As someone who has never been abroad before or even traveled by plane without the guidance of my parents every step of the way, I’m sure you can already imagine how nervous I was to start the journey to Florence, Italy. However, when I first arrived in Florence, being driven through the historical streets among the breathtaking architecture and scenery, the nervousness left me, and I was just in awe.
When writing this entry, it has been four days since I’ve arrived. So far, we’ve gotten to roam the city every day, frequently passing buildings built in the Renaissance and admiring various statues of famous figures from that time. We also got to tour the Duomo and even climbed the 463 steps to the top where the view over the city was absolutely stunning! I’m so excited to continue learning about the city not only through class but also by getting to explore the city for myself. Having the opportunity to be living in the exact spot that business leaders of ancient times lived is an amazing realization in itself and I’m grateful that the program was set up in a way that allow us to make the most of this.
With the opportunity to interact with the new environment around me, there are many differences that one can’t help but acknowledge. The first difference I noticed once in the heart of Florence was how narrow the streets are. Only one car can fit through them at a time and I’ve yet to figure out how the drivers here know which direction to go. When observing the people, especially those who work at grocery stores and restaurants, they’re very different from Americans in that they take their time. They don’t worry too much about the quality of their service in the customer service industry especially because it’s common for Italians to sit and talk for hours.
Moving forward, I hope to continue learning more about the people that roamed this area centuries ago. I look forward to understanding how the events that happened here contributed to how our society developed into what it is today and how I can apply this knowledge to a future business career. But the ultimate goal at the end of this trip is to be able to comfortably order a meal in Italian.
