{"id":7648,"date":"2025-02-03T11:28:34","date_gmt":"2025-02-03T16:28:34","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/blogarchive.utc.edu\/center-global-education\/?p=7648"},"modified":"2025-02-03T11:28:35","modified_gmt":"2025-02-03T16:28:35","slug":"firenze-and-friends","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/blogarchive.utc.edu\/center-global-education\/2025\/02\/03\/firenze-and-friends\/","title":{"rendered":"Firenze and Friends"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Studying abroad brought me more than just amazing experiences, insight into new cultures, and traveling experiences most of all it brought me new people and a newfound sense of confidence. I flew directly from Atlanta to Rome. I had come with three other friends from Chattanooga. The very first day we met the leaders of our program in the airport, I was informed I was in a completely different orientation group than those friends. I felt so sick and lonely the entire first two days. I was really upset. It turned out that it was one of the best things to happen to me. I was forced to make freinds and put msyelf out there. It proved I could. I made good friend with almost all 20 of the people in my group from all over the country. I could connect personally and be outgoing. I created a social life there I\u2019ve never even had here in Chattanooga. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

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The way ISEP set up the program by allowing for a seven day travel week in smaller groups was super fundamental to my success socially. We started in Rome and saw Vatican City and the Colosseum. We spent several days traveling up the coast through Tuscany to vineyards and several famous gardens. We had a wine tasting and several fun paid for lunches and dinners. We went to Cinque Terre and Monterusso beach town which was beyond stunning. We got to go the beach and do a famous hike. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

I spent my first five weeks in Florence exploring the city and Italy. I only did one weekend trip to Lake Como. We did a beautiful boat tour of the famous villas. It was one of my favorite trips I did. Florence itself is the most beautiful romantic city in Italy. It is full of hospitality and community. The people were so welcoming. The architecture was the prettiest I\u2019ve ever seen. The best part was living in a walkable city. Even when it rained, the city kept moving, hustling, and bustling. The Uffizi was full of some of the most famous Medici family sponsored art, like the Birth of Venus. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

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I was exposed to traveling by myself, separated trash and not having air conditioning. I was able to navigate public transit, metros, subways, and bus systems. I only lost one carry on. I traveled first to Austria and it was probably my favorite trip. We went first to Vienna, then to Halstatt, then to Salzburg. I loved the cold I loved the Germanic culture and architecture. I loved schnitzel and mountain towns and cottages. There were so many children and friendly families. The train ride was the most beautiful thing ive ever seen in my life. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

I traveled to Switzerland and saw Zurich, Interlaken and Bern. I traveled to Paris for a weekend. I traveled to Belgium and Prague as well. Prague was my favorite city. Lastly, I went to Berlin and Munich, Germany. It was the most beautiful 3 months of my life. I loved the Germanic cultures and food the best. I am actually taking German classes right now to eventually move to Europe. The nightlife created a culture for the study abroad students that could not be replicated. I loved every place I went and every person I met.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Maddie Cowan\u00a0(BS Criminal Justice) spent Fall 2024 studying abroad in Florence, Italy through ISEP<\/a>.\u00a0Maddie had the following to say about studying abroad,\u00a0\u201cIf you\u2019re scared, do it. If you don\u2019t know what you want to do, do it. If you need a change, do it.<\/em>“<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Studying abroad brought me more than just amazing experiences, insight into new cultures, and traveling experiences most of all it brought me new people and a newfound sense of confidence. I flew directly from Atlanta to Rome. I had come with three other friends from Chattanooga. The very first day we met the leaders of… <\/p>\n

Continue Reading <\/span><\/a><\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1215,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_genesis_hide_title":false,"_genesis_hide_breadcrumbs":false,"_genesis_hide_singular_image":false,"_genesis_hide_footer_widgets":false,"_genesis_custom_body_class":"","_genesis_custom_post_class":"","_genesis_layout":"","_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[6740,48248],"tags":[73812,73822,73811,73813],"class_list":{"0":"post-7648","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","6":"category-center-for-global-education","7":"category-study-abroad","8":"tag-global-education","9":"tag-global-mocs","10":"tag-mocs-abroad","11":"tag-wanderlust","12":"entry","13":"has-post-thumbnail"},"yoast_head":"\nFirenze and Friends - Center for Global Education Archive: Jul 2007 - Oct 2025<\/title>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"noindex, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"Firenze and Friends - Center for Global Education Archive: Jul 2007 - Oct 2025\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"Studying abroad brought me more than just amazing experiences, insight into new cultures, and traveling experiences most of all it brought me new people and a newfound sense of confidence. 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