CAPA International Education Florence was an incredible experience, one which has affirmed my goals both personally and academically and endowed me with a new cultural awareness. The program enabled me to live with a host family in a location which was close to the main tourist attractions of the city while also being more residential and allowing me to see how Florentines live. All of my classes through CAPA Florence increased my understanding of many aspects of the city.

The six weeks I spent abroad in Florence captures some of the best memories in my life. I was able to see Florence through a sojourner's lens and this made my experience incredible.

CAPA's orientation and tour of the city started my journey off overwhelmed: I knew Florence was a beautiful, historic city, but seeing the Duomo and being in the piazzas for the first time was absolutely surreal. That feeling developed my Florence Fever as my days went on studying abroad there.

A normal school day consisted of walking half an hour to the CAPA center, which was conveniently near the city center. I would pass the locals selling fruit, newspaper stands, and tons of coffee shops with pastries on my way. Classes were fun and relevant to the city, so it was neat to be on site and learn about the language, culture, and art history in the context. My professors were very knowledgeable with the courses, and that reflected in their teaching. We would take trips and learn about the Medici Palace, or visit the San Lorenzo Market and test our Italian at a local cafe. CAPA also provides a museum and bus pass, which made it easy to visit museums such as the Uffizi Gallery, Boboli Gardens, and the Accademia as many times as I wanted.

The staff at CAPA is friendly and extremely helpful. They checked in with our accommodations, suggested great activities and places, taught us useful phrases in Italian, and were there to give the students the best study abroad experience possible.

Aside from academics, the culture definitely made my time abroad come full circle. Living farther from the city center, I was in an apartment complex with all local Italians, and my roommates and I were a block away from a famous gelato place, which we took advantage of. We became friends with the pizzeria owner down the street, and the guy who worked the deli across the street was so proud when I successfully ordered in all Italian (after a non-successful game of charades my first time in there). The cuisine is phenomenal; pizza will never be the same to me again. I loved walking around the city and enjoying being in a foreign environment. The architecture is fascinating, and panoramic view of Florence from Piazzale Michelangelo is something I will never forget.

I am so happy with my experience and time abroad through CAPA Florence. I learned a ton about not only the city, but myself as well. I cannot wait to go back!

I chose Florence as my study abroad destination because I was looking to go out of my comfort zone and experience and learn a cultural completely different from my own. I enjoy learning new cultures and immersing in them. CAPA Florence definitely fulfilled that expectation and desire. I arrived in Italy, knowing not a single word in Italian. I was placed with a host family who spoke not a single word of English. More people than I expected did not know English or not well enough to understand what you were asking or trying to say. I struggled in the beginning because I couldn't speak the language and some days it was just so frustrating, but you have to keep trying. Florence is a huge city compared to my small hometown in the mountains in the middle of no where. I had no idea how to use public transportation, let alone in another country with a different language that I did not know. I was never good at directions. My study experience definitely forced me out of my comfort zone. Sometimes the cultural differences were irritating and unbearable because you couldn't understand them or you didn't like them, but overall, you grew to adapt to the cultural differences and learned to appreciate them. I appreciated and loved that CAPA emphasized a lot of out of the classroom experiences to teach us. I think there's no better way to learn about another culture than being actors and active observers of it. The first hand experience and interactive learning is my preferred method of learning; it provides you with the ability to learn so much about a culture and also a lot about yourself and your values. CAPA's teaching staff is incredible. They act as a resource and a family away from home. CAPA's 4 day class week not only helped students travel to experience the world, which is one of the most important educational tools and advantages individuals should take advantage of, but it also allowed us to personally dive further into the Florentine culture. I learned that I can adapt to new situations quicker than I thought I could because you have to. I know now that I can do anything if I need to, and I can survive and make do wherever I am with whatever I have. "I can't" is no longer a phrase in my vocabulary. My study abroad experience has changed my life and has given me a new-found perspective of the world.

I'm so happy I studied with CAPA International Education. CAPA gave me the ability to immerse myself into the Italian culture by having in and out of the classroom learning with amazing professors who were helpful and dedicated. The MyEducation activities were enjoyable and gave students the chance to learn more about the Italian culture. The planned programs trips were great too because we got to travel to knew places and bond with other students. I met great people, traveled to new places and got a great study aboard education all thanks to CAPA!

I became an entirely different person. I matured so much in my four month abroad and see the world through a new lens. I made some of the best friends I have ever had in just a few short months, people I see at my wedding, people who I have already made plans to have a reunion with this fall. It's amazing how quickly your perspective on the world can change and how quickly your life can change. I wouldn't trade this experience for anything.

Florence was amazing. CAPA was great at making accommodations. Best decision I have ever made in my college career. I love the city the foo the culture and all the possible excursions.
I love all that I had experience and this program inspires me to travel abroad more to learn more cultures.

Each day, I would wake up to a soft knock on my bedroom door. My host mom would have breakfast waiting for me at our cute, little kitchen table at 8am. I learned to appreciate routine in Florence. My home was a little outside the city center, so I usually rode my bike to school. Our facility was in the vibrant heart of Florence. Italian class each morning, walking around without a destination during the day. The world truly felt like my playground, and I was 5 years old again. Except this time, without parents of course. I absorbed every air molecule of Florence during the week. Especially, on the sunny days. Whether that meant having a glass of wine by noon in one of the piazzas, or just simply sitting on a bench observing and listening to the Italians. Looking back, I was grateful to be in Florence during the springtime because Italians love their flowers and gardens. Our program director, Grayson Splane, was one of the most amazing women I've ever met. As well as one of the professors, Ian Bickerton. I know I will always stay in contact with these two. Studying abroad is truly magical, and the incredible people you meet along the way end up being the most important advocates and elements of that self-growth.

CEA Florence is a horrible study abroad program. They had no concern for the students, the staff was extremely rude and unhelpful, the living conditions were horrible, faulty and covered in mold, and the teachers were extremely unfit providing zero structure for the classes.