My semester abroad with FUA has been absolutely amazing! Within the past month, I have made wonderful connec- tions with individuals from all over the States but also all over the world. Being in the city that was the heart of the Italian Renaissance still gives me the little ‘pinch me’ moments.
I chose Florence University of the Arts through word of mouth within the School of Fashion at Lasell, but also be- cause it is such a large university here. There are a bountiful amount of programs and opportunities, some of which give us chances to go on day trips and free experiences that help allow us students to be in touch with the Florentine community.
I specifically chose Florence since it was a city I was dying to be a part of, and bonus, it’s the leather capital of the world. Italy also isn’t too remote to other European nations, so traveling isn’t too challenging. Some of my most favorite highlights of the semester so far include ziplining in the mountain tops along the River Cetina in Omiš, Croatia with new friends, as well as dressing up with all my friends and roaming around the Eiffel Tower and watching the tower sparkle every hour.
Academically speaking, I am taking a small handful of classes while abroad, for the most part all major related: Writing for the Fashion Industry, Social Media, Communicating in Italian, and Bibliotherapy. Living abroad has been an absolute incredible dream of mine and amazing to live through. The culture in Italy is an entire different wavelength than that of the United States.
A few things that took me a while to adapt to were that shops and stores don’t open until much later in the day, and that includes Siesta. This term is a time period in the middle of the day here in Italy where the entirety of towns shut down for a midday break. Some restaurants close and shop workers are all resting. It’s a fascinating way of life but can be inconvenient.
People move much with ease and no rush, which is very different from the American lifestyle. My favorite part of Italy is the culture and the history. Italy has such a rich and beautiful heritage that spans over centuries. Studying in Florence within the heart of the Tuscany region is absolutely stunning. It’s like living in a postcard; there’s no possible way to get bored of the world around you.
Studying abroad has definitely broadened my horizons, quite literally, and taught me a lot about who I am and want to be. Not only molding my desire to see the world but creating a hunger to see what else the world has to offer. In addition to this, with time and patience you can go truly anywhere. Independence and patience are two of the biggest things I’ve really pushed and nourished while being here and I’ll be forever grateful for these traits.
I am looking forward to the remainder of the semester, especially for my upcoming travels. By the end of October I plan to travel to Lake Como, Milan and Perugia in Northern Italy, then towards the middle of November I will be travel- ing to London. I am incredibly thankful for the help from Maria Adkins, Lasell’s director of international student services and study abroad, for the support during the application and adjustment period to FUA.
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