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It’s hard to choose just one favorite class because they were all amazing, but I would have to say my Italian class. My professor was one of the sweetest people I have ever met and she genuinely cared about her students, always finding fun and encouraging ways to help us learn useful Italian words and phrases. As a kinesthetic learner, I sometimes struggle with lecture-based lessons, but this class was completely different. Before our final, our professor took us around town to buy food and practice Italian by pointing to objects and testing us on the words, which made everything feel real and helped the lessons stick with me.

While studying abroad in Florence, I engaged with the local community by shopping at local businesses, eating at local restaurants, and talking with locals, building relationships that made it all the more hard to leave, such as with my favorite barista who knew me, my order, my travels, and all the other things a friendship entails. I also completed a research project on Trattoria Sostanza, learning about its 130 years of history, family, food, and importance to the local community. My classes also encouraged me to explore the city through walking classes, where I experienced Florence’s art, churches, architecture, Roman history, local businesses, and cuisine, and even rowed down the Arno River. These experiences helped me connect with Florence beyond the typical tourist experience and better understand the culture and people who call it home.