By Chelbie Smith
Photo by Amanda Cassels
A comfort zone is a situation where one feels safe or at ease, it means settling for something we already known. It is so easy to slip into the safely of routine, but living away from home encourages you to bring change into your life – in more ways than just admiring a different scenery.
Continue reading Stepping Out of Your Comfort Zone
By Caroline Kaczynski & Carly Dorsen
1. Don’t limit yourself to just one grocery store!
It can be tempting to fall into a routine of going to the most conveniently located grocery store. We want to encourage you to push your boundaries! By experimenting with different grocery stores, you will be able to see a fresh selection of goods every day. We recommend you check out the Mercato Centrale. In the mornings, the bottom half of the Mercato serves as a local produce market – stop by for a wide array of meats, cheeses, and local delicacies. By trying out new stores you will be able to find new foods, which we think makes grocery shopping more fun!
2. Experiment with Italian recipes & take cooking classes!
Just because you might not be able to buy all the meals you hear about ready-made, doesn’t mean you cannot cook them yourself! We suggest you push yourself out of your comfort zone and try to prepare a local Florentine dish! Since you are in Italy, it is easy to acquire all of the right ingredients for the perfect homemade dish. If you are feeling adventurous, you can sign up for a cooking class to do with friends. We recommend you check out the experiences section of Airbnb, where there are a lot of cooking classes offered for an affordable price. You can check out these experiences here. Once you learn how to make the dishes they teach you, you will have that skill for life!
3. If you are feeling homesick, cook one of your favorite meals from home!
As unbelievable as it sounds, you might get sick of pasta! On those rare occasions, we suggest that you try to recreate one of your favorite dishes from home. One night, we were really missing the mexican food that is readily available at home. As a result, we decided to host a “Taco Tuesday” night where we prepared some of our favorite mexican dishes.
4. Treat yourself to a restaurant every now and then!
Although we love cooking, you should absolutely make the most of your time in Florence to try out all of the delicious restaurants. As a student, you can get various discounts around the city. We also suggest you look up a menu online, to make sure the offerings are within your price range. You can also grab inexpensive bites to eat such as pizza or paninis, which are still a nice change!
Hopefully these tips and tricks help keep you and your stomach satisfied as you enjoy your time in Florence!
By Chelbie Smith
Being from Louisiana, I know a thing or two about water and rising water at that. Being that I am a Hurricane Katrina survivor, I would like to say that I am very aware and cautious when it comes to water and its potential effects.
By Emma Vallelunga
Photo by the author
Since 1946, Profumeria Invicta on Via Ricasoli between the Duomo and the Galleria dell’Accademia is a family-run business, home to hundreds of beauty products for Florentine hairdressers, fragrance fanatics and visiting tourists.
Continue reading Discovering a Florentine’s One-Stop Beauty Shop
By Beatrice Ramasauskaite
Many students studying in foreign countries often forget the main and easiest ways of sustainability. This short guide will not only help you remember the sustainable ways of life but will also lower your expenses and enrich your studying abroad experience.
Continue reading How “Slow” Am I? Sustainable Habits while Studying Abroad
By Joe Barmashi
Photos By The Author
Founded in 1936, The Giorni Bookshop is one of the most notable bookstores in Firenze. A man named Giulio Montelatici founded this influential store and named it after his wife, Maria Giorni, and has been a family run business ever since. The current manager is Francesco Piatolli, who is the great grandson of Giulio Montelatici.
Continue reading The Giorni Bookshop: a true Italian relic
By Emma Vallelunga
Photos By The Author
Inside the Gucci Museum, an exhibit dedicated to Italian artist Ketty La Rocca showed visitors a look into the art of visual human expression beyond verbal communication as part of this year’s L’eredita delle Donna Women’s Heritage Festival in Florence.
By Nevan Beatty
Photos by the Author
In a city so infused with art, it is easy to miss out on some of the more obscure and stunning galleries Florence has to offer. Museo Marino Marini holds a collection of hidden gems you don’t want to miss.
Continue reading Must-See Florentine Art Exhibit
By Quincey Caldwell
Photo by the Author
When picturing the historic sights and spots of Florence, it is often people’s first instinct to imagine the grand churches and monuments that adorn the streets. While these attractions are significant in defining the culture of the area, they are not the only means of taking in the richness of the city’s past. For a look into a unique strain of Florentine artistry, one need not look further than Filistrucchi.
Continue reading The Quiet Artistry of Florentine Wig Making
By Natalie Lorenzo
Photos by the Author
According to the Cambridge Dictionary the word “vintage” has the meaning of “high quality and lasting value or showing the best and most typical characteristics of a particular type of thing, especially from the past.”