I grew up around art. Both of my parents and all three of my siblings are artists. Growing up, I went to art openings as a child and remember sitting in cold, metal chairs in various galleries watching my mom install an art show. Being the odd one out with no artistic ability, the only thing I could do was let myself be involved with the art from the outside in.
After studying and living in Florence for four weeks, I have realized the city and I have much more in common than expected. Art, nonetheless, plays an important factor and standing back to look is the easiest part of being in an unknown city; but the willingness to create comforts and unlikely routines in a city of unfamiliarity has been the most rewarding. Observing and immersing oneself in culture beyond the tourist spectacle is a transformative experience.
There is unmistakably a lot of to see in Italy. Of course, one must go to all of the art museums and landmarks and observe all of the works that became the backbone of Florence, but it is equally important to incorporate the non-touristy things in your itinerary. The best part about living in Florence was the transition of becoming an obvious tourist to feeling like a person who lived in Florence.
The humanities professor from Citrus College on this trip, Senya Lubisich, talked about how students would learn how to walk “properly” once being adjusted to the city. When all of the students first arrived, we walked with uncertainty and could not grasp the idea of being able to be independent. We now walk with confidence; we have our favorite routes to walk to class and we are no longer getting bombarded by salesmen on the street trying to sell us shot glasses and magnets.
Students apart of the Citrus College Study Abroad Program tour practically every day; I knew I was fully adjusted to being in Florence when one of my roommates turned to me after a long and exciting day of sightseeing in Tuscan, Italy and said, “Let’s go home.”
Weirdly enough, I knew she was talking about our apartment in Italy because we had finally found comfort in Florence among the massive cathedrals and baskets of fresh bread. Of course, there is no In-N-Out in Italy, you rarely see the sun sometimes, and your family is 6,000 miles away, but it’s been a liberating experience to find comfort in beautiful artwork, meeting new people, and finding your favorite coffee shop with the best cappuccinos.
Of course none of us truly look like we were born and raised in Italy, and none of us speak fluent Italian, unless it’s “scusami” meaning “excuse me” when walking through a crowd of people, or “Ciao! Grazie!” meaning “Bye! Thank you!” when leaving a restaurant or store, but among all the people that have lived in Italy for their whole life, we do not stand out in a crowd looking as if we’ve never been in Florence before.
Overall, it’s weird that I no longer blink twice when walking by churches as big as skyscrapers, asked if I prefer my water “still or with gas?” at dinner, or the €4 plate of pasta you can definitely not get at Olive Garden.
I learned about Italy through all of the tour guides and tourist attractions but experienced Italy by going out of my comfort zone.
Ciao! Grazie!
