This past fall I got the opportunity to study abroad in Florence Italy. I met the most creative and brave people from all over the world. Countless experiences and interactions created an atmosphere of wanderlust and excitement. I traveled and lived with three of my best friends, and met many more. We made plans to travel almost every weekend, stay in hostels, and explore the surrounding cities and countries of Italy. We found a club, the oldest one in Florence, and found our niche for fun. Running into the same groups of people and students, dancing and singing with each other was a way of life. It was our way of life, walking past the Duomo every day and night, we lived the dream.
One night we went to a hostel across the street from our apartment for a barbeque, feasted with new and old friends, and got inspired by cultural differences. I met two girls, solo travelers, from Sweden and Australia. One was 18 and the other was 25. These women were doing the damn thing. They had ambition and they chased it, traveling to many countries alone, using their knowledge and people skills to change their lives and perspectives. This is motivating and admirable to me. I traveled alone to Italy but had my friends waiting for my arrival. To do it alone was a confidence booster, and a comforting feeling to see familiar faces. These women had no familiar faces but met them along the way. I love that and plan to do solo traveling in the future.
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Going to the coast of Italy was by far the most life-changing experience for me. I am an ocean girl at heart, craving the sounds, smells, sights, and emotional and physical relaxation of the sea. The pebble beaches and cliffside restaurants made me feel right at home. Italians are a welcoming and proud culture, sharing their culinary and architectural wonders with the world. I soaked up every ounce of sunlight and swam in the clearest water. I traveled to Sicily toward the end of my trip and felt a spiritual connection to the land. This is a part of my heritage; my great-great-grandmother is Sicilian and it was important to me to see the land. I fell in love with the landscape and the people, the food and the weather.
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One thing I would have done differently was learn more Italian. I am a people person and enjoy talking to strangers and hearing their stories. It was a little daunting to speak with Italians in my broken version of their native language. I felt a sense of despair, for everything I had missed out on. Language to me is the key to life. It unlocks places and people and makes for a greater understanding of life. This would be the one thing I wish I had spent more time and energy on.
My experience was rich with every day, and I learned more in those four months than I have in, possibly, my whole life. I loved using my common sense, body language, and people skills to enhance my time there. I would recommend traveling the world to anyone who is able, and willing to push their comfort zone. It makes for a bonafide, confident, and appreciative view on cultures, and everyday life back in the US. Thank you, Italy, for you have a piece of my heart, forever.
Corynne Barney (BA Studio Art) spent the Fall 2023 semester studying abroad in Florence, Italy through KEI. Corynne had the following to say about studying abroad, “Studying abroad has opened my eyes to a different world-view. I have a greater understanding of European culture and a heightened awareness for natural and architectural beauties. I am a changed woman in the most positive way.”
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