A Day in the Life: Abroad in Florence
Elon University students are beginning to apply to study abroad programs for the 2022 academic year. We understand the stress that comes with this process and have sought out for students in different countries to speak about their experiences thus far.
This week, Sadie Williamson, who is a junior at Elon University from Bedford, New York, will answer all your questions about Florence. She has been studying at the Accademia Europea di Firenze since late August.
The Edge: How did you begin your search for choosing which city/country you would apply to?
Sadie Williamson: One of the main reasons I applied to Elon is because of the wide variety of abroad programs. It was difficult to choose a program because there were so many great options but studying in Italy had always been in the back of my mind. Many of my older friends had studied in Florence and the experience seemed so great. I loved the idea of being immersed in a completely different culture and lifestyle and that ultimately made me choose Florence.
E: Do you think that it is necessary to have a solid foundation of knowledge of Italian to study in Florence?
SW: I definitely don’t think that you need to have a lot of knowledge of Italian to study in Florence. I took Italian in high school so I was familiar with the language, but most of my friends and fellow students had never studied Italian before. Almost everyone in Florence speaks English so it’s not a hard adjustment.
E: Describe your housing accommodations, are you living in an authentic Italian apartment or student housing?
SW: Everyone in the program lives in authentic Italian apartments. I live with seven other girls from Elon and our apartment is very spacious. We have a kitchen, a living room and two bathrooms. Most of the apartments are in great locations and really close to the school. My apartment is two minutes from The Duomo and I pass it everyday on the way to school.
E: How is your school campus and its classes different from Elon’s?
SW: The classes are very similar to Elon classes but most of the professors are Italian. I’m currently taking Italian, Italian Cinema, History of the EU and Italian Art History. I really enjoy all of them. One of the main differences is the campus. The school is just two buildings in different parts of the city and it doesn’t have a campus.
E: What is your favorite part of your morning and evening routine?
SW: My favorite part of my morning routine is going to the cafe right next to the school. It’s called Shake Cafe and I go every morning before my Italian class and grab a cappuccino. They take meal vouchers that the school provides which is awesome as a college student on a budget. My favorite part of my evening routine is grabbing an Aperol spritz with my roommates and unwinding after a long day of classes.
E: How have you immersed yourself in the local culture and community?
SW: I think that living in an apartment right in the center of the city has really helped me immerse myself in the local community. Everyone is so friendly and welcoming of abroad students and really try to make us feel at home. There is a restaurant beneath our apartment and the owners always invite us to come down and grab food or a drink. Experiences like that have really made my time abroad amazing. Honestly just walking around the city and exploring is the best way to get to know Florence.
E: Through your weekend travels, have you visited a city that you wished you had studied there?
SW: The only place that I have loved as much as Florence was Amsterdam. My roommates and I went for fall break and had an amazing time. However I don’t think I would trade Florence for anywhere.
We hope this interview helped you take one step closer to finding where you are going to spend your dream semester! Tag us @theedgemag to keep us updated on your abroad experiences!