Mia Frese
Overall Experience
If I could get a flight back to Italy tomorrow I would take it in an instant. My study abroad was an experience I will be talking about forever. Going into it, I did not know anyone. Leaving, I have found myself with new friends from around the globe. Since I was young, my main goal in life has been to travel and see the world. Little did I know, in just a 4 week time span I would get that opportunity. While I lived in Florence, Italy, my roommates and I traveled to various cities in the Amalfi Coast, Cinque Terre, Croatia, Switzerland and Milan. Each location as stunning and unique as the last. Overall, my experience is that of one I would want to experience again. Being independent in another country, learning new cultures and habits, meeting new people and learning from them was spectacular. I have learned, it is one thing to travel somewhere, but it is a completely different thing to live there. I am so grateful that I got to live in Florence. I was nervous going in not knowing anyone, but was greeted with kind roommates and a stunning apartment that had murals on every ceiling. Daily adventures kept me occupied and every weekend I found myself with a packed bag ready to catch a bus or train. If you are reading this and there is any part of you wondering whether you should study abroad ... I will make it simple for you. SAY YES!
Learning experience
From the beginning of my travels I had wanted to fully immerse myself into Italian culture. I wanted to learn the differences in lifestyle, culture and food. Over my time spent there, I did just that. This has impacted my life in many ways. Personally, I have adapted better habits for myself including walking more and being more active, as well as eating healthier. Educationally, I learned there is a large difference between courses in the states versus Italy. For instance, the pace felt much slower in my Italian marketing course. Also, there was more room for creativity, less structure, on assignments than what I was formerly used to. Lastly, career wise, in healthcare diversity is everywhere so it is important to understand various cultures as well as have awareness and appreciation for them. I feel as if my experience has broadened my ability to do so and has even made me more curious to learn about other cultures I have yet to experience.
Memorable experience
Since I have been back home, I have answered this question differently each time. Truly, this experience as a whole is something I will never forget. However, if I must narrow it down, in Florence my favorite experience was taking a pasta making class with my roommates. Here we had a chef show us how to make three pastas from nothing but egg and flour... it was delicious. Then, if we were to fast forward to more traveling adventures, I would relay the time I got to zipline in Omis, Croatia. The view was absolutely amazing and I hope to see more of Croatia one day.
What did you not expect?
In America, everything can feel so hectic, chaotic, fast and overwhelming. I feel as if Italian culture has not become accustomed to that. Even when you have your set list of things to do, the pace was slower, calmer and relaxed. This is something I learned I needed more of. By taking things slower I noticed more details, became more attentive and at times accomplished more as I did not allow myself to over stress.
What advice would you give?
DO IT! This is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity I think everyone should experience. If you are unsure about the time you are able to commit to being away, there are so many programs to choose from. My program was 4 weeks, however I know of programs lasting 2 weeks, 8 weeks, and more. In just my 4 weeks I traveled to 3 countries and 18 cities. With that, my top advice is say YES to everything, you never know what you'll get to see next.
How has this experience impacted your life?
Study abroad in Italy has impacted my life in many ways. For instance, as I was stationed in Florence, Italy, there are few people who drive everywhere. Therefore, I got into the habit of walking, learning my surroundings and even taking new routes to see new art and architecture. Additionally, the food was amazing (no surprise there) and had such few preservatives, I found myself feeling more energized and healthier as the trip continued. Overall, between walking everywhere and eating good, healthy foods, as I come back home to the states, I am working to maintain those good habits and reduce time being sedentary and resorting to fast food as I have discovered how differently it can make me feel.
How did you learn about this experience?
I have two older siblings who got the opportunity to study abroad in Valencia, Spain. After hearing about their experiences, I knew I wanted to travel the world and study abroad myself. Once the time was right, I went to the study abroad office and looked at the programs in Greece as well as Italy. In the end, I chose Italy.
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