We were just two girls from Penn State who didn’t know each other until the ISI program list came out, and now we can’t imagine our lives without each other. Neither of us had ever been to Europe before, so we were nervous and excited to begin this journey. When people say you meet your forever friends abroad, they aren’t kidding.
Alexis and I are in the same sorority but haven’t met each other until I saw a LinkedIn post announcing that she had been accepted into the same program. From there, we connected and became roommates. We had mutual friends that said we’d get along and they were definitely right. We started to hang out at school before going to Italy, but living with someone in tight quarters really tests a true friendship.
Florence has been a life changing experience that we are both so grateful for. From our first day to now, we both have grown so much and really developed soft skills that we wouldn’t have gotten if we stayed in our comfort zones back home. Navigating the unfamiliar trains, airports, and cities that were new to us and not to mention in a language that we did not speak. This was difficult but we viewed it as a new and exciting opportunity to learn and grow. We challenged ourselves to do as much as we could within the six weeks we were in Europe. Together, Alexis and I have traveled throughout Italy, as well as to France and Malta, creating memories that will last a lifetime. So many people dream of traveling with their best friends, and we feel incredibly lucky to have experienced that together.
While living in Florence we experienced delicious Italian cuisine. Amelia’s favorite meal here in Florence was the pear ravioli from La Giostra. Alexis’s favorite meal in Florence was the panini from Panini Toscani. We also enjoyed going to a wine window to get a refreshing spritz in the heat. One thing we especially appreciated about Italian culture was how meals are never rushed. We enjoyed spending hours at dinner, eating, drinking, and simply enjoying each other’s company.
Alexis and I have done so many memorable things during our time in Florence. Some of our favorites include visiting the Gucci Museum, watching the sunset from Piazzale Michelangelo, exploring the Tuscan countryside on a wine-tasting tour, spending evenings at rooftop bars, and participating in our cooking class field trip.
Studying abroad these past six weeks has felt like a dream that we are not ready to wake up from. It’s hard to believe that some of our closest friendships began only a few weeks ago, because it feels as though we have known each other for years. We feel incredibly fortunate to have met such amazing friends, people we will continue to spend time with back at Penn State. One special person we will miss is our professor, Marco Delapierre, who made this experience especially memorable and meaningful. He showed us local Florentine spots outside of the tourist-filled city center that we wouldn’t have explored if it weren’t for him. He is an an amazing professor and we are so lucky to have been able to take his class.
We were able to document our trips on social media platforms that will be a lasting memory for Alexis and I to look back on for the rest of our lives. While our time studying abroad in Florence is coming to an end, the memories, friendships, and lessons will stay with us forever. Thank you to ISI and Penn State for allowing us to experience something so special. Until next time, Firenze!
TIKTOK: https://www.tiktok.com/@isiflorencestudents/video/7655224838352571670
YOUTUBE: https://www.youtube.com/shorts/kzeL7yccojQ
INSTAGRAM: https://www.instagram.com/internationalflorence
LINKEDIN: Amelia Melnick & Alexis Lubart
GOOGLE REVIEWS: Amelia’s & Alexis’s
By Amelia Melnick & Alexis Lubart