Fun in Florence

When you study abroad, you are presented with countless situations that will help you develop important life skills such as problem solving, independence, and resilience. From navigating the complexities of European travel and public transportation, to monitoring your finances while keeping in consideration ever-changing exchange rates, life abroad can feel super daunting at first. Simply going through life far away from your usual support system initially feels like an intimidating adjustment, too. However, looking back on my experience abroad, I feel immense gratitude for these obstacles being presented to me because I’ve come out on the other side a much more self-assured person. I genuinely feel more capable of handling whatever life chooses to send my way. Being in Florence, specifically, felt extra special because I was surrounded by breath-taking architecture, beautiful music, and countless Italian cultural activities I was able to be a part of. I made friends who I hope to keep in contact with for a long time, and visited multiple countries around Europe I had never been before. CIS truly knows how to take care of their students, and it shows. I took part in so many activities they had planned that helped me make friends almost immediately, as I traveled there alone. They helped us navigate everything from getting to our housing from the airport, to getting advice on fun things to do in our city, to booking travel back home when the program ended. I am incredibly grateful for my study abroad experience with CIS.