My first week in Italy was one of the best in my life. It was also challenging. I had never been overseas before, so it took some adjustment at first. Even the plane ride to get here was a challenge, as I had to learn to navigate through airports where English was not commonly used.
When I arrived, I was shocked by the utter beauty of Florence. Walking through the streets made me feel like I was on a whole other world. Everything was foreign to me. The architecture, the food, the language, and even how people act and walk were different. In all honesty, it was such a drastic change that it took me some time before I felt comfortable walking around by myself. When I did start to feel comfortable, it took me another length of time to figure out how to navigate the town. Since walking is the main way of travel, I quickly realized that my legs were not used to long distances. By the end of the week my whole body was sore, but I somehow still felt energetic from being active every day, and I noticed that my mood was better too because of it.
The biggest surprise to me was the architecture. I remember first seeing the Florence cathedral, which is the third-largest in the world. The size and detail were mind-boggling. I couldn’t understand how something so big and beautiful could ever be built. I learned that it took over 100 years to construct.
My second biggest surprise was the Italian eating style. Every night around 6 o’clock, the Italians go out for “Aperitivo”. Aperitivo is basically a few hours of walking around to different bars and restaurants to order cocktails and appetizers. After these few hours, dinner starts around 8 or 9 o’clock, which is much later than in America. The food is often from a family-owned restaurant, and the food is not only healthier and fresher but tastes amazing.
The last thing I want to talk about is my trip to Cinque Terre, which is five small villages on the coast. The buildings are brightly colored and are placed on the mountainside right next to the ocean. The food was usually from the sea, so squid and fish were the main food.
As you can see, it is a beautiful place.
I’ve enjoyed every second of my first week here and can’t wait to explore and learn more!