What made you choose your study abroad program?
Growing up, I always had an interest in traveling and studying abroad. The Lafayette interim study abroad programs allowed me to spend part of my summer studying in a new environment for a short period. I decided to study in Florence, Italy, because it is a destination I have heard about and have always planned on visiting. This program also seemed to focus on cultural and language immersion and history, which I am incredibly interested in.
What was your favorite course and why?
For the interim study abroad course, we all took only one class, Italian. The rest of the course involved tours and other cultural activities. I enjoyed the Italian course as it was both interesting and allowed me to use new language skills in a foreign country.
What was your favorite local food or drink?
I ate pasta pretty much every day while in Italy. By far, the pasta I ate the most was pappardelle with ragu sauce. This delicious dish originated in Tuscany and was great for both lunch and dinner.
What was the most important thing that you learned?
The most important thing I learned was how to embrace the local culture and learn to adapt to environments different from my own. Living in Italy was very different from the United States, and learning to adapt to the differences was challenging but rewarding. In my opinion, the best aspect of studying abroad is adapting to the different cultures and environments.
How did you interact with the local community and culture?
We interacted with the local community and culture a ton. A major component of this program was cultural immersion, which involved engaging with local traditions and living as a local would. We lived in a Florentine apartment and ate food at local establishments. Using public transportation was a great opportunity to engage with the local community.
What tips do you have for students interested in going abroad?
Go and explore! If you have free time, explore the city and surrounding areas. One weekend, I traveled independently to the city of San Gimignano. While there, a medieval festival began in the middle of the city, in which games and music were played for hours. This was a highlight of my trip, and it was possible because I went out and explored.
How did you grow as an individual while studying abroad?
Studying abroad required me to live independently in a way I never had before. Living in an apartment in a foreign area, finding my way to class every morning, figuring out public transportation, and searching for places where to get food was a very different experience, especially doing all of this in a foreign country. I found out how adaptable I can be in new situations.
What is your most cherished memory of your abroad experience?
My most cherished memory from my abroad experience was traveling independently to the city of San Gimignano. I will never forget walking through the medieval streets of the city and seeing the large and very old towers looming overhead. What was supposed to be a trip that lasted a few hours ended up taking the entire day as an annual medieval festival occurred where games and traditional music were played. I saw the most exciting tug-of-war match I had ever seen. After the festival concluded, I got dinner at a restaurant overlooking the rolling hills of Tuscany.
