I am incredibly grateful for the opportunity to study abroad for sixteen weeks in the fall of 2019 in Florence, Italy. My project reflects some of the most valuable takeaways I experienced as well as pictures and descriptions of Florence that help illustrate what I got to see for sixteen weeks. Florence is a beautiful city full of architectural and artistic influences from the Renaissance era that captivates everyone who visits. When doing my project, I wanted to highlight some of the most beautiful churches and art pieces I saw to showcase some of my favorite physical aspects of Florence. I also included artifacts showcasing some important projects I completed in my classes that gave me a greater understanding of both Florence and Italy.
However, most importantly, I wanted to highlight the experiences of living in a different country and traveling around Europe, as I gained tacit knowledge and a new sense of self-efficacy. Traveling was not always easy, but it stretched me to figure out how to navigate in places where I did not know the language nor how transportation worked in the given country. There were times when I wanted to throw up my hands and give up, but I had to make it home, so the only option was to figure it out. Traveling to so many different cities and countries opened up my eyes to how so many different people live, and those experiences gave me a broader perspective and appreciation for people who differ greatly from myself.
Since I loved my time abroad, making this project was delightful. My mission while making it was to illustrate the importance of traveling and cultural competence. I hope everyone can get an opportunity to immerse themselves in a different culture and learn more about the world and themselves that classes cannot teach.