Today marks the two week point in my semester abroad experience. I arrived last Monday in Florence and moved in with 20 girls for the next 16 weeks. Within my time living here so far I have picked up and attempted to adopt new habits in my daily routine to better fit in with Italian culture. The biggest differences I have noticed so far surround the food culture here. Many unspoken rules have caught me by surprise. For example, not ordering a cappuccino after 11 a.m. It is viewed as a breakfast food, so ordering it later in the day is out of the ordinary. Another difference is paying when you eat. When sitting at a restaurant the bill is not brought to you when they clear your plates, you have to ask to pay. A big component of paying for food at a sit-down restaurant is the luxury to sit and enjoy your time there in Italian culture. Getting comfortable flagging down a waiter has been an adjustment, but also I have learned to love a long dinner with lots of chatting. Similarly, when paying at coffee shops, often times you order, sit and drink and then when you’re ready to leave you approach the counter again to pay. At first I was just very unsure of the dynamic and it felt strange to order and not pay right away. Altogether though these adjustments have been such a crucial hands-on learning opportunity for me to be better immersed in the culture. These are just a few of the many more to come in the next 15 weeks of my stay here.

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Learn more about this blogger’s study abroad program: Florence University of the Arts