Howdy!! (or as we like to say it in Italy, Ciao-dy!!) My name is Madeline Street and I am a Junior Marketing major on the analytics and consulting track. A week ago today–after a 9-hour flight, a 7-hour layover in the Paris Airport, and then another 2-hour flight–me and 30 other aggies landed in the beautiful city of Florence, Italy. With expectations high and excitement taking over, the group and I headed out to explore and immerse ourselves into the culture that encapsulates Italy!
So, what are my initial impressions of Italy? Italians like to eat!! They also tend to eat dinner later at night, at times such as 8:30 or 9. You go to a restaurant and they start you off with antipasti, which are appetizers, then you have your first meal, a second meal, and finally dessert! The first meal tends to be pasta, and the second meal is typically meat. The first thing that my roommates and I ate when we arrived in Florence was pizza! It was delicious! Another prominent aspect of the Italian culture is that they do not like to rush. They like to eat long, uninterrupted dinners, arrive kind of on time, and just enjoy life… slowly! In terms of activities we have already participated in since the beginning of our program, we’ve toured the duomo of Florence and have had a full walking tour of the city!
Taking classes in a foreign country was something that I have always wanted to do, but it was also a very daunting task. Though it may have been scary, I have met so many amazing people and have already experienced so much in the first week we have been here! Up next on our agenda are Rome, Milan, and Venice, and I cannot wait to see what else is in store for us!
