Kimberly Monarrez

Studying abroad has always been a dream of mine. I've always been passionate about learning about different cultures and languages. I chose Italy because I love how beautiful the language is and how close it is to France and Spain which were countries I also visited briefly.      

One of the most interesting experiences I had was taking a trip to the Amalfi Coast with a company called SmartTrip. There I met and bonded with other students and visited Capri, Napoli, Positano, and Pompeii.

My biggest challenge was actually learning Italian. I thought that because I know Spanish, Italian would be a breeze but that was not the case. In fact, I consistently mixed up my Spanish with Italian. I responded by studying and working harder. Now I confuse my Spanish with Italian!

A typical day in Florence began with attending classes. After classes I always tried to get myself lost in Florence because I feel as if that is the best way to get to know an area. And I was right. I found such small charming little shops and more isolated scenic areas where there were no tourists. It was a magical experience.

I took a language course and a culture course. The courses were a lot more fast paced then classes here at Berkeley because they were cramming a semester’s worth of work in eight weeks.

My most meaningful aspect of my time abroad was getting to share my first European experience with the genuine and all together amazing people I made in this program.

Studying abroad impacted my interest in learning languages and global affairs. This is why I’m considering in majoring in Peace and Conflict studies.

I recommend that students consider the weather in Florence. It is extremely hot and humid and air conditioning is considered a luxury. So if you cannot handle heat I recommend attending in the fall.