Alan – Florence, Italy

My study abroad experience in Florence, Italy was absolutely life-changing. Studying abroad taught me things that I’d never learn while sitting in a classroom and exposed me to ideas and customs that I’d never find in the United States. Not only did I learn new things relating to my area of study, but I also learned about different cultures and about myself and my place as a global citizen. I saw breathtaking sights, met so many wonderful people, and indulged in plenty of delicious Italian cuisine!

Florence, Italy is a gorgeous center of history, architecture, food, and culture. Every street is teeming with life, and every building tells a story. There are endless things to do in the city, and every aspect is framed by the context of Florence’s history as the “Renaissance City”. As you walk the streets, you feel like you’re taking part in a world-renowned, centuries-long historical story.

As an architecture student, I can say that it is invaluable to be exposed to architecture from different cultures and time-periods. Florence (and Italy as a whole) had an incredible impact on the architecture of the Western world and continues to influence architecture around the world today. Studying architecture in Florence gave me so many new perspectives and understandings on how architecture can be done compared to the preconceived notions we have in the U.S.

As a university student, now may be the only chance many of us have to spend several months immersed in another nation’s culture and society, so I am incredibly grateful that I took the leap and signed up for this program.