I am spending my freshman year of college in Florence, Italy. I’m so excited as I’m adjusting to life in Italy! It’s been quite the adventure already, and I can’t wait for the next nine months here. There are so many unique aspects to the lifestyle and culture here. Keep reading for 20 things you only understand if you study abroad in Italy!
Cappuccinos here only cost a euro, and they get you going in the morning. The U.S. needs to up their latte art game.
Gelato after school and gelato after dinner. You don’t feel as bad because you’re walking it off every day!
Yes, the drinking age is 18 here. It’s nice to be able to drink a glass of wine or beer during dinner and go to a bar at night.
When you study abroad in Italy, you’ll notice tourists are everywhere. You probably find yourself frustrated trying to get to class and being swarmed by them.
Pizzas in Italy are so much fresher here, so it’s easy to eat a 16” pizza alone. They don’t slice the pizzas here, so you have to get creative when eating it!
Eating pasta several times a week is a norm. Yes, they’re a lot of carbs, but they’re worth it.
There are so many cafés in Italy, many of which are geared to students. You’ll plop yourself down at one and stay there the entire day.
You can’t avoid mosquitos in Italy. The bites are terrible itchy and obnoxious, but there’s not much you can do about it.
Italians dress more formally than Americans on a daily basis. It’s rare to see people wearing sweatpants, T-Shirts, and flip flops while walking around.
Wifi isn’t as accessible here, so you’re not on your phone constantly. This is definitely a plus!
Pictures of the Trevi Fountain, Oktoberfest, and the Duomo have created a record of likes on your Insta.
You can’t capture a moment, but you can certainly try for your friends to see.
There are many clubs that draw American students to. You’ve experienced walking home from these clubs at too late of an hour.
Cinque Terre for the day, Rome for a weekend trip, Greece for fall break. The sky is the limit when you’re studying in Italy.
When you study abroad in Italy, you’d be surprised how much Italian you can learn. You can order a cappuccino, gelato, and panini in Italian. What else is there to know?
Walking has become your main mode of transportation. You learn to appreciate walking and where it takes you.
The 6-hour time difference can be tricky at times, so you have to plan accordingly.
There’s nothing like good old fashioned snail mail, especially when it’s international!
Let’s face it, you can’t eat out every night. Most apartments are equipped with kitchens for you to use.
Living abroad is something not everyone gets to do. There are moments every day when you realize how beautiful the world is and how lucky you are to be able to explore it.
I highly recommend studying abroad during your college career. Make the most of your experience if you study abroad in Italy. You learn more than you could imagine and immerse yourself into a different culture. I can’t wait to study abroad again my junior year in a different part of the world!
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