On a Wednesday afternoon in February, as I was sitting on a bench eating my favorite panino from Schiacciateria de Neri, I realized that no one was in a hurry. People were sitting outside drinking spritzes with friends, leather shop owners were chatting in their doorways, and people wandered along the streets with seemingly no destination in mind. Back home, I would be rushing from class to class, probably eating a protein bar as my lunch, and listening to music in my headphones. But now, I make time to sit and have a meal, wander around with my friends, and generally move at a much slower pace. Coming to Florence, I was expecting to learn about art and history, but I never expected I would relearn how I live my everyday life.
I never thought much about my pace of living until coming here. In America, we have an intense hustle and productivity culture that makes it hard to slow down and be present in the moment. We are always looking to complete the next task on the never-ending “to do” list, rarely taking time for ourselves. Because of this, anything that is not productive is always planned far in advance so we can make sure everything is done beforehand. In America, a spontaneous weekday aperitivo with friends would never happen. We eat meals while working or studying, because if you’re not multitasking, you’re falling behind. This was our norm, and I didn’t realize how fast I was living until I experienced a different pace.
What ultimately taught me to slow down to life in Florence wasn’t sightseeing or taking trips on the weekends, it was the simple parts of everyday life. Instead of rushing out the door and grabbing a protein bar for breakfast, I had a slow morning and went to a local bar to grab a cappuccino and croissant. I noticed the locals getting their morning coffee at the bar, having conversations with the barista they see every morning. Instead of taking the bus or driving, I walked everywhere with friends, spending my days taking in the sights and engaging in good conversation. Dinner was never a quick meal next to my computer, it was time spent with friends over good food and good wine. Even on a random Tuesday, we got dressed up, shared a bottle of the house red wine, and all tried different pasta dishes. This experience became a ritual for us, filled with good meals but also laughter and connection. On our walk home we might stop into a store, a gelato shop, or a pub, nothing was planned and nothing was rushed. Over time, I’ve realized that slowing down isn’t a conscious effort, it just happened naturally because living in Florence makes you stay present in the moment. With this mindset, the ordinary moments of everyday life became the most important moments.
As I began adapting to a slower lifestyle, I didn’t just notice changes in how I spent my time, but also how I felt physically and mentally. Walking everywhere became an effortless form of physical activity, instead of exercise I had to plan or motivate myself to do. Without even trying, I became more active by spending more time outdoors, walking with my friends, and wanting to spend more time in my environment instead of sitting in my apartment all day. Also, living slowly has made immense improvements on my mental health. I don’t feel rushed completing tasks, or waiting for the next deadline, I am much more present. This has allowed me to be much more clear-headed and reduced my stress by a lot in my everyday life. Even though I am a student here like I am back home, I am able to work at a more manageable pace that doesn’t cause worry or anxiety. I am able to prioritize my academics while also prioritizing self-care and my social life to make sure I am balancing it all well. Living in Florence has taught me that our lives don’t have to be measured in tasks completed or things achieved, but can be measured in the memories we create, the relationships we share, and the moments we are truly present for.
As our time in Florence comes to an end, I have realized that the hardest part about studying abroad is not adjusting to a new place, but having to leave it. We came to Florence as completely different people and have been shaped and changed by so many new experiences and opportunities, and now have to return back to our old lives as if nothing changed- when in reality, everything has. Returning home means going back to a life of packed schedules, deadlines, and constant productivity, and it is easy to worry that we will slip back into old habits of always rushing. Hopefully with our new mindset we can go back to living in America but at a slower Italian pace. Leaving this city is not only saying goodbye to our second home, but saying goodbye to the version of ourselves that learned and lived here. The version of me that was able to slow down, appreciate the ordinary moments, and stay present in the everyday. Our next challenge is to bring the lessons we learned back home with us and implement them into our lives beyond this semester. As we prepare to leave, we know that a piece of us will always belong to Florence – and we can’t wait to be back to the place that taught us to slow down and truly live.
By: Giana Colonna, Kristen Mulvihill, Bella DeCrescenzo, and Macaria Pelofsky
Links:
Letter to Our Pre-Study Abroad Selves
Why Study Abroad in Florence?
Pinterest Board
Kristen Mulvihill Google Review