Hello friends and family, and maybe some strangers on the internet?
T-Minus 76 days until I go abroad.
When I was encouraged to start a blog for my study abroad trip, I thought it was the coolest idea ever, and it is… but how can I talk about my trip, share photos, and have a great time without explaining how I got here?
Firstly, I want to preface that I NEVER imagined in a million years I would go abroad. I honestly never thought about it, and if you know me, as most of you do… you know I didn’t grow up in an environment where studying abroad was a viable option. Instead, I was always told to go to work and make money, which is a very real and very honest thing, but I have also learned that life is short, and if I have the opportunity to go abroad, why shouldn’t I do it?
How this trip came to be is actually a bit funny… last year, in my Freshman student success class, our scholarship coordinator actually brought an ambassador… or maybe it was a recruiter… from the program that I ultimately chose. You see, I always thought it would be cool to go to another place, maybe Japan or Moscow, somewhere people always seem to talk about, so when I decided on Florence, I didn’t realize how much of the world was already aware of how much it had to offer. For me, truth be told, that before that recruiter came, I couldn’t have even told you where Florence was on the map (again, nobody in my family has studied abroad). And, truth be told again… my original plan was to go to Paris (because who wouldn’t want to go to Paris?), but after learning how expensive it would have been to go there at just a measly $30,000, I figured I’d save myself the trouble and look for somewhere more affordable, and that’s when I stumbled upon Florence, Italy.
Honestly, I ended up choosing it because it looks so beautiful, with things like the Ponte Vecchio and the Duomo (to name a few), and knowing that it’s very walkable and has such a rich culture really encouraged me to take that leap of faith.
Learning about Italy has been a journey, to say the least. I have been so eager to learn all of their customs and the language that it has honestly stressed me out. I talk about Italy a lot, though, as my roommates Hayden and Cayden (Yes, we know our names are funny) could attest to… and even though I haven’t gone yet, here’s what I’ve learned. Firstly, no drinking cappuccinos after 11 a.m. Using Ciao is more of an informal greeting for those you’ve known for a while. Trains are confusing there (plus constant strikes). There’s honestly so much to learn there, but from my thousands of Instagram messages to myself about Italy and my Pinterest board for outfit ideas, I am honestly really excited to be able to dive into that culture.
So what’s next? Currently, I am waiting for my visa (that process, along with the other challenges I faced to get here, which I plan on sharing in my next blog, was…painful to say the least, btw). I also have to make sure classes are selected and that I am ready to go!
I am excited that I am able to share my thoughts and experiences like this. Like I talked about previously, I do really enjoy learning and relaying information, and again, like I talked about, if you know me (which, let’s be real, if you’re actually reading this, then you’re a close friend or family), then you know I tend to either have some of the worst luck OR best luck ever and then, in turn, have a story to tell! So thanks for reading, and I can’t wait to keep sharing about my journey (:
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