Every day of our last two weeks was a completely new adventure. For instance, our class took a day trip to Venice during the second to last week! Although it was a little rainy while we were there, seeing people traveling everywhere by boats in canals rather than by car was still so impressive. In class, we learned how efficient Venice was with trade and how they built their wealth into a republic based on water trade routes. We were able to travel along some of these same canals through the city with a gondola ride!
My roommates and I decided to go on a weekend trip to Milan! We were very impressed by the architecture of Castle Sforzesco, a fortress in the middle of Milan that has been there since the 1300s. We also walked through the beautiful castle gardens, which were comparable to the gardens of Versailles in France!
During our last week, our class was taken on a guided tour through the history of Ferraris at the Ferrari Museum in Maranello. They showed us many Ferrari models and how the company markets its F1 race team. When we returned to Florence, we had an amazing steak dinner. Florentine steak is cooked rare, and although I usually eat steak medium, I kept reminding myself to keep an open mind and it ended up being the best steak I’d ever had!
Overall, I’m so grateful to have had the opportunity to go on the Italy Business study abroad. Not only was I getting credit for classes, but I grew close to many people in Mays that I wouldn’t have met otherwise. I also couldn’t have had better professors and roommates. If a study abroad works into your college plans, don’t pass up the opportunity!! You won’t regret it.
