{"id":21196,"date":"2025-06-11T09:10:39","date_gmt":"2025-06-11T14:10:39","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/international.missouri.edu\/studyabroad\/?p=21196"},"modified":"2025-06-16T09:26:17","modified_gmt":"2025-06-16T14:26:17","slug":"ciao-firenze-alla-prossima-aventura","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/international.missouri.edu\/studyabroad\/2025\/06\/11\/ciao-firenze-alla-prossima-aventura\/","title":{"rendered":"Ciao Firenze, alla prossima aventura!"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

I began my study abroad experience on Via Ricasoli 21, tucked near the beating heart of Florence, Italy. As someone who had never stepped foot outside the United States before, I wasn\u2019t sure what to expect \u2014 but from the very first day, everything felt like a dream (a very well-organized, croissant-filled dream). Each morning began the same way \u2014 warm, flaky croissants bursting with chocolate or vanilla cream, paired with caf\u00e9 lattes made with the kind of care that only Italians can deliver. We\u2019d grab our breakfast from the caf\u00e9 right below our apartment, exchanging a cheerful \u201cCiao!\u201d with the barista who quickly memorized our orders. Then, it was time for class.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\n\"IMG_8303\"<\/a>\n<\/div>
Always doing homework in the cafe\u2019s garden two floor below our apartment!<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Our coursework was focused on the ethics of nursing, and the conversations were anything but dull. We dove deep into powerful and sometimes controversial topics like euthanasia, abortion and universal health care. What made it even more meaningful was comparing how these issues are viewed in the U.S. versus in Italy \u2014 a reminder that health care isn\u2019t just about science, it\u2019s about culture, values and humanity, too. After class, our learning continued outside the classroom. We toured local hospitals, getting a firsthand look at their ICUs, emergency rooms and even their ambulance systems. We sat in on discussions about organ donation planning, and saw how compassion and efficiency worked together in a different health care setting. And then, of course, there was Florence itself \u2014 an open-air museum waiting to be explored. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\n\"2295fb70_76bb_46ad_a399_17d7417d8c7d\"<\/a>\n<\/div>
Afternoon excursion to Museo degli Innocenti.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

We wandered the cobblestone streets, sometimes purposefully and sometimes just letting the city guide us. The Duomo took our breath away (both literally and figuratively if you braved the climb), and seeing Michelangelo\u2019s David up close felt surreal. One morning, we hiked up to the Piazzale Michelangelo at sunrise, watching golden light spill over the terracotta rooftops. In the evenings, we danced through the streets, following the rhythms of street musicians and soaking up the energy of a city that never seems to sleep. What truly made the experience special were the people. We met locals who welcomed us like old friends, shared meals that stretched into hours, and swapped stories about everything from favorite childhood snacks to weekend rituals. There were a lot of laughs and a few language mishaps. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\n\"IMG_8299\"<\/a>\n<\/div>
Nightly walks past the Duomo.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
\n\"IMG_8302\"<\/a>\n<\/div>
Saw David up close \u2014 he is WAY taller than we anticipated!<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

This was more than just a study abroad program \u2014 it was a moment in time that I\u2019ll carry with me forever. I made lifelong friends, not just with classmates, but with people from across the world who reminded me how big and beautiful life can be when you step out of your comfort zone. If you’re planning a trip to Florence \u2014 or anywhere in Italy \u2014 my biggest piece of advice is to go in with an open mind and a curious heart. Be sure to download the local train and bus apps ahead of time; navigating public transportation is simple once you\u2019re familiar with the system, and it opens up the entire city (and beyond) to you. Don\u2019t be afraid to say yes to new experiences, whether that\u2019s trying squid ink pasta or hopping into a local celebration you stumble upon by accident. Every day brings something new, and you\u2019ll want to taste, see and experience as much as you can \u2014 so try not to eat the same thing twice! Even small efforts to speak Italian \u2014 like saying \u201cgrazie\u201d with a smile or greeting shopkeepers with a \u201cbuongiorno\u201d \u2014 go a long way in connecting with locals. And finally, remember to slow down. Florence has a rhythm all its own, and it\u2019s best appreciated when you\u2019re walking, watching, and letting the city surprise you. Grazie, Firenze. You gave me more than I could\u2019ve ever imagined.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\n\"IMG_8300\"<\/a>\n<\/div>
Our first course during our welcome dinner!<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
\n\n\n\n

Learn more about this blogger\u2019s study abroad program: Nursing Ethics in Italy<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

I began my study abroad experience on Via Ricasoli 21, tucked near the beating heart of Florence, Italy. As someone who had never stepped foot outside the United States before, I wasn\u2019t sure what to expect \u2014 but from the very first day, everything felt like a dream (a very well-organized, croissant-filled dream). Each morning […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":51,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[7],"tags":[185],"class_list":["post-21196","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-blog","tag-italy"],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/international.missouri.edu\/studyabroad\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/21196","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/international.missouri.edu\/studyabroad\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/international.missouri.edu\/studyabroad\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/international.missouri.edu\/studyabroad\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/51"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/international.missouri.edu\/studyabroad\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=21196"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/international.missouri.edu\/studyabroad\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/21196\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":21202,"href":"https:\/\/international.missouri.edu\/studyabroad\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/21196\/revisions\/21202"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/international.missouri.edu\/studyabroad\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=21196"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/international.missouri.edu\/studyabroad\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=21196"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/international.missouri.edu\/studyabroad\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=21196"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}