20 Giorni Fuori

On September 1, I left my family’s home in Florida and boarded a fifteen-hour flight to Italy. When I arrived at my connection in Rome, the anxiety started to settle in. What if I wasn’t going to be let in? What if I missed my flight to Florence? What if, what if, what if... As you can imagine, everything turned out fine.

U.S.A → Florence, Italy

Before the flight to Florence, I met a woman from the U.S. who was also headed to Florence to study marketing. Coincidentally, she was staying just a few streets away from my homestay family. We then met a man from a small town just outside of Florence who helped us find our bags and get a taxi. During the ride, we talked about our excitement and fears while trying to get a feel for our new home. I appreciated the familiarity of home with my new friend before taking on this adventure.

Then, the long-anticipated moment finally happened… I met my homestay family! My homestay mom, two brothers, roommate, and I got to know each other over dinner. I found out that my roommate, one of my homestay brothers, and I were all the same age. The family is originally from Tuscany, and we all share an interest in perfecting our Italian/English. Most importantly, we love our homestay mom’s cooking.

And so began the first week in Florence.

Week One: Orientation Week

On Tuesday morning, over a hundred students from all over the world gathered together to kick off orientation week. I recognized a few students from my university (including someone I knew from the gym!) and met several more. We learned the basics: how to get to and from the city center, where to buy groceries, and, of course, the best places to get gelato.

Getting settled during this first week was crucial for a productive start to the semester. I took a few campus-led tours around Florence. The not-so-glamorous tasks included buying groceries at a local supermarket, getting lost a few times on the train and bus, and setting up my class schedule. I also tried to wake up at a consistent hour and exercise to help adjust to the time zone and avoid jet lag.

As mundane as it sounds, settling in early was so important. It helped me better understand my environment and reduce stress—something you really feel when moving to a different country.

When the weekend came, I decided to stay local and explore Florence. On Saturday, my roommate and I went out for breakfast and wandered around the city. At night, we met up with some friends for dinner and gelato and spent the evening in a nearby piazza.

For advice on settling in, go to Appendix A.

Week Two: The First Week of School

This fall, I’m taking five courses. Each class is 2.5 hours long and meets once a week. Most of the grades in each course are based on the midterm and final exams. Unlike my university in the States, attendance and participation count for 20% of the final grade!

In my last blog, I forgot to mention that I had applied and interviewed for an internship. I was assigned to work at a local high school specializing in arts and languages. My role is to assist students in improving their conversational English to better prepare them for future job prospects. I am very excited to meet the students soon and translate this experience into my future career.

For more about how I chose my classes or the academic side of things, see Appendix B.

Week Three: Diving into the Coursework

Like most colleges, the first week involves an overview of the syllabus and some content. By the second week, each course had dove straight into core content.

The European Union

This course focuses on the history and development of the EU from WWII to now. My projects involve weekly updates on Italian policies and a 20-minute presentation on the EU’s response to COVID-19 in October.

Global Business and Society

This is essentially a course in international economics. We’re covering topics like monetary theory, trade, tariffs, exchange rates, and more. I know it’s going to be a challenging class, but I’m excited about the content.

Made in Italy We’ll be visiting businesses across Tuscany to learn about their histories, founding values, and how they’ve become global leaders. We’ll also explore how the “Made in Italy” brand has evolved over time.

Child Psychology

Since my internship involves working with students, I figured this course would be helpful to learn how childhood may influence our outlook on adulthood.

Internship

I met the English department at the Liceo this week, and I’m looking forward to starting my work with the students soon!

Weekend Reflections

This weekend, I decided to write this blog somewhere scenic. About 30 minutes before departure, I spontaneously booked a train ticket to Lucca, just enough time to write on the train, stroll through the town, and return to Florence in time for dinner with a friend.

Spontaneous day trips like this aren’t usually “me,” but I’m so glad I went. It was a small, affordable adventure. Honestly, it was one of my favorite days so far.

If you made it this far, thank you for joining me on this journey! I’ll be back with updates on how the first week of the internship goes, how I’m finding balance with everything, and the lessons I’m learning along the way.

Per oggi, vi saluto. Ci vediamo presto :)

_______________________________________________________________________________

Appendix A: Tips for Settling In

• Plan your arrival in advance: Research how to get from the airport to your destination. Are you taking public transport? If so, which lines? Taking a taxi? Do you have cash, and do you know how to call one? Is someone picking you up? Where will you meet them, and how will you communicate?

• Essentials to research ahead of time:

  • Housing: Every country is different. At LdM, students could stay in university housing, homestays, or find their own. Some used Facebook groups, apartment rental sites, or stayed in student hotels.

  • Food: Ask locals where to buy groceries. Are there markets with fresh produce? Think about your budget.

  • Water: Check if it’s safe to drink the tap water. Ask locals for their recommendations.

  • Transportation: Understand how people get around. In Florence, most walk, bike, or ride scooters. Trams are usually more reliable than buses.

  • Gyms & Fitness: I researched gyms in advance, but the hours didn’t align with my schedule, so I’ve been running and working out at home instead.

  • School Supplies: Will your classes need any? My roommate needed art supplies. I also had to find textbooks—some online, others as physical copies (though shipping fees may apply).

Appendix B: Choosing Classes Abroad

• How to choose depends on your academic goals.

  • Major/Minor Requirements: Check early with your university to ensure credits will transfer. Try to take some classes in your major that you wouldn't be able to take at home.

  • Electives: Some students take cooking, painting, or art history to fulfill general education requirements.

  • Language: If you don’t speak the local language, consider taking a language course.

• My personal advice: Check your degree audit, talk with your academic advisor, and choose classes that align with your goals and that excite you.