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The obvious reason I chose to study in Florence, being an Art History major, was that it was the birthplace of the Renaissance. What I didn't realize is that Florence is also the best place to study life. No day is average, and neither is any classroom session. Learning to share the city with hundreds of other American students was a challenge, but it made those times when we had built up the courage to talk with local Italian students all the more exhilarating. You will learn to love your host family, even though your Italian mom will show affection different from your other mom. You will learn to love the food and gelato, and most likely, you already do. You will learn to love the long walks to Disegno, because it gives you a chance to walk the less traveled cobblestone streets. You will learn to love Linguaviva (especially Aula 3), as your home away from home. You will learn to love the bustling San Lorenzo Market, because it'll give you a chance to perfect your bargaining skills. You will learn to love taking day trips on the weekends, because the hill towns around Florence are breathtaking. And finally, you'll realize you fell in love with Florence the moment you saw the Duomo from the airplane window.
—Giulia Hines, Florence, Fall 2009
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