By Jennifer Bortner
To most Carnegie Mellon students, a semester spent without checking Canvas only exists in myth. However, to those of us studying abroad, that fairytale land becomes a reality. While I’ve known I wanted to study abroad since before I even applied to college, it is not a super common thing at Carnegie Mellon where many majors can feel concentrated on the Pittsburgh campus. So, while I’m abroad in Florence, Italy, I wanted to give you all a taste of what living and studying abroad is like so you can see if it might be right for you.
9:45 a.m. — Since arriving in Florence, most of my days still start with what they have always started with: an alarm I choose to ignore. While I have a more picturesque view in Florence than my Pittsburgh apartment, getting up is still just as difficult.
11:30 a.m. — I typically don’t leave my apartment until around 11ish for a breakfast/lunch situation. I usually get some variation of a sandwich or pastry. The sandwiches here are insanely incredible and it’s pretty easy to get a bite on my way to class.
12:00 p.m. — I often will just wander around a bit before I head to class. I like to use the Arno River as a guide and explore starting from that point. It’s been a great way for me to get to know the city without constantly using my phone as a map.
1:00 p.m. — I really enjoy sitting or eating lunch in the Piazza della Signoria, which is right by the Vecchio Palace and the Uffizi Gallery. It’s a nice spot to look at statues and people watch.
2:00 p.m. — I’ll typically get my second cup of coffee and do some work or hang out with a friend before class. Florence has a lot of literary cafes which I really love just existing in.
3:00 p.m. — I start heading to class around this time as my course starts at 3:15 and runs for about three hours. Right now, I’m studying magazine editing and publishing, so my classmates and I work on layout or writing for a big chunk of class time.
Somewhere between 6:00 p.m. and 8:00 p.m. — I walk home from class and pick up some kind of dinner. I usually either get something along the lines of pasta, pizza, or a sandwich.
After 8:00 p.m. — Depending on the night, I’ll either go out for a drink with friends or just chill out and do homework in my apartment. Usually, I’ll also start thinking about my plans for the next day and/or the weekend!
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