Author: Ava Buchanan | Major: History
When I first arrived in Florence, if you told me that I would eventually visit some of the most famous sites in the world, try pasta with squid ink sauce, or hike through ancient fishing villages, I wouldn’t have believed you. Of course, like many students my age, I’ve always wanted the opportunity to study abroad and travel the world, however, when I got off at the airport and doubted my own ability to even talk to a taxi driver, these goals seemed a little more out of reach. Luckily, through the help of my program, friends, and local people, not only was I able to get to my hotel via taxi, but I was also able to gain the courage to travel all throughout Europe and experience the world in a way that had been unattainable to me prior to this semester.
Ever since I was younger, I had my eyes set on studying abroad in Florence. To me, the city was a dream destination full of exciting history, exquisite art, and opportunities to engage with Italian culture. When looking for a program to apply to for my time abroad, I searched for one that would fulfill my desire to travel with other students that shared similar interests as me, as well as provide different experiences that truly gave me an insight into Italian culture and way of life. Eventually, it became clear that the American Institute for Foreign Study, more commonly recognized by its acronym AIFS, in Florence was the program that I wanted to pursue. This program, along with creating intentional classroom experiences, also provided many opportunities during my time in Florence to experience new things and interact with the local culture and people. Some of these experiences included cooking classes, wine tastings, guided visits to some of the most famous spots in Italy, and exclusive tickets to one of the biggest Carnevale celebrations in the country.
As an Italian minor, I knew that I wanted to have the opportunity to practice and learn the language in a way that I had never experienced before. During the Italian class that I took abroad, I was able to engage actively with other students and a professor that was local to the area. Not only was I able to gain experience in the classroom, but I also had the opportunity to practice my language through another amazing program that AIFS: Florence provided for its students, a meal plan which included vouchers at local restaurants and caffes. Through this program, I was able to build relationships with local chefs and shop owners and do my part to support and experience community away from the bustle of expensive tourist restaurants. These interactions quickly became one of my favorite parts of the day. Not only was I able to taste delicious local dishes, but me and my fellow students also conversed in Italian with the shop owners and chefs. Although my program didn’t require language study, many of the students opted to take an Italian language class, even though most people had not studied the language before. This gave everyone an integrative experience to put their knowledge to practice, and better engage with the people we met.
As a history major, I also wanted to use my time in Florence to enrich the studies that I had already completed at the University of Arkansas. Along with practicing language, I was also able to engage with European and Renaissance history in a way that is unavailable to me in America. The history classes offered by AIFS: Florence were specifically focused on the history and culture of Italy, and I took classes on topics such as the mafia, food culture, and local museum studies. My history class on food culture quickly became one of my favorites, as classroom experiences included tasting traditional Italian dishes, visiting one of the last authentic pasta factories in Florence, and shopping at a local fresh produce market. The ability to engage with European history in an interactive way helped me gain perspective on what research in different countries, as well as interacting with other historians in a different language, would look like in my future. The opportunity to visit some of the most famous museums in the world also gave me insight to careers in the archiving and museum field, something that became increasingly of interest to me during my time abroad.
Not only was I able to have fun and experience the world, but I feel more prepared to pursue any type of career that features traveling or interacting with people who come from different languages or cultures than me, something that is becoming increasingly important in our growing world. I would ultimately recommend this program to anyone that is interested in the culture, language and history of Italy. AIFS: Florence gave all its students ample opportunities to experience and meet local people and culture and this experience became an invaluable part of my studies as an undergraduate student.
In all honesty, before I left, I didn’t always feel prepared for what I would face. Sometimes I got nervous on public transportation, I didn’t always say the right vocabulary word in Italian, and other times I felt like I would much rather have a chick-fil-a sandwich than traditional Italian food. However, while reflecting on my time abroad, I now truly understand what people say when they told me it would be the best time of my life. Studying abroad gave me the opportunity to fully experience life in another country and meet people who will remain my friends for the rest of my life. I could be cliché and say that I wish I would’ve known how fast it would go before it started, but I’ve always been a practical person. I knew it would go fast and soon be over. However, study abroad doesn’t always need to an isolated part of my life, a one-time experience that is now gone. After returning home, I can understand how every bit of my experience abroad can translate into the way that I life my life. To have courage to try new foods, talk to new people, and gain an appreciation of foreign culture in a way that I will cherish for the rest of not only my academic career, but also my life.