Coming into a semester abroad was daunting, admittedly. We knew nobody, had no idea where we would travel, or how our experience here would look like. After the semester, looking back on our experiences, we understand how special the time here was. It provided countless learning experiences, relationships, and memories. Our group members Alex, Ava, and Anika all had different but similarly special semesters. At the culmination, it is important to sit back and think about why we decided to come here initially as well as what our greatest takeaway was.
Ava:
The main reason I decided to come abroad is because I realized I might never get the opportunity to live in another country for three months at a time. I also wanted to travel while I was young and get outside of my comfort zone.
My biggest take away is that I learned how to really appreciate the little things and the journey. It’s truly about the people and the place.
Anika:
I decided to study abroad because I had always wanted to go to Europe and this seemed like a perfect opportunity to experience new cultures and travel while I’m young.
My biggest takeaway is to approach new experiences with an open mind and humility. Don’t go on trips with a rigid itinerary and expectations — learn to be flexible, be willing to make mistakes, and try to connect with fellow travelers and locals to make your experience memorable.
Alex:
My decision to study abroad stemmed from my love of travel. I have been very fortunate to go on trips with my family throughout my childhood, which has helped give me a better image of the world and how different cultures live. The more I have learned and traveled, though, the more I realize I don’t know. This propels me to travel more, as I want to learn and experience as much as I can throughout the rest of my life. As I am a current senior in university and have finished almost all required courses, I saw this as the perfect opportunity. I was able to sign up for courses that interest me and take on a course load that allowed me to make the most out of travel. This semester, I have gone to 16 countries, such as all of the Balkans, Turkey, and Morocco. I am so grateful for this opportunity and this has only added fuel to the fire of my thirst of exploration and seeing the world.
My biggest takeaway from the trip was to not be afraid of going to less common destinations or places because others aren’t going. There are a lot of very touristy destinations that study abroad students decide to visit, as they are recommended by others and there are typically a lot of options to travel there. Fortunately, I have been able to go to countries such as France, Germany, Sweden, and Greece in the past, and I decided to go to places I don’t know much about. I love the outdoors and hiking, so going to places that are beautiful and had mountains were prioritized. I went to Switzerland, the Dolomites, Albania, Bosnia, and Morocco which allowed me to visit new places and hike. Albania was special to me, as it was raining the whole time. We still hiked, and while we were soaking wet, this was a good character building experience and I shared this time with a friend. Also, in some of these places, I was the only American tourist, which was very different than the places I typically go. Overall, I would recommend stepping out of your comfort zone and choosing destinations based on what your true wants and goals are opposed to the places that are advertised and recommended to you.
Reflection:
Overall, study abroad comes with both the good and the bad. Perfection isn’t attainable, but the most important thing is to appreciate each experience and grow from the negatives. Make the most of your time even if you have a tight budget – go to places that are friendly to your wallet, take public transport, and walk! Respect culture and norms, and truly view each destination as a learning experience. Learn about the history of where you are, as Europe has no lack of it. Study abroad has been an invaluable experience to the three of us and we have greatly grown during this time.
ISI has been of great support, as they help plan activities to connect students, and help you with travel problems or personal issues. The support is there and very active which is greatly appreciated. While the weekend forms seemed redundant at times, it is great to know that there are people there that care enough about you to make sure you are always safe. I saw this as a blanket that protected us, and allowed us to be slightly more carefree during our study abroad tenure.
Although this experience is coming to an end and we have to depart soon, Florence will always hold a special place in our hearts. The city provided so much to us; countless memories, people to build connections with, the ability to travel, and an abundance of culture. It is a place that we will see ourselves coming back to often, and even when we are not there, its presence will always be felt.
Our Work:
TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@isiflorencestudents/photo/7579964763153681686
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/p/DR1efESjRfs/?igsh=bXJjZGxkcWV3Z3Ji
YouTube: https://youtu.be/CABYfSBJdPU?feature=shared
By Alex, Ava, Anika (the A team)
Linkedin:
Alex: http://linkedin.com/in/alexander-crosby