To the Next Study Abroad Student in Florence:

When we first arrived in Florence, we thought that we were coming here for the food, the views, and the overall experience of living in Italy. What we didn’t expect was just how much this city would change our perspectives, not only on how we see the world, but also on ourselves.

To future study abroad students, this blog is exactly the right spot for you!

In the Beginning, Everything Feels Like a Dream

Florence might not feel real at the start. When you walk past the Duomo on the way to class, grab a €2 cappucchino when it would cost $5 at home, and eat pasta and pizza that tastes unlike anything you’ve ever eaten before.

Everything will feel new, exciting, and honestly overwhelming. You’ll want to do so much all at once: try new restaurants, see every museum, travel every weekend, and you totally should do that in the beginning!

But what makes Florence magical isn’t just these big moments – it’s the small ones.

It’s the Small Things That Stay With You

After some time, your life starts to feel normal, and that’s exactly when it starts becoming the most meaningful. This can be dining alfresco with your friends for hours, just chatting, ordering a Hugo spritz at your favorite local apertivo spot, or even walking the same familiar streets until it feels like home.

What We Learned About Food (and life)!

One of the biggest differences we noticed between Italian and American culture is the relationship with food. In Florence, the ingredients are simple but of the highest quality. Meals are much slower and have a focus on the social aspect of dining. When you eat in Italy, you can feel the strong sense of tradition that runs through its food culture.

Meals aren’t just about eating; it’s about the connection. Some of our favorite memories from this semester aren’t about traveling; they’re about sitting at a table at a local restaurant in our neighborhood, sharing different items, laughing with friends, and staying to enjoy each other’s company long after we finished eating.

From Tourists to Feeling Like a Local

Suddenly, you will feel a shift. You will stop feeling like a visitor and start feeling like you belong in Florence. You know which streets to walk to avoid busy crowds, how to navigate your day-to-day life without overthinking and mapping your way home, where to get the best sandwich, and much more.

That’s when you come to the realization that you have built an entire life in Florence, and it’s not just a vacation.

The Hard Part No One Discusses

Everyone talks about the adjustment to study abroad, but no one really prepares you for the end. When you realize that your time here is almost over, it hits you all at once. You’ll miss the people, the routine, and the feeling of living somewhere completely different from home.

Florence feels like a version of your life you’re not ready to let go of.

Final Thoughts (For You and for Me)

If you’re about to study abroad in Florence, know this experience will be whatever you make it, and it has the potential to change you in ways you may never expect.

Don’t forget to take pictures, try new foods, travel as much as you can, and don’t forget to LIVE here too truly. Because one day, this will all be a memory, and you’ll wish you could go back to even the most ordinary moments.

If you’re thinking about studying abroad in Florence, take this as your sign and do it. And when you do, take a moment to look around and realize that you’re living a life you once dreamed about.

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Phoebe Kaplan, Alexis Farber & Bari Klein