The Top 10 Things I've Learned While Studying Abroad

Since I don't want to study for finals, I decided I would make one last blog post before leaving what I now consider my second home. The past 4 months have gone by so much faster than I ever imagined and it's hard to believe that I will be back in America in a few days. I've learned so much while going through this experience and words can't describe how thankful I am to have been able to live and study in Italy.

Throughout this semester, I have learned a vast amount about myself and the world, and here are just a few points:

1- The world is such a small place...I can't count the number of times we ran into people that were graduates of ISU or lived in Illinois or were friends-of-friends. I became friends with someone here that lives in Alton, Illinois and KNOWS WHERE I WENT TO HIGH SCHOOL! People who live in the same state as me don't even know that. You really never know who you might meet.

2- I can get myself around any city via subway, train, bus, or on foot. Although I am still directionally challenged, I am so much more confident that I can go anywhere on a whim and figure out where to go or what to do...I honestly feel like I could win Amazing Race (it's a long shot, but it could happen).

3- There are more good people in the world than bad. I have met amazing people, especially in Florence, just walking down the street.

4- Carbs can be your best friend!

5- I have the best family, friends, and boyfriend in the world. I would not have been able to go through this entire experience without them.

6- I don't need to be connected to my phone 24/7. Not being connected everywhere I went made me realize how much I miss out on because I'm looking at a screen.

7- You never know how something really is until you try it yourself. I've always had this mindset about food, but I've learned to do this in other aspects of my life as well.

8- I have learned to be patient. Italians don't move very fast when doing anything. I have also learned how to wait without the entertainment of my iPhone.

9- You can sleep when your dead...all you need is about 6 hours. Don't get me wrong, I like sleeping in, but the days I got up and walked around Florence are the days that I learned the most about the city because I would get lost on purpose and then eventually find my way back. We all had this mindset when we were in different cities as well. I'm so happy that we gave up an extra hour of sleep to go get in line early to see things that many people won't ever get to.

10- I learned Italian...sort of.


My friends and I have been to 22 cities and 8 countries throughout the semester. It has been the trip of a lifetime and leaving is bittersweet, but I know I will be back sooner than later! Ciao Italy!


Here are just a few pictures of us during our last few weeks in Florence:

1-2: We rode segways! I ran into a bike that was sitting in front a restaurant full of people...Angela ran into a car..and Danielle almost got ran over by a horse (she actually burnt rubber). Nicole didn't run into anything but at one point her Segway just wouldn't stop and she was riding at full speed. The entire situation was hilarious and I'm so happy I did it here. We didn't have to sign a waiver and only one person needed a license and we didn't have to wear helmets..Italians are crazy!

3-6: We went to a Florentine soccer game, which was really fun but of course the only time it actually thunderstorms here is when we're outside. Their fans are so loud and crazy! They made us get purple shirts so we wouldn't get harassed.

7-8: We went to one of the best restaurants this week and we're sad that we just now found it! We had homemade spaghetti and the best gnocchi of my entire European experience!

9-16: These are from a few weeks ago at Notte Bianca, which a celebration around the entire city to start off the summer season. The city was awake until 6 am and a lot of stores stayed open and there was entertainment in all of the Piazzas. It was like a giant church picnic!

17-18: This coffee is from the Gucci museum and is the only Gucci product to my name. I'm also really going to miss the amazing sandwiches from the fresh market and all of my favorite sandwich shops... I think I eat pesto and oil on everything now.

19: This is my Italian teacher Francesca. I am really going to miss her..she is the sweetest lady and a really good teacher. We're going to be pen pals.

20: We finally got a picture of the bambinis that live next to us! The little boy's name is Matteo and he flirts with us when he sees us by the window.

Arezzo, Cortona, Pienza, and Montepulciano

I can't believe that we had our very last weekend trip abroad! Time has gone by way too fast. I am happy that we saved the Tuscany countryside for the end though, because it was very relaxing.

We went with our school again for this trip. When we arrived in Arezzo Saturday morning (it's only about and hour or so outside of Florence) and we took a walking tour. We went into about 4 historical churches and many of them had famous artworks inside that I have learned about in my art history class, so it was pretty cool seeing them in person. After our tour we had market made pannini's (my favorite) and then we got to shop around the antique street market, which I loved! It was like a city wide garage sale and there were so many things that I wish I could have taken home with me.

After leaving Arezzo we drove to Cortona, where we stayed the night. We had to walk up very steep streets to get to our hotel and to also see a great view of the country side, but it was worth it. A Renaissance fair was going on while we were there and we got to watch some performances. We also had an amazing dinner provided for us, starting with champagne and appertivi (happy hour) outside on a terrace. Then we moved inside the restaurant and had a 4 course meal.

The next morning we had breakfast on our hotels terrace and then headed to Pienza where we walked around the town and saw the various shops and then we saw how Pecorino and Ricotta cheese is made on a family owned farm. We had lunch there too, which consisted of 5 different types of cheese, different meats, honey and jam, bread and olive oil, and wine...I wish I could bring the cheese back because it was amazing! We bought some to eat while we're still in Italy.

After Pienza we drove to Montepulciano, which is where part of the second Twilight movie "New Moon" was filmed. We got to go on a wine cellar tour,which was very cool because it was underground and it looked like a dungeon. Then had a wine tasting with more cheese! It was very good and the wine there is only sold in Montepulciano.

We will be staying in Florence for the rest of our time abroad. We plan on doing as much as we can with the time that we have left before heading back to America!

Pictures:

1-3: These are pictures from the first few churches we went to...the second picture of the dome is interesting because when you are far away it looks like there are levels within the dome but when you get closer you realize that the dome is actually just painted on the inside. The cross is by Cimabue, a very well known artist in Italy and we took a picture by it to show our art teacher.

4-13: More churches throughout the town...the picture of the circle is actually a tomb of a priest that you can see.

14-21: Pictures of the town square and market...a lot of the tents had a wide variety of antiques so it took us awhile to go through it all but it was really cool! And much different than the leather market in Florence.

22-25: Our hotel in Cortona..it had a great view and location!

23-32: The Renaissance fair going on and some of the best gelato I've had yet! It was cookies, pistachio, and carmel cream.

33-40: Our climb to the top of the town for the best view of the country side!

41-52: Our 5 course meal...we had fried mozzarella for appertivi, some kind of zucchini covered thing (I think it was Ricotta? I'm not sure but it was good), then we had risotto and ravioli stuffed with cheese, then Florentine Steak and salad, and then chocolate soufflé! The view of the country side at night is from the lookout point by our hotel.

53-57: The center of Pienza. The church there is actually cracking in half because of the foundation it was built on.

58-64: The lookout point behind the church. Pienza is the epitome of an Italian town...there was clothes hanging to dry outside the windows and bikes and flowers were everywhere.We also stopped by a leather shop and the owner made me a bracelet!

65-70: This is the farm we went to outside of Pienza where we learned how cheese is made. It was very interesting and you can tell how proud the Italian farmers are... They really love cheese. The tasting lunch afterwards was so good!

71-74: The center of Montopoluchiano.

75-82: The wine cellar we got to visit.
The stairs down to the cellar are the original ones from the 1500's! I wouldn't like to work underground in a dungeon like that but it was very cool to see. We got to taste the wine afterwards and had more cheese.

83-84: A Twilight collage on the wall since the movie was filmed there... I could recognize where some of the sense were filmed. The last picture is of the town as we were leaving.