It’s been officially one week since I departed for Italy to study abroad. For most people, today is the first day of classes after a hectic week of orientation meetings and adjusting to our new Italian lifestyles. I only have classes from Tuesday through Thursday, so I have a day off to recharge and reflect. Even though I’ve only been here a week, it feels like a month. I feel much more familiar with my new surroundings while still recovering from jet lag, navigating a whole other way of life, meeting people and having new experiences.
The first couple days were a doozy. I learned a lot about what to do and what not to do when traveling internationally, mostly what not to do. But it makes a funny story. My friend and I arrived in Amsterdam around 8 a.m. after an overnight flight in which I groggily watched the entirety of the “The Great Gatsby,” yet failed to actually sleep. At the Amsterdam airport, which looked like a massive Ikea, we waited in the long Passport Control line for an over an hour. Just remembering the amount of body heat generated by hordes of people from all over the world packed together like that, fatigued and irritable after traveling, makes me shudder. Then we were on the connecting flight to Florence, where I met a few other students in my program and ate a delicious Dutch sandwich.
Upon arrival in Italy, we took a taxi to the Housing Check-In office, where we received information about move-in and picked up our keys. My study abroad program doesn’t do home-stays; instead, everyone is put up in apartments around Florence, all within walking distance of the university.
Already exhausted and sweaty (it was around 90 degrees Fahrenheit that day and we had yet to find a building with air conditioning), we made the decision to forego a second taxi and walk to our apartment, a mere ten minutes away. Generally most things in Florence are about a ten minute walk away, anyway. Here’s a piece of advice: just because a city is small and easy to navigate doesn’t mean you should lug 100 pounds of luggage through the hot, busy, cobblestone streets to an apartment you’ve never been to before. It’s simply not worth it and your body, mind, and self-esteem will thank you later.
Humiliated and depleted, we arrived at the grand entrance doors of our apartment and were blessed to see a rare elevator. The elevator car is tiny, creaky, and looks like it hasn’t undergone a safety inspection since 1975, but it did the job. When I stepped into the small, beautiful apartment, it quickly became clear to me that air conditioning is an American luxury I took for granted. My friend and I proceeded to buy two more fans to stave off the heat, take a two hour nap, and get lost multiple times in search of dinner.
Clearly, that first day left me feeling primarily overwhelmed and homesick. Since then, as I’m gradually overcoming jet lag and adjusting to culture shock, my spirits have lifted much more. Breathtaking sights I’ve been dreaming about for years are in such close proximity and never fail to amaze me. For instance, our apartment is just down the street from the palace where the Medici family lived, and one street over from the Galleria dell’Accademia, the museum where the Statue of David is housed. So far, I’ve found it difficult to take in all of these sights with the constant onslaught of walkers, cyclists, and speedy taxis. Although Florence is small, it has the characteristics of a big city, and I recommend getting up and exploring before 8 a.m. to avoid the crowds.
In terms of cultural adjustment, I am slowly getting more comfortable. Most people I’ve encountered know at least a little bit of English, so I use it when I don’t know how to say a sentence in Italian, which is unfortunately often. I use my limited Italian for basic pleasantries and to ask for the check at the many restaurants and cafes I’ve been frequenting. It’s hard to resist spending money here when the food is generally much cheaper, fresher, and better than in the U.S. Besides, I shed off the calories with the profuse amount of walking and sweating I do on a daily basis.
Overall during this first week, I’ve encountered a strange mix of emotions. One day I’ll be tired and homesick for my quiet, air-conditioned home. Other days I feel elated and blessed as I drink a cappuccino surrounded by some of the most beautiful architecture I’ve ever seen. That’s not even including the pressure of academic obligations, which start tomorrow. I simply try to remind myself to take each day and emotion as they come, slowly and mindfully, like an Italian. I feel like I’m not only gaining valuable insight into a new culture, but learning how to live on my own in a foreign country and navigate the world as an adult. It’s overwhelming at times, but ultimately important and beneficial.