It’s funny how your perception of a place can feel so solid and real, yet be turned on its head so quickly. I visited Florence, Italy, for the first time the summer after fourth grade, and I returned this summer for a seven-week study abroad program. Understandably, my memory of the city was extremely limited, so I decided to treat this experience as though it were my first visit. Of course, part of me expected to step out of the taxi and be immediately overcome with the familiarity of it all — the quiet streets, the Renaissance architecture, the slow pace of Italian life — but that is not Florence. This is.
Making Myself at Home
It took me a little time to take in the city, figure out the layout, and understand certain customs, such as when to walk on the street versus the sidewalk and how much space is acceptable to keep between myself and strangers. I have to admit, it was not what I had pictured it to be, but in many ways, it was much better. For example, I had pictured Florence as a hidden gem of Italy — a Renaissance town frozen in time. Instead, I was met by a bustling hub of activity: art, music, and inevitably, tourism.
I felt ashamed to be a sightseer at first. I would walk only to my destination, making no stops to stare or venture off my path, hoping to pass as a native. This backfired. By closing myself off to exploration, I failed to learn the many different paths that could lead me back home or the best spots locals went for food and activities. I got over my embarrassment of being an outsider, and that’s when I finally started feeling at home in my new city.
It’s Called Study Abroad for a Reason
Through my program, I took one class during May Term and one during Session I. I opted for Museums of Florence, a course that allowed me to tour the many churches and museums around town with a professor who explained the history of both the art and the buildings. I also took Elementary Italian II, which forced me to challenge myself and put my beginning language skills to use.
I definitely felt that acclimating to the class structure was a hurdle I hadn’t quite prepared for. I was used to lecture/notes-based classes in the United States, but remembering information wasn’t so simple abroad. Instead of being seated at a desk and told what information would be highlighted on an exam, I was walking around the city and deciding for myself what information stood out as especially important.
I put in extra time to talk with my professor about our tours and assignments, and was met with kindness and excitement to further my understanding. By the time exams came around, I felt exhausted from studying, but I also felt that the knowledge I was gaining contributed directly to my overall appreciation for and understanding of Florence.
Trips and Excursions
My program sponsored many weekend and day excursions, but we also had free weekends to stay in Florence or plan our own trips. Throughout my time abroad, I visited Rome, Milan, Lake Como, Venice, Pisa, Siena, San Gimignano, Cinque Terre, and Austria. I arrived in Florence with a singular view of what Italy looked like, but traveling broadened my understanding that each town has a unique history that informs its food, architecture, and overall culture.
Each excursion took me on a journey through Italian history — from the days of the Roman Empire to the Middle Ages and, of course, the Renaissance. One thing I will never forget is the feeling of walking through cities where the past, present, and future seem to exist all at once.
A Familiar Face
Between May Term and Session I, we were given a long weekend — four days to go anywhere and do anything before returning to our hub and our studies. My friends and I chose Austria. We stayed in Innsbruck, a gorgeous town surrounded by mountains, and one day I planned to visit my cousin, who has been working in Bregenz for the past year.
Seeing him was a much-needed reminder of home after a month away. I talked to him about his experience moving abroad alone to work in a new country. He explained the hardships of relocating to a city where he didn’t know anyone but said that his decision was nonetheless worth it. Knowing the native language, German, also served him well. This broke down a barrier for him that I had occasionally felt in all my travels.
We spent the day exploring the town and even took a short 15-minute train ride to a nearby German city. Funnily enough, the pastel buildings, blue water, and vegetation all reminded me of my home, Florida. Something about that day felt so comforting. It was as if I had been given one day back home, surrounded by familiar buildings and faces. However, it also made me feel more grateful for my experience abroad and renewed my excitement just in time to return to Florence for Session I.
Goodbye, Friends, and Goodbye, Florence
Session I flew by. I fell into a comfortable routine and no longer felt the pressure to see everything before I ran out of time. I knew I had made the most of my trip, but I also knew it wouldn’t be easy to say goodbye.
It was the night of our farewell dinner, and I couldn’t help but look around at my table filled with friends I had met less than two months ago — friends from all over the United States, brought together by this shared experience. It felt surreal to think that in just a few days we would all fly home to our respective states, no longer a ten-minute walk to each other’s apartments or a text away from dinner and gelato on the Arno.
I took in every “last” during my final days — my last walk to the apartment after class, my last lunch at my favorite restaurant, my last night in the apartment with two of the best roommates I could have asked for.
But even more than the “lasts,” I was reminiscing about my “firsts.” The first time I stepped out of the taxi onto the streets, I could now navigate with my eyes closed. The first time I introduced myself to the roommates and friends whom I came to know so well. The first time I walked into the chaotic train station, which ended up taking me on countless adventures.
My experiences during the seven weeks I spent in Florence completely reshaped my perception of the city— its bustling nightlife and growth, and the dynamic energy of the locals. It’s easy to build up a place in your head. Stories, media, and even old memories can warp the reality of a city.
If there’s one thing I’ve learned from my time in Florence, it’s that it is not enough to imagine a place like this. You have to live it.
This post was contributed by Sydney Ferris, a Global Ambassador for Summer 2025. Sydney is a sophomore studying abroad in Florence, Italy
