Eager to step into the footsteps of a college student who studied abroad in Italy? We recently caught up with AIFS Abroad participant Michaela from Chapman University, who spent spring semester studying abroad in the Renaissance city of Florence.
Discover how Michaela’s study abroad experience in Florence helped her change her perspective on life and travel Europe!
Choosing When & Where to Study Abroad
Deciding where and when to study abroad can be difficult—especially because AIFS Abroad offers so many amazing program destinations throughout the year! But as Michaela explains, choosing to study abroad in Florence was easy:
“I’ve always been really passionate about art and history, especially the Renaissance era. I remember first learning about Florence and the Renaissance in elementary school and feeling such a strong connection, so I think I always knew that Florence would be the place for me. Once I started seeing more social media posts and hearing stories about studying abroad in Florence, I knew without a doubt that I wanted to study there.”
Choosing when to study abroad can depend on a few factors: the local climate, course availability, personal preference, and your academic track. As Michaela said, deciding on a study abroad program in Florence during spring semester was mainly due to her major:
“I chose to go abroad in the spring semester of my sophomore year, because that is the term that worked best for my major. I thought this timing worked out really well in terms of tourist levels, because anyone who was visiting for Christmas or J-Term had already left, and tourist season was just picking up when the program was ending. I also really enjoyed getting to experience the Easter season in Italy!”
Academics Abroad
AIFS Abroad has four Global Education Centers (GECs) in cities across Europe. Each of these international education institutions offers hands-on courses that incorporate local perspectives and culture. Hear Michaela describe her experience at the AIFS Abroad GEC in Florence, located just steps from the famous Ponte Vecchio:
“I attended AIFS’s Global Education Center in Florence. I loved that all the classrooms were in one building, because I quickly became very familiar with all the other students in my program. I especially loved their library/study space; I hung out there often in between classes, which was a great way to become familiar with/get to know my classmates! The professors were also fantastic—they were so knowledgeable about their subjects and so kind and understanding.”
For Michaela, getting to take an art course that took her out into Florence was a dream come true, as she explains:
“Italy Sketchbook was my absolute favorite class! On the first day, we hand made our own sketchbooks, which made them extra special! I loved getting to learn from Frans, our incredible professor, and practice my drawing skills while exploring the city.”
Budgeting Abroad
Cost is a major factor for many students who want to study abroad. Fortunately, AIFS Abroad accepts financial aid, plus we offer scholarships and grants, which can help reduce costs. Hear how Michaela stuck to a budget during her semester abroad:
“I kept track of all my spending in a big spreadsheet. After the first few weeks, I had an idea of what my typical spending habits would be like (like how much I’d spend on food every week). I advise students to save up as much as they can prior to their study abroad! You’ll probably be spending money on food, souvenirs, and travel, so you want to make sure you feel as financially comfortable as possible when you study abroad. I also lined up my summer job while I was abroad; it made me feel more comfortable to know I had a job to return to after my program ended, so I could make my money back.”
Housing
Housing is included in all AIFS Abroad programs. Housing options vary depending on the program you choose, and may include a student residence, homestay, or a shared apartment with other AIFS Abroad participants, which is what Michaela did:
“I stayed in an apartment in Oltrarno with two other AIFS students from my home university. I loved my experience! Having our own apartment in a non-touristy area made us feel like we were locals! I really enjoyed being with two girls from my program, as opposed to a homestay environment, because we ended up doing everything together and became super close.”
Language Learning
Did you know that you are not required to be fluent in a second language or take language courses to study abroad? While some do have language requirements, it’s completely optional for many AIFS Abroad programs! Below, Michaela details her language learning experience in Italy:
“I did not need to know Italian in order to be eligible for my program. Even though I had already satisfied my college language requirement, I still wanted to learn some Italian in a classroom setting, so I took Italian 101. It was helpful to learn some of the basics, even though I found that most people in Florence also had no problem understanding English. I recommend that students take a language class and really pay attention and ask lots of questions—sometimes my Italian professor would rework his lesson to make sure our concerns were acknowledged first, like if we wanted more advice on ordering in a restaurant or reading signs in a train station. This is super helpful knowledge to have, and practicing the language (even if it’s just a greeting) will definitely make the locals like you more!”
Cultural Appreciation
Studying abroad opens you up to new perspectives and ways of life. While there may be some level of culture shock at first, many study abroad students learn to appreciate cultural differences, as Michaela did:
“I really admire how Italians appreciate the slow life, like long dinners spent talking with friends/family. They seem to always be so present and don’t take things too seriously. I feel like this really stuck with me when I returned home; I’m on my phone less, I appreciate the things and people around me, and I try not to rush or stress too much.”
AIFS Abroad Trips & Activities
AIFS Abroad study abroad programs include trips and excursions that take you around your host country or city, in addition to social and cultural activities which are designed to enrich your experience and help you bond with other program participants. Below, Michaela describes her experience with these valuable program inclusions:
“The Rome and Venice weekend trips were included in the program fee, but I also paid small fees for some AIFS-sponsored activities and excursions, such as the Fiorentina soccer game, opera, classical concert, and cooking class. Every event was so beneficial to my immersion; they all made me feel more connected to the city and its culture, as well as my peers that I had the opportunity to make memories with.”
In addition to attending AIFS Abroad trips and excursions, you’re also free to go on your own weekend trips domestically and to other neighboring nations, like Michaela did. Hear her describe the places she visited, and one of the memories she made while traveling in Greece during her program:
“My friends and I went on weekend trips to Rome (with AIFS), Paris, Venice, London, Switzerland, Santorini, and Lake Como. These were all incredible destinations in their own ways, but Santorini was definitely my favorite trip. It was during spring break, which means it was near the end of the program, and we were feeling extra sentimental!
One of my favorite memories from the semester was watching the sunset over the sea in Santorini with the four closest friends I made while abroad. We had spent the day on the boat and were taking in the scenery while waiting for our dinner table to be ready. It was near the end of our program, so we were getting very sentimental and nostalgic already. It was the most beautiful sunset I’ve ever seen, with the best company.”
Don’t let the sun set on an incredible international education experience—study abroad like Michaela did with AIFS Abroad!
Here at AIFS Abroad, we know a thing or two about helping college students study abroad. All our programs come with many beneficial inclusions, which takes a lot of the stress out of planning. From coordinating your housing to providing things like cultural and social activities, excursions, comprehensive insurance, 24/7 emergency support, on-site staff, and more, you’ll take comfort in knowing you’ll have support throughout your entire experience abroad.
