I just recently returned from a three week study abroad trip to Florence, Italy. The trip consisted of a three hour course credit titled the Applied Human Factors and Art in Italy. This course counts as an Industrial Engineering elective, so this trip is meant for IE majors only. We stayed in Florence for three weeks with a four day trip to Rome. On the weekends, students were entitled to their own free time to do as they please while during the week we had activities and class scheduled. Our weeks consisted of numerous tours and visits of monumental places in history. A majority of our tours consisted of museum visits which showcased breathtaking sculptures, tapestries, paintings, and so much more. We also visited a significant amount of churches which have played a significant role throughout Florentine history due to the power the Catholic church has played in Italian culture. We then completed a series of assignments which related to that day’s activities and discussed the role that humans played in all of these beautiful creations.

All around, my study abroad trip to Florence, Italy was one of the best trips I have ever been on, and I am so thankful for the opportunity I had to get to go. I had never been to Europe before, so there were a few culture shocks. We definitely had some ups and downs on the trip, but that is expected. We saw so many beautiful things and pieces of art that were so old yet remained so beautiful. I loved seeing all of the art; the sculptures, paintings, and buildings were all so old but remained in great shape. However, my favorite part of the trip was just the culture in Florence. The locals were so friendly, extremely welcoming, and very helpful, and us Americans definitely needed some help figuring the city out. The food was amazing, and the city was very laid back- not too overwhelming. On top of that, everything in Florence is a piece of history. Every building you see is at least a couple of hundred years old, and the traditions that are carried on throughout the city are the same traditions that the Medici family witnessed. I think out of everything that is what blows me away the most- I would walk down the same streets as such significant historical figures such as Michelangelo or Leonardo da Vinci.

Another awesome thing I loved about Italy were the trains. On the weekends, all of us students would spend a few euros, hop on a train, and visit a new part of Italy. This aspect of Italy was super cool because although we primarily stayed in Florence, we had the opportunity to visit other places as well such as Lake Como, Milan, Cinque Terre, and Pisa. These mini trips also gave us some time to spare on the train, so we could all work on assignments that were due for the class. All in all, my study abroad trip to Florence, Italy was a life changing experience, and for anyone that asked, I would strongly recommend they take the same opportunity if it becomes available to them.