Kiana Parker

Since I was in high school I have always been drawn to studying and traveling abroad. Experiencing a variety of cultures contrary to my own made me a more well balanced person. I know that traveling abroad has influenced my judgement to take into consideration the variety of perspectives that encompass this world.

The most interesting cultural experience I had abroad was the food culture. There is a wide variety of food intake and experiences that go into eating and purchasing food. In Italy the dining experience is much slower than the dining experience in Italy and that was a big adjustment. Also, the grocery store experience is vastly different then ours at home.

I would wake up make breakfast go to school, during the break I would either go to POP Cafe or Cafe Ricchi for a panini and a cappuccino. After class, I would go home and relax, usually I would stop by for a gelato at La Carraia. Some days we would hike up to Piazza Michelangelo for a beautiful sunset view. During the weekdays a lot of studying went on for my art history and Italian language course. On the weekend we would travel to various cities in Italy and outside of Europe.

- Art History Class - Cecilia Martelli (AMAZING professor)
- Italian - Carolina (She is on leave)
Learning another language was difficult for me, so it took a lot of my days to retain the information. However, the course load in my art history class was not that difficult. It is important to attend each and every class, as attendance is very important to the program and for you to gain a full experience of the course.

Meeting new friends and experiencing the art and culture that I have always learned about in my textbooks. Taking a walk around Florence you are able to experience such a wide variety of depth and culture as you walk to the grocery story. This experience is very enriching and valuable.

It disciplined me with finances. I learned to stick to a specific budget and not stray away from it.

Take lots of pictures. Remember that although studying abroad is fun, it is important to take the language classes seriously. Although it is fun to travel every weekend, staying in Florence is important as well to truly get a full understanding of the day to day life and culture.