As a student who studied in Florence for an entire semester, I had such an amazing, eye-opening experience. Like most students, I had friends who studied abroad before me, posting their picture-perfect experiences all over social media. I remember last year scrolling through their posts, jaw-dropped at the views and places they were seeing every weekend. It made me even more excited for my own experience.
But once I actually got there, I realized I was going to learn so much more than I expected – not just about traveling, but about myself.
Studying abroad is often painted as this perfect, highlight-reel experience. And yes, there are amazing moments, but there’s also a side people don’t really talk about. These are the things I actually learned while living abroad.
1. Less is More
At home, I feel like I need a million things. Studying abroad forced me to pack light and be okay with having less. I remember dreading not bringing all of my specific hair tools and products, but it actually made me more creative. I realized I don’t need a million sweaters or ten pairs of jeans. I started putting more thought into what I wore and developed more of a personal style, especially being able to get inspired by the fashion around me in Florence.
It also made me realize how much I overconsume at home. Living with less showed me that I can still feel put together and confident without having everything in front of me at all times.
Advice: Don’t overpack, and don’t stress about not having all your usual things. You’ll adapt way faster than you think, and you might even end up liking the simpler version of your routine more.
2. Traveling is NOT Perfect
Yes, I definitely post the highlight moments from my weekend trips. The views, the food, the fun parts. But what people don’t see is everything that comes with it. Traveling is NOT always smooth. I have dealt with delays, strikes, cancellations, overweight bags, and constant unexpected issues. At one point, I had a man projectile vomit on me during a flight, so it is definitely not always glamorous.
No one really talks about how exhausting it can be, both physically and mentally. Something is almost always going wrong, and you just have to figure it out in the moment. This was my first time really traveling like this, and it forced me to deal with situations I had never experienced before.
At the same time, it taught me a lot. I learned how to stay calm under pressure, think quickly, and problem solve when things did not go as planned. As stressful as it can be, those moments are what actually make you more independent. It makes smooth travel feel like a reward.
Advice: Expect things to go wrong, because at some point they will. Stay flexible, do not panic, and remind yourself it is all part of the experience. It is also a good idea to enroll in STEP (Smart Traveler Enrollment Program) if you are a student coming from the United States. I was able to get updates about health, weather, safety, and security for my study abroad country.
3. Social Media is NOT Reality
Social media does not show the full picture when it comes to the study abroad experience. Honestly, I was very anxious during my first two weeks and jet lag did not help. It all hit me at once that I was going to be living in another continent for four months, and that is a scary feeling.
It can feel like everyone is instantly in love with the city when you arrive, especially based on what you see online. But, social media does not tell the real story. I was posting pictures and videos while also feeling anxious at the same time, and I know other people were doing that too. Over time, I learned to slow down and actually take everything in. Now I only have three weeks left, and I could not be more upset about leaving. I also realized it is completely okay to feel homesick. Everyone experiences it differently, and you are allowed to feel however you feel without comparing your experience to anyone else’s.
Advice: Do not compare your experience to what you see online. Take your time adjusting, and let yourself feel everything. And if you need it, take a weekend to stay in your home city and really enjoy it instead of always traveling.
4. Plan AHEAD
Planning ahead saves SO much money. I did not realize this at first, but flights and accommodations get expensive very quickly once everyone starts booking. It can be hard to get a group on the same page, but if you are able to plan early and take advantage of cheaper flights, it makes a huge difference.
One thing that helped was waiting until I got my syllabus from ISI before booking anything. That way, I could plan trips around school days and field trips without stressing about conflicts. But once you have that schedule, it is important to start planning right away because prices only go up from there.
I also didn’t realize how much work goes into planning weekend trips. If you want to make the most of your time, especially in bigger cities, it takes effort. You end up building itineraries, figuring out transportation, booking activities, and trying to fit everything in without feeling rushed.
Advice: Start planning as soon as you can, even if it is just booking flights early. Make sure to use Google Flights to compare all of the possible flight options. It will save you money and stress. And when you are planning trips, be realistic about your time so you can actually enjoy where you are instead of rushing through everything.
5. The Little Moments Matter More Than The Big Trips
I was lucky enough to go on some amazing trips like Switzerland, Tenerife, Morocco, and Croatia. Those weekends were incredible, and I am so grateful for them. But looking back, some of my favorite memories were actually the days I spent in Florence.
I did not plan to stay in Florence as much as I ended up doing, but I am so happy I did. Not only did it save money, but it gave me the chance to really fall in love with the city. Some of my favorite moments were the simplest ones, like walking up toPiazzale Michelangelo or sitting in the Boboli Gardens and just relaxing. I even did a cooking class twice! It had unlimited wine and great portions of pasta. There were even times I was by myself, and those moments ended up meaning a lot more than I expected.
There is so much pressure to see every city possible while you are abroad. It can feel like you are missing out if you are not constantly traveling. But, I realized that it is not about how many places you go, it is about how you experience them. As long as you are with people you enjoy and actually present in the moment, those are the memories that stay with you.
Advice: Do not feel like you have to go everywhere. Spend time in your home city, slow down, and appreciate the small moments. Those will end up meaning more than you think. This is the perfect map of Florence if you want to learn about what’s around!
Florence Study Abroad Pinterest Board
TikTok – Always remember the home base!
Instagram- Advice to future abroad students
YouTube video- Studying Abroad changed us for the better
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