By Erica Kavanagh
After your first session in Florence, as a returning student you probably have seen all the monuments, museums, and historical sights. Those rose-colored glasses begin to fade, and you begin to experience Florence in a new light, as a local resident. Now upon your arrival back to Florence, you could face a few new issues.
For most returning students, one of the hardest adjustment can be the language especially after a holiday away in between academic seasons. Brushing up on your Italian can help for a much smoother transition back to Florence. Without practice, your language skills can and will become rusty. Seek out some fun and unconventional studying tips.
Tips to practice your language skills:
- Talk to an Italian – For pronunciation sign up for Chat Pal through Student Life
- Watch a T.V. show – L’italiano in Famiglia helps recap grammar
- Download a language app – Use Duolingo for vocab exercises
- Read a children’s book – C’era una Volta un Gatto to improve reading skills
- Listen to a podcast – For everyday phrases use free Italian Podcasts
With a new perspective, returning students may shed a romanticized image of Florence and experience some not so beautiful aspects. It’s bound to happen, every city and country has its cultural issues that usually differ from a student’s own home country. Experiencing cultural issues can bring back the homesickness that you thought you’d gotten rid of for good, for example.
Think globally, act locally:
- Live by being an example – Treat others how you would like to be treated
- Keep an open mind – Have the willingness to learn, be aware of, and talk about issues that you encounter
- Build relationships – Make a friend from a different cultural background breaks stereotypes
- Do not let the differences of others affect daily life – Understand that some people cannot be changed, that cultural issues are deep rooted
Florence is a home away from home. For your long-term stay, it is important to have a financial plan. Running out of money can be one of the worst things that can happen while abroad. Little investments can help you save money in the end.
Budget wisely:
- Stick to local markets – Stay away from expensive imported goods
- Buy a stove top espresso maker (moka/caffettiera) – Avoid spending money every morning at the bar
- Cook at home – Save money with home-cooked meals, rather than eating out
After a long holiday at home, students typically revert to their vacation mode/ lifestyle – odd sleeping/waking up habits, eating at anytime of the day, etc. It’s important to get your body and mind on a new academic schedule.
Time management:
- Readjust your sleep schedule – You’ll get the most out of your morning classes
- Planning enough time for proper meals – This helps you to strong off strong and avoid getting those beginning of the semester sicknesses such as colds, the flu, etc.
- Organize – Create a system to maintain on top of school work
Most returning students are eager to catch up with their friends from the previous session. However each new start brings new students. It is just as important to connect with new students as it is with the returning ones. Approaching these encounters aren’t always immediate but are extremely beneficial.
Networking Benefits:
- New information – New friendships open doors to new academic knowledge
- Different experiences – Exchanging cultural backgrounds
- Establishing similarities – Creating study groups or planning trips
- Revisiting sites – Challenges to enrich old context with new perspective
Everyone studying here wants to make the most of their time in Florence. Sometimes it can be hard for returning students to keep that initial curiosity alive, to continue to experience different parts of the city. However I personally can testify to the importance of further exploring this city. I learn new things everyday. My new roommates introduce me to new cafes and continually teach me how to cook new cuisines. These experiences have shaped the way I view Florence and have helped me overcome potential returning student issues. Every new discovery makes my relationship with the city even more intimate. I am very happy to be in Florence and cannot wait to see what the rest of the season has to offer.
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