecchio to get to class, to eating warm sandwiches on focaccia bread along the Fiume Arno at lunch, and watching the sunset over the whole city at Piazza Michelangelo, the opportunities that one who studies abroad receives are endless. While it was difficult at first adjusting to a different lifestyle, it was easy to make friends who were going through the same things I was and we made it through together. The Florentines were so friendly and they would willing go out of their way to help you learn about their culture. The only Italian I knew when arriving in the city was "ciao" but I left being able to hold conversations with the natives. My favorite part about studying in Florence was the size of the city. Rome is very large and can be overwhelming (I relate it to New York City) but Florence is small enough that you can walk everywhere yet still only meet someone once (I relate this to Philadelphia). If you are nervous about stepping out of your comfort zone and studying abroad, remember that there is always a defining moment in your life where you must take a leap of faith. Let studying abroad in this beautiful city be that opportunity, and let it change your life in the most amazing ways.