I will forever be thankful for my study abroad experience in Italy this summer. Thanks to my professors, my fellow students, and all the friends I made along the way, I truly had the experience of a lifetime. Moreover, I have been able to grow so much, both as an individual and as a leader. But just how did I get to this point? Well, it’s a long story, but I am happy to tell you.
My first week in Italy was a bit rough. I had never left the country before, so I was struggling with a lot of culture shocks. I had also never lived with roommates before, so doing so was an adjustment. However, over the course of the first week, I started to realize that everyone else was pretty much in the same boat as me. As such, we were all willing and happy to be there for each other. It became a lot easier for me to start getting to know my classmates after this realization, and my homesickness and nerves became much more manageable as a result. Together, the friends I made and I started to really explore everything that Florence and Italy had to offer.
After overcoming my initial apprehension, my first week in Italy became much more enjoyable. Our first cultural visit was a tour of Florence’s Duomo. I can confidently say that this was the first time I felt true awe in my life. The magnitude of the building is magnificent. It is the building with the largest dome in the world, after all. The artwork decorating the underside of the dome was also breathtaking. I don’t think I will ever understand how anyone can have the talent to create either of these things, but I will forever respect those that did. During this first week, my friend and I also took a day trip to Riomaggiore in Cinque Terre. This town was so beautiful and the ocean was so blue. This trip also taught me a lot about the importance of adaptability because not everything will always go according to plan. In this case, our first train home was delayed, causing us to miss our next train. Instead of panicking, my friend and I found a customer service agent at the train station who was able to help us get on the next train back to Florence.
The second week in Florence really showed me the importance of the “study” aspect of study abroad. It was during this week that we had our first exam for MGMT 311. I had to learn to balance my desire to go out and continue exploring the city with my need to focus on my studies. Once I found this work-life balance, it became much easier for me to find the time to do well academically and enjoy this new experience. During our second week, we also went on our first day trip to Rome. Rome was an amazing city, and getting to see it made my inner mythology loving child especially happy. It is truly so incredible to stand inside the Roman Forum or the Roman Colosseum and know that you are standing amongst thousands of years of history. I think the coolest thing I learned on this trip was that the Colosseum used to have metal support clamps, but their spots have now been replaced by holes due to people stealing them during the Middle Ages. I was fortunate to have the opportunity to stay an extra day in Rome, and in doing so, I learned the value that comes from slowing down in life. A popular saying in Italy is “Dolce far niente,” or the sweetness of doing nothing, and I definitely came to understand this saying during my time in Rome. My first day in Rome was a little hectic with so many things to see, but on my second day, I was able to do everything much slower and actually take the time to appreciate all that I was seeing. As a result, I was able to better understand the culture and history that surrounded me.
During the third week, we had our first business visits. We visited a vineyard at Castello di Verrazzano and a pasta producer at Pastificio Fabbri. From both of these experiences, I discovered the value that Italians place on following traditions in their work. Starting with the vineyard, the current owners have only been in possession of the vineyard for a few generations, but they still adhere to the practices of wine producers from centuries ago. As for the pasta producer, their respect for those that came before them was so admirable to me, and their dedication to ensuring the healthiest and most quality ingredients for the pasta was refreshing to see. Both business visits inspired me to consider the value of some traditions in my professional growth, as well as to be more inquisitive as to the quality of my food back in the U.S.
Going into my last week in Italy, I was amazed by how quickly the time flew by. It felt like I had boarded the plane there only yesterday. I knew I really needed to slow down and savor my last few days in Florence, and so I did. I spent my last week in Italy dividing my time between final studying, night walks and gelato runs with friends, and some personal time for my own reflections. Overall, my last week in Italy was very peaceful, and it had a wonderful ending with our farewell dinner. I may have cried afterwards because everything was coming to an end, but after talking to a friend about endings on the last night in Florence, I now know that while bittersweet, they are necessary for us to move forward. My time in Italy may have come to an end, but I am now able to take all of the skills and lessons learned there and apply them to my leadership here in the United States. Italy will always hold a special place in my heart, and I can only hope that I will be able to visit again soon. Until then, however, its lessons will always stay with me.
