It's been just over two weeks since I packed up and moved to study abroad in Florence, Italy. Let me just start off by saying, I think I might have to stay! I have never traveled outside of the United States before, so to fly over 6,200 miles on my own was a huge step for me.
I have a lot of Italian ancestors, and I've been waiting for my whole life to finally visit this magnificent country! The food, culture, and lifestyle Italian people have is unlike anything I have ever experienced.
Standing outside the Duomo.
Buon Appetito!
Let's begin with the food because I don't know about you, but that was one thing I was definitely excited about! Well, let's just say that my diet hasn't been the most balanced since I've been here, but I'm learning. My roommates and I have been trying to save money and make dinner at home with lots of veggies to try to get some nutrients in our diet. However, it's also very important to us to try to eat out for dinner around three or so nights a week to embrace true Italian food.
I am vegetarian so I can't try all of the salami and prosciutto, but I can report back from that it's delicious. What I can eat plenty of, though, is the three p's: pizza, pasta, and paninis. I can't seem to steer away from wanting to try every tomato, mozzarella, and basil panini in the city, but the owners of some restaurants encourage me to branch out and try something new. One owner even gave us a cheese sampler before we ordered which was amazing for our hungry stomachs!
Panini by Ponte Vecchio.
If you're a coffee lover, you're in for a treat! The espresso here is incredible and makes any drink you order much better than what I've been used to (sorry, Starbucks). I am one to typically order oat milk with my coffee order but I have yet to find somewhere that sells it. From what I heard before studying here being "do NOT order a dairy-free milk," I have to say that there has not been much problem. Almond and soy milk are fairly easy to come by as long as you ask politely and try your best to speak in Italian. Now don't get me wrong, the employee taking my order might give me a look under their mask, but it's the California culture in me which I crave a dairy alternative in my coffee.
Culture Shock
As time was getting closer and I was only a few days away from leaving home and being on my own, the nerves were building. I am in no way fluent in Italian and to move to a country where people speak an entirely new language made me panic a bit. I, of course, tried my best at studying some Duolingo, but it's living amongst the new language that can get tricky. With my use of "ciao," "grazie," "buon giorno," and "buona sera," to get me politely by, it just isn't enough! Unfortunately, since none of my roommates and I signed up for one of the Italian classes CEA CAPA offers (I HIGHLY recommend signing up), we try to practice a little every night. Personally, living in a place where they speak a new language has helped me want to learn and has taught me a lot about it. Day by day I can feel myself getting a bit more comfortable trying to order in Italian or trying to converse with someone. I may not be close to fluency, but practice makes perfect!
Another thing that made me quickly learn was going to the grocery store. I personally don't have any grocery stores near me that require you to weigh your own fruits and vegetables, so when I went to check out not having done that, I truly felt out of place. However, it only takes one time messing up to learn right away! Also, in the United States, the grocery stores are huge with many different options of everything, but here, there are only about one or two options of each item. I like this way better due to my indecisive nature because it makes my grocery shopping much quicker!
Grocery shopping in Florence.
Lifestyle
With school having been mostly online for my entire college career, it can be difficult at times to get out of the house and get my body moving. I also live in small cities in Orange County and in Boulder, Colorado where I go to school, which aren't built for people to walk from place to place. By finally living in a city where everything you need is just around the corner, it's shockingly easy to get walking around again. So far, I average about 10,000 to 20,000 steps a day! When I'm practically only consuming tomatoes, cheese, and gluten (oh, and some wine), it's nice to feel like I'm evening out my indulgence a little.
Looking at the sculpture of the Fountain of Neptune.
It's wonderful learning about the lifestyle of Italians because as similar as some things can be, they truly do live a seemingly simpler lifestyle. Starting with many businesses closing between around 1:00pm to 4:00pm to allow employees to enjoy their lunch time with friends and family. One of my professors taught me that dining is looked at as an activity and not just something that allows us a short time to fuel our bodies. We are to be taking our time and enjoying our meals with company instead of the typical 30-minute lunch break many are given in the United States.
There are a lot of "rules" and etiquette that many Italians tend to follow. Though these standards may vary within every region of Italy, it is important to try to be aware. As stated, there are times when certain places close for lunch hours, so it is important to know the best times to shop or eat. Breakfast is usually eaten between 7:00am and 10:30pm, including your coffee orders. Lunch is between 12:30pm and 2:30pm, and dinner is to not be eaten until around 8:00pm or 9:00pm. I am used to a late dinner but it's still hard sometimes to get ready so late to dine out.
Pasta time.
To More Adventures!
Overall, I am blessed to be able to study in such a beautiful country! Florence is a relatively small city, so it is amazing to be able to run into friends on the streets, be able to get a panini around every corner, and see many amazing artifacts with a quick walk. My roommates and I have even been lucky enough to have a view of the Duomo right outside our windows! I am very excited to continue with my classes as they are all interesting to learn about in their own way! I am very excited to continue this adventure studying abroad!
Very excited about this Florence adventure!