Life In Florence

After all the weekend trips and bus rides and airports, it’s easy to forget that most of this semester has actually been spent in Florence. And honestly, living here has been just as much of a highlight as any of the places I’ve traveled to.

Florence grew on me fast. It’s small enough to feel familiar, but there’s still always something happening. I got used to walking everywhere pretty quickly, partly because there’s no other choice, but also because walking here is actually enjoyable. You pass by insane architecture, random street performers, piazzas filled with people, and of course, tourists stopping dead in the middle of the street to look at the Duomo. You learn to weave through the crowds like a local, or at least pretend to.

One of my favorite parts of being here is how normal things still feel beautiful. Like grabbing a to-go spritz and just walking across Ponte Vecchio at sunset. Or running late to class but still passing by some 15th-century church like it’s no big deal. You stop taking photos at some point and just start living in it. (Except that's not totally true because I probably have 40 of the same picture of the duomo from different days just because how in awe I am)

Classes were actually fun too, which I didn’t expect. They felt different here, more relaxed, more connected to the city around us. It didn’t feel like school in the usual way, probably because everything felt a little more tied to real life. I have a wine marketing class and we have taken so many trips to local wineries and it's just so enjoyable.

There are places that became part of the routine, a go-to coffee spot, a certain walk I always take, the exact corner I cross to avoid the busiest streets. The longer I stay, the more Florence starts to feel like a place I really live in, not just visit.

The friends I have made and the memories I will continue to make really make this place so special. Ot isn't just a homebase in between trips, it is HOME.