After surviving midterms week, something dawned on me. When you study abroad, you actually have to study. I know, crazy concept right? But stay with me. Although there are many perks that come with studying abroad, like endless opportunities for travel, it needs to come in moderation. Just because you’re in a different country it doesn’t mean you’re on vacation. I know it may come as a shock, but when studying abroad, time management is key.

For me, time management has always been difficult. Why stay in and study when there is an entire world to see? It sounds tempting, but this experience is teaching me the importance of being extremely disciplined when living in another country. My routine is not the same in Florence as it is at Penn State, or America for that matter. Although it has been stressful balancing assignments and travel, there are some ways to make sure you get everything finished.

I can never get work done in my room. It didn’t work at Penn State, and when you’re living with six other people, it’s hard to be productive. A simple solution: get out of your apartment, and find someplace else to study. It’s just like being at school. If you can’t do work in one place, find another one that works for you. At Penn State that’s the library, Pollock computer lab or one of the many dining commons. In Florence, that’s a library with a view of the Duomo or a café across the Arno.

When living in another country, you have to get creative to find your own routine and a sense of normalcy. Having these alternative study spaces allows me to complete my assignments. When I return to my apartment, I’m not stressed that I haven’t gotten enough done. Also, I find that planning your assignments allows you to maximize your time abroad. You can space out your work without becoming overwhelmed and still having enough time to travel on weekends!

Location: Firenze, Italia

Wednesday was the most amazing day I’ve had in Florence so far. Being in a different country for an extended period of time lends itself to new discoveries. For an assignment in my photography class, we had to take pictures that conveyed the different photographic elements: contrast, leading lines, etc. Having the opportunity to take pictures of a beautiful city is not a bad way to spend an hour. Usually when I walk through the streets of Florence, I go the same way each time. Through the same piazzas and streets to get where I need to be, but that day was different. On Wednesday, I decided to get lost and see what would happen. Lucky for me, Florence isn’t huge, so you usually end up back at the Duomo, Palazzo Vecchio or Piazza della Repubblica no matter what.

I ventured through the winding streets and went off the main roads. Each street I crossed presented a decision, and I randomly strolled down various roads until I found something interesting. To my surprise, I found a place I’d heard of, but not yet seen: the Mercato di Sant’Ambrogio, a local food market in Florence. A friend in my history of food and culture class told me that it’s a must for fresh fruits and vegetables.

I’d been wandering for a while when realized I was completely lost. Despite being alone, I wasn’t scared. I took the next left turn and walked down another street until I found a Piazza. One of the downsides of living in a foreign country is the lack of wifi. If you’re lost, you can’t just put the address into your Smartphone, but I figured that once I found out which Piazza it was, I could orient myself to the next major monument (Duomo, Palazzo Vecchio, Ponte Vecchio, Piazza della Repubblica). It turned out to be Santa Croce, a famous church in Florence that I visited for my art history class. It also happened to be five minutes from my school, so I knew exactly where I was.

As my directionally challenged panic subsided, I continued my wandering. It led me to a souvenir store so that I could send my Penn State roommate a postcard. Being the only one in the store, the owner and I started chatting (in Italian!) Granted, it was broken on my part, but it was Italian nonetheless. I paid for my postcard and walked out feeling the most confident since I’ve been here! It may be difficult, but it is possible to get around in a foreign country. You learn as you go: the language, the customs, the culture, etc.

On Wednesday, I really got to know the city where I’m living. Although it was with purpose, the best thing you can do is wander.

wandering down a random street in Florence

statue outside of Santa Croce

Piazza Ghiberti, where the Mercato di Sant’Ambrogio is located

I’ve discovered one thing from my time in Florence so far: I am in love with this city; the history, the culture, the architecture, just to name a few. It’s hard to find a negative aspect of living in Europe. There are differences, sure. For example, the keys –which are shaped much differently than those in the United States— were impossible to unlock. During my first few days here, I was petrified to walk home from class and be unable to get into my apartment. I was determined to learn the ways of the Italian keys, and the day before classes started, I practiced with some of my roommates. Finally, the lock clicked and the door opened. Although it was a small victory, when you’re living in a new and different place, you’ll take all the victories you can get.

On the first day of orientation, we were warned about the dreaded culture shock. Let’s face it, it does happen. Living in a new city, where I don’t speak the language or know my way around could be a recipe for disaster. Readers, I know that may not be exactly what you might be what you want to hear, but it is the reality of the situation. It’s not all bad though, and each day gets easier. It brings opportunity for new discoveries of new shops, routes and restaurants (because it’s Italy and everyone comes for the food). It’s all about taking advantage of those opportunities, because when you’re living in Europe, who knows when you’ll get back or how long you’ll be there for. Make the most of the city, and wander until you find something inspiring. In Florence, there is beauty everywhere, so that wouldn’t be very difficult.

Navigating the city is confusing because there are so many twists and turns. Despite my lapses in direction, I was able to find both my school buildings easily. The first day of classes, I had to go from one building to the other, and as soon as I stepped into the street, I realized I was completely alone, and I had no choice but to find my way to the next building. Rest assured, readers. Not only was I able to find my way, I was able to find my way back to the market, attempt to get groceries in Italian and walk home by myself! It takes some time, but I love that I’m beginning to get the hang of things!

It’s been an interesting week. I’ve survived my first four-day week of classes, and I love them. It took a little time to perfect my schedule, but I can tell that I am really going to take something away from them! This weekend, the school took us to Chianti, where we toured an operational castle and did a wine tasting where we learned the proper techniques to taste wine. I had signed up for a day trip to Siena and San Gimignano, two Tuscan towns. Despite the rainy morning, it was an amazing trip with breathtaking views and beautiful architecture.

I know that everyday is going to bring something new, and I can’t wait to see what happens next week!

not a bad view from my room!

Location: Firenze

You know when you have one of those moments where you realize this is it: my life is about to change. This is definitely one of those moments. I’m about to embark on a journey, and I know things will never be the same.

I’m Rachel, a junior studying print journalism at Penn State University. I’m going to be traveling over the next 18 hours to get to Florence, Italy. Although it may seem stressful and unnerving, I can’t wait to see where I will be spending the next four months of my life!

Going to Penn State, I was always about three hours from home. It was a buffer for me. I knew that I had my space and could be independent, but was still able to jump on a bus if I needed/wanted to come home for the weekend. Now, it’s a little longer, and I have to cross an ocean to get home. Despite having friends at college, for now they are still home on break, and saying goodbye to them was difficult. Saying goodbye to my family, my support system was difficult. But I know that this temporary separation will be worth it. It’s going to be a semester of firsts. The first time I’m traveling alone, and living on another continent, amongst other things. It may be daunting, but as a generally optimistic person, I try to look on the bright side. Studying journalism, having the opportunity to be exposed to other cultures and meeting new people is something that I love!

I still can’t believe I was able to fit my entire life in a suitcase, a carryon bag and a backpack. As a notorious over-packer, this was a serious victory for me. I found that it’s not necessarily what you pack; it’s how you pack it. Don’t get me wrong, it’s important to be smart about what you bring. Most countries do have drug stores and some of the best shopping in the world, so you want to make sure and save room in your suitcase for your future shopping excursions. When finally placing everything in your suitcase, rolling your clothes, rather than folding them helps to create more space. However, I did find that basics (solid t-shirts, knit sweaters, black leggings, dark high waisted jeans, combat boots, etc.) are your best friend and they go with whatever you pack.

As a college student, it’s important to practice time management skills. With that said, being a college student, procrastination seems to be inevitable. I try to be as efficient as possible, and make lists. With so many cities to visit, it’s difficult to narrow it down. In Florence alone, there is so much to see and do: there’s the fantastic food, the beautiful architecture and the amazing shopping. I hope I get the chance to travel, cross things off my extremely long list and write about my experiences along the way!

Goodbye Pa., Ciao Firenze!

Location: 19422