Tips and Tricks To Make The Most Out Of Your Home Base

by Sasha Beck

Studying in Florence has been an amazing experience - from exploring the city itself, embracing the European lifestyle, and traveling to other countries, I wouldn't change a thing. Here are a few tips and tricks that I learned along the way that can be beneficial to know before heading off to study abroad!

1. Learning and Speaking Italian 

Tip 1: Use Duolingo

Trick: When you commit to your study abroad location, download Duolingo! Getting a head start on some basic words (hello, bye, how are you, thank you) is VERY helpful and will help make you feel ready to touch down in your new home!

Tip 2: Embrace it!! 

Trick: Go to restaurants/cafes/supermarkets and practice ordering in Italian! I have found that they often revert to English, but with repetition and practicing the pronunciation of the words, you will feel like a local!

2. Explore surrounding cities!

Florence is amazing and there is so much to see here, but Italy as a whole is so accessible that it is so worthwhile to visit other parts

Tip 1: Day trips!

Trick: Use OMIO to search for cheap train tickets out of Santa Maria Novella Train Station for day trips to smaller cities like Pisa, Bologna, and Sienna!

Tip 2: Explore the Tuscan Hills

Trick: Find time to take a drive with a group up into the Tuscan Hills to explore Vineyards and taste some of the homemade goods that Italians are prized on making! This experience takes you outside the city and provides a different perspective on the region of Tuscany.

3. Food

In Italy, everything is SO fresh. Try different types of pasta and pizza and local foods until you find your favorite. 

Tip 1: Try the local cuisine!

Trick: You can ask locals what their favorite place to eat is and what dish to get or do some research on your own! Either way, it adds to learning about where you are living for the next few months!

Tip 2: Follow eating norms

Trick: Enjoy the slow life and relax during your meals! Italians like to enjoy their food and will spend hours in a restaurant, even after their meal is done. Also, be aware that the check won't come unless you ask!

I took a day trip to Bologna and had a wonderful meal at a local restaurant. My friend and I tried spaghetti alla bolognese, a traditional pasta dish with a meat sauce, and lasagna bolognese!

Most of all, enjoy your study abroad experience and find your own tricks to make the most of your time!