{"id":7659,"date":"2025-02-03T11:52:27","date_gmt":"2025-02-03T16:52:27","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/blogarchive.utc.edu\/center-global-education\/?p=7659"},"modified":"2025-02-03T11:52:28","modified_gmt":"2025-02-03T16:52:28","slug":"how-lucky-i-am-to-miss-italy","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/blogarchive.utc.edu\/center-global-education\/2025\/02\/03\/how-lucky-i-am-to-miss-italy\/","title":{"rendered":"How lucky I am to miss Italy"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p>My dad has always told me \u201cCliches are cliche because they are true.\u201d What he meant by this is that things become common phrases because they are universally true. Good things come to those who wait is a cliche because patience is a virtue necessary for success. Beggars can\u2019t be choosers is a cliche because everyone has to learn that you must take what you are dealt with gratitude. Among all the cliches I had heard in my life, one encroached on my mind the months before deciding to study in Italy. I kept hearing one phrase over and over again. Whether it was from friends, family, or strangers online- it was always the same five words. <em>Studying abroad changed my life.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>I had many pros and cons for studying abroad. Pro: new experiences. Con: missing my family. Pro: traveling across Europe. Con: I don\u2019t know how trains work. Pro: meeting new people. Con: do I even like pizza that much? But no matter how many lists and diagrams I made I kept hearing my dad say \u201cCliches are cliche because they are true.\u201d So despite my doubts and my fears, I decided to study abroad in Florence, Italy.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-gallery has-nested-images columns-default is-cropped wp-block-gallery-1 is-layout-flex wp-block-gallery-is-layout-flex\">\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"768\" height=\"1024\" data-attachment-id=\"7661\" data-permalink=\"https:\/\/blogarchive.utc.edu\/center-global-education\/2025\/02\/03\/how-lucky-i-am-to-miss-italy\/italy-9-31\/\" data-orig-file=\"https:\/\/blogarchive.utc.edu\/center-global-education\/files\/2025\/02\/Italy-9.jpg\" data-orig-size=\"960,1280\" data-comments-opened=\"1\" data-image-meta=\"{&quot;aperture&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;credit&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;camera&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;caption&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;created_timestamp&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;copyright&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;focal_length&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;iso&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;shutter_speed&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;title&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;orientation&quot;:&quot;0&quot;}\" data-image-title=\"Italy\" data-image-description=\"\" data-image-caption=\"\" data-large-file=\"https:\/\/blogarchive.utc.edu\/center-global-education\/files\/2025\/02\/Italy-9-768x1024.jpg\" data-id=\"7661\" src=\"https:\/\/blogarchive.utc.edu\/center-global-education\/files\/2025\/02\/Italy-9-768x1024.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-7661\" srcset=\"https:\/\/blogarchive.utc.edu\/center-global-education\/files\/2025\/02\/Italy-9-768x1024.jpg 768w, https:\/\/blogarchive.utc.edu\/center-global-education\/files\/2025\/02\/Italy-9-1152x1536.jpg 1152w, https:\/\/blogarchive.utc.edu\/center-global-education\/files\/2025\/02\/Italy-9-580x773.jpg 580w, https:\/\/blogarchive.utc.edu\/center-global-education\/files\/2025\/02\/Italy-9-610x813.jpg 610w, https:\/\/blogarchive.utc.edu\/center-global-education\/files\/2025\/02\/Italy-9.jpg 960w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 768px) 100vw, 768px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"768\" height=\"1024\" data-attachment-id=\"7669\" data-permalink=\"https:\/\/blogarchive.utc.edu\/center-global-education\/2025\/02\/03\/how-lucky-i-am-to-miss-italy\/italy-8-34\/\" data-orig-file=\"https:\/\/blogarchive.utc.edu\/center-global-education\/files\/2025\/02\/Italy-8.jpg\" data-orig-size=\"960,1280\" data-comments-opened=\"1\" data-image-meta=\"{&quot;aperture&quot;:&quot;1.5&quot;,&quot;credit&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;camera&quot;:&quot;iPhone 13 Pro&quot;,&quot;caption&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;created_timestamp&quot;:&quot;1729613542&quot;,&quot;copyright&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;focal_length&quot;:&quot;5.7&quot;,&quot;iso&quot;:&quot;50&quot;,&quot;shutter_speed&quot;:&quot;0.0015649452269171&quot;,&quot;title&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;orientation&quot;:&quot;1&quot;}\" data-image-title=\"Italy\" data-image-description=\"\" data-image-caption=\"\" data-large-file=\"https:\/\/blogarchive.utc.edu\/center-global-education\/files\/2025\/02\/Italy-8-768x1024.jpg\" data-id=\"7669\" src=\"https:\/\/blogarchive.utc.edu\/center-global-education\/files\/2025\/02\/Italy-8-768x1024.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-7669\" srcset=\"https:\/\/blogarchive.utc.edu\/center-global-education\/files\/2025\/02\/Italy-8-768x1024.jpg 768w, https:\/\/blogarchive.utc.edu\/center-global-education\/files\/2025\/02\/Italy-8-1152x1536.jpg 1152w, https:\/\/blogarchive.utc.edu\/center-global-education\/files\/2025\/02\/Italy-8-580x773.jpg 580w, https:\/\/blogarchive.utc.edu\/center-global-education\/files\/2025\/02\/Italy-8-610x813.jpg 610w, https:\/\/blogarchive.utc.edu\/center-global-education\/files\/2025\/02\/Italy-8.jpg 960w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 768px) 100vw, 768px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"768\" height=\"1024\" data-attachment-id=\"7667\" data-permalink=\"https:\/\/blogarchive.utc.edu\/center-global-education\/2025\/02\/03\/how-lucky-i-am-to-miss-italy\/italy-6-33\/\" data-orig-file=\"https:\/\/blogarchive.utc.edu\/center-global-education\/files\/2025\/02\/Italy-6.jpg\" data-orig-size=\"960,1280\" data-comments-opened=\"1\" data-image-meta=\"{&quot;aperture&quot;:&quot;1.5&quot;,&quot;credit&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;camera&quot;:&quot;iPhone 13 Pro&quot;,&quot;caption&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;created_timestamp&quot;:&quot;1728068964&quot;,&quot;copyright&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;focal_length&quot;:&quot;5.7&quot;,&quot;iso&quot;:&quot;640&quot;,&quot;shutter_speed&quot;:&quot;0.04&quot;,&quot;title&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;orientation&quot;:&quot;1&quot;}\" data-image-title=\"Italy\" data-image-description=\"\" data-image-caption=\"\" data-large-file=\"https:\/\/blogarchive.utc.edu\/center-global-education\/files\/2025\/02\/Italy-6-768x1024.jpg\" data-id=\"7667\" src=\"https:\/\/blogarchive.utc.edu\/center-global-education\/files\/2025\/02\/Italy-6-768x1024.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-7667\" srcset=\"https:\/\/blogarchive.utc.edu\/center-global-education\/files\/2025\/02\/Italy-6-768x1024.jpg 768w, https:\/\/blogarchive.utc.edu\/center-global-education\/files\/2025\/02\/Italy-6-1152x1536.jpg 1152w, https:\/\/blogarchive.utc.edu\/center-global-education\/files\/2025\/02\/Italy-6-580x773.jpg 580w, https:\/\/blogarchive.utc.edu\/center-global-education\/files\/2025\/02\/Italy-6-610x813.jpg 610w, https:\/\/blogarchive.utc.edu\/center-global-education\/files\/2025\/02\/Italy-6.jpg 960w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 768px) 100vw, 768px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"768\" height=\"1024\" data-attachment-id=\"7663\" data-permalink=\"https:\/\/blogarchive.utc.edu\/center-global-education\/2025\/02\/03\/how-lucky-i-am-to-miss-italy\/italy-2-36\/\" data-orig-file=\"https:\/\/blogarchive.utc.edu\/center-global-education\/files\/2025\/02\/Italy-2.jpg\" data-orig-size=\"960,1280\" data-comments-opened=\"1\" data-image-meta=\"{&quot;aperture&quot;:&quot;1.5&quot;,&quot;credit&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;camera&quot;:&quot;iPhone 13 Pro&quot;,&quot;caption&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;created_timestamp&quot;:&quot;1727282299&quot;,&quot;copyright&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;focal_length&quot;:&quot;5.7&quot;,&quot;iso&quot;:&quot;50&quot;,&quot;shutter_speed&quot;:&quot;0.00028901734104046&quot;,&quot;title&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;orientation&quot;:&quot;1&quot;}\" data-image-title=\"Italy\" data-image-description=\"\" data-image-caption=\"\" data-large-file=\"https:\/\/blogarchive.utc.edu\/center-global-education\/files\/2025\/02\/Italy-2-768x1024.jpg\" data-id=\"7663\" src=\"https:\/\/blogarchive.utc.edu\/center-global-education\/files\/2025\/02\/Italy-2-768x1024.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-7663\" srcset=\"https:\/\/blogarchive.utc.edu\/center-global-education\/files\/2025\/02\/Italy-2-768x1024.jpg 768w, https:\/\/blogarchive.utc.edu\/center-global-education\/files\/2025\/02\/Italy-2-1152x1536.jpg 1152w, https:\/\/blogarchive.utc.edu\/center-global-education\/files\/2025\/02\/Italy-2-580x773.jpg 580w, https:\/\/blogarchive.utc.edu\/center-global-education\/files\/2025\/02\/Italy-2-610x813.jpg 610w, https:\/\/blogarchive.utc.edu\/center-global-education\/files\/2025\/02\/Italy-2.jpg 960w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 768px) 100vw, 768px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"768\" height=\"1024\" data-attachment-id=\"7665\" data-permalink=\"https:\/\/blogarchive.utc.edu\/center-global-education\/2025\/02\/03\/how-lucky-i-am-to-miss-italy\/italy-4-36\/\" data-orig-file=\"https:\/\/blogarchive.utc.edu\/center-global-education\/files\/2025\/02\/Italy-4.jpg\" data-orig-size=\"960,1280\" data-comments-opened=\"1\" data-image-meta=\"{&quot;aperture&quot;:&quot;1.5&quot;,&quot;credit&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;camera&quot;:&quot;iPhone 13 Pro&quot;,&quot;caption&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;created_timestamp&quot;:&quot;1727809353&quot;,&quot;copyright&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;focal_length&quot;:&quot;5.7&quot;,&quot;iso&quot;:&quot;250&quot;,&quot;shutter_speed&quot;:&quot;0.02&quot;,&quot;title&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;orientation&quot;:&quot;1&quot;}\" data-image-title=\"Italy\" data-image-description=\"\" data-image-caption=\"\" data-large-file=\"https:\/\/blogarchive.utc.edu\/center-global-education\/files\/2025\/02\/Italy-4-768x1024.jpg\" data-id=\"7665\" src=\"https:\/\/blogarchive.utc.edu\/center-global-education\/files\/2025\/02\/Italy-4-768x1024.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-7665\" srcset=\"https:\/\/blogarchive.utc.edu\/center-global-education\/files\/2025\/02\/Italy-4-768x1024.jpg 768w, https:\/\/blogarchive.utc.edu\/center-global-education\/files\/2025\/02\/Italy-4-1152x1536.jpg 1152w, https:\/\/blogarchive.utc.edu\/center-global-education\/files\/2025\/02\/Italy-4-580x773.jpg 580w, https:\/\/blogarchive.utc.edu\/center-global-education\/files\/2025\/02\/Italy-4-610x813.jpg 610w, https:\/\/blogarchive.utc.edu\/center-global-education\/files\/2025\/02\/Italy-4.jpg 960w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 768px) 100vw, 768px\" \/><\/figure>\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>Although I was confident in my decision to study abroad, I still had moments of panic. The night before my flight to Rome I frantically walked around my neighborhood hoping the exercise would counteract my anxiety. It did not work. I tried listening to calming music to relax. That didn\u2019t work either. <em>What if I get lost in the airport and never even make it to orientation week? What if I get an awful case of food poisoning and don\u2019t know how to contact a doctor? What if I get arrested for committing a crime I don\u2019t know is illegal?<\/em> I concocted dozens of highly unlikely scenarios and convinced myself they were all destined to happen. I finally worked myself up the point of not going. I was not going, I had decided. I was too scared. I would take a semester off and stay with my family until I felt brave enough to go. As I was going down the stairs to tell my mom I was staying home for another 3 months, I remembered a cliche. Never base a decision on fear. I knew then- I had to go.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-gallery has-nested-images columns-default is-cropped wp-block-gallery-2 is-layout-flex wp-block-gallery-is-layout-flex\">\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"768\" height=\"1024\" data-attachment-id=\"7666\" data-permalink=\"https:\/\/blogarchive.utc.edu\/center-global-education\/2025\/02\/03\/how-lucky-i-am-to-miss-italy\/italy-5-33\/\" data-orig-file=\"https:\/\/blogarchive.utc.edu\/center-global-education\/files\/2025\/02\/Italy-5.jpg\" data-orig-size=\"960,1280\" data-comments-opened=\"1\" data-image-meta=\"{&quot;aperture&quot;:&quot;1.5&quot;,&quot;credit&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;camera&quot;:&quot;iPhone 13 Pro&quot;,&quot;caption&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;created_timestamp&quot;:&quot;1728059476&quot;,&quot;copyright&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;focal_length&quot;:&quot;5.7&quot;,&quot;iso&quot;:&quot;100&quot;,&quot;shutter_speed&quot;:&quot;0.02&quot;,&quot;title&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;orientation&quot;:&quot;1&quot;}\" data-image-title=\"Italy\" data-image-description=\"\" data-image-caption=\"\" data-large-file=\"https:\/\/blogarchive.utc.edu\/center-global-education\/files\/2025\/02\/Italy-5-768x1024.jpg\" data-id=\"7666\" src=\"https:\/\/blogarchive.utc.edu\/center-global-education\/files\/2025\/02\/Italy-5-768x1024.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-7666\" srcset=\"https:\/\/blogarchive.utc.edu\/center-global-education\/files\/2025\/02\/Italy-5-768x1024.jpg 768w, https:\/\/blogarchive.utc.edu\/center-global-education\/files\/2025\/02\/Italy-5-1152x1536.jpg 1152w, https:\/\/blogarchive.utc.edu\/center-global-education\/files\/2025\/02\/Italy-5-580x773.jpg 580w, https:\/\/blogarchive.utc.edu\/center-global-education\/files\/2025\/02\/Italy-5-610x813.jpg 610w, https:\/\/blogarchive.utc.edu\/center-global-education\/files\/2025\/02\/Italy-5.jpg 960w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 768px) 100vw, 768px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"768\" height=\"1024\" data-attachment-id=\"7668\" data-permalink=\"https:\/\/blogarchive.utc.edu\/center-global-education\/2025\/02\/03\/how-lucky-i-am-to-miss-italy\/italy-7-35\/\" data-orig-file=\"https:\/\/blogarchive.utc.edu\/center-global-education\/files\/2025\/02\/Italy-7.jpg\" data-orig-size=\"960,1280\" data-comments-opened=\"1\" data-image-meta=\"{&quot;aperture&quot;:&quot;1.5&quot;,&quot;credit&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;camera&quot;:&quot;iPhone 13 Pro&quot;,&quot;caption&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;created_timestamp&quot;:&quot;1728759380&quot;,&quot;copyright&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;focal_length&quot;:&quot;5.7&quot;,&quot;iso&quot;:&quot;500&quot;,&quot;shutter_speed&quot;:&quot;0.017857142857143&quot;,&quot;title&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;orientation&quot;:&quot;1&quot;}\" data-image-title=\"Italy\" data-image-description=\"\" data-image-caption=\"\" data-large-file=\"https:\/\/blogarchive.utc.edu\/center-global-education\/files\/2025\/02\/Italy-7-768x1024.jpg\" data-id=\"7668\" src=\"https:\/\/blogarchive.utc.edu\/center-global-education\/files\/2025\/02\/Italy-7-768x1024.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-7668\" srcset=\"https:\/\/blogarchive.utc.edu\/center-global-education\/files\/2025\/02\/Italy-7-768x1024.jpg 768w, https:\/\/blogarchive.utc.edu\/center-global-education\/files\/2025\/02\/Italy-7-1152x1536.jpg 1152w, https:\/\/blogarchive.utc.edu\/center-global-education\/files\/2025\/02\/Italy-7-580x773.jpg 580w, https:\/\/blogarchive.utc.edu\/center-global-education\/files\/2025\/02\/Italy-7-610x813.jpg 610w, https:\/\/blogarchive.utc.edu\/center-global-education\/files\/2025\/02\/Italy-7.jpg 960w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 768px) 100vw, 768px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"768\" height=\"1024\" data-attachment-id=\"7664\" data-permalink=\"https:\/\/blogarchive.utc.edu\/center-global-education\/2025\/02\/03\/how-lucky-i-am-to-miss-italy\/italy-3-34\/\" data-orig-file=\"https:\/\/blogarchive.utc.edu\/center-global-education\/files\/2025\/02\/Italy-3.jpg\" data-orig-size=\"960,1280\" data-comments-opened=\"1\" data-image-meta=\"{&quot;aperture&quot;:&quot;1.5&quot;,&quot;credit&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;camera&quot;:&quot;iPhone 13 Pro&quot;,&quot;caption&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;created_timestamp&quot;:&quot;1727346747&quot;,&quot;copyright&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;focal_length&quot;:&quot;5.7&quot;,&quot;iso&quot;:&quot;50&quot;,&quot;shutter_speed&quot;:&quot;0.0005800464037123&quot;,&quot;title&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;orientation&quot;:&quot;1&quot;}\" data-image-title=\"Italy\" data-image-description=\"\" data-image-caption=\"\" data-large-file=\"https:\/\/blogarchive.utc.edu\/center-global-education\/files\/2025\/02\/Italy-3-768x1024.jpg\" data-id=\"7664\" src=\"https:\/\/blogarchive.utc.edu\/center-global-education\/files\/2025\/02\/Italy-3-768x1024.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-7664\" srcset=\"https:\/\/blogarchive.utc.edu\/center-global-education\/files\/2025\/02\/Italy-3-768x1024.jpg 768w, https:\/\/blogarchive.utc.edu\/center-global-education\/files\/2025\/02\/Italy-3-1152x1536.jpg 1152w, https:\/\/blogarchive.utc.edu\/center-global-education\/files\/2025\/02\/Italy-3-580x773.jpg 580w, https:\/\/blogarchive.utc.edu\/center-global-education\/files\/2025\/02\/Italy-3-610x813.jpg 610w, https:\/\/blogarchive.utc.edu\/center-global-education\/files\/2025\/02\/Italy-3.jpg 960w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 768px) 100vw, 768px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"941\" height=\"1024\" data-attachment-id=\"7662\" data-permalink=\"https:\/\/blogarchive.utc.edu\/center-global-education\/2025\/02\/03\/how-lucky-i-am-to-miss-italy\/italy-10-30\/\" data-orig-file=\"https:\/\/blogarchive.utc.edu\/center-global-education\/files\/2025\/02\/Italy-10.jpg\" data-orig-size=\"1170,1273\" data-comments-opened=\"1\" data-image-meta=\"{&quot;aperture&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;credit&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;camera&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;caption&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;created_timestamp&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;copyright&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;focal_length&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;iso&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;shutter_speed&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;title&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;orientation&quot;:&quot;1&quot;}\" data-image-title=\"Italy\" data-image-description=\"\" data-image-caption=\"\" data-large-file=\"https:\/\/blogarchive.utc.edu\/center-global-education\/files\/2025\/02\/Italy-10-941x1024.jpg\" data-id=\"7662\" src=\"https:\/\/blogarchive.utc.edu\/center-global-education\/files\/2025\/02\/Italy-10-941x1024.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-7662\" srcset=\"https:\/\/blogarchive.utc.edu\/center-global-education\/files\/2025\/02\/Italy-10-941x1024.jpg 941w, https:\/\/blogarchive.utc.edu\/center-global-education\/files\/2025\/02\/Italy-10-768x836.jpg 768w, https:\/\/blogarchive.utc.edu\/center-global-education\/files\/2025\/02\/Italy-10-580x631.jpg 580w, https:\/\/blogarchive.utc.edu\/center-global-education\/files\/2025\/02\/Italy-10-610x664.jpg 610w, https:\/\/blogarchive.utc.edu\/center-global-education\/files\/2025\/02\/Italy-10.jpg 1170w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 941px) 100vw, 941px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"768\" height=\"1024\" data-attachment-id=\"7660\" data-permalink=\"https:\/\/blogarchive.utc.edu\/center-global-education\/2025\/02\/03\/how-lucky-i-am-to-miss-italy\/italy-1-42\/\" data-orig-file=\"https:\/\/blogarchive.utc.edu\/center-global-education\/files\/2025\/02\/Italy-1-1.jpeg\" data-orig-size=\"960,1280\" data-comments-opened=\"1\" data-image-meta=\"{&quot;aperture&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;credit&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;camera&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;caption&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;created_timestamp&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;copyright&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;focal_length&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;iso&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;shutter_speed&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;title&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;orientation&quot;:&quot;1&quot;}\" data-image-title=\"Italy\" data-image-description=\"\" data-image-caption=\"\" data-large-file=\"https:\/\/blogarchive.utc.edu\/center-global-education\/files\/2025\/02\/Italy-1-1-768x1024.jpeg\" data-id=\"7660\" src=\"https:\/\/blogarchive.utc.edu\/center-global-education\/files\/2025\/02\/Italy-1-1-768x1024.jpeg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-7660\" srcset=\"https:\/\/blogarchive.utc.edu\/center-global-education\/files\/2025\/02\/Italy-1-1-768x1024.jpeg 768w, https:\/\/blogarchive.utc.edu\/center-global-education\/files\/2025\/02\/Italy-1-1-1152x1536.jpeg 1152w, https:\/\/blogarchive.utc.edu\/center-global-education\/files\/2025\/02\/Italy-1-1-580x773.jpeg 580w, https:\/\/blogarchive.utc.edu\/center-global-education\/files\/2025\/02\/Italy-1-1-610x813.jpeg 610w, https:\/\/blogarchive.utc.edu\/center-global-education\/files\/2025\/02\/Italy-1-1.jpeg 960w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 768px) 100vw, 768px\" \/><\/figure>\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>The next day, three of my friends and I held hands during take-off and held our breath as we touched down in a new country. Our home for 3 months. During my time abroad I made beautiful friends, visited old places, saw iconic art, and never let fear get in the way of enjoying my experience.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Living in Italy taught me that tradition and innovation are both necessary to foster a thriving society. Florence runs on thousand-year-old buildings and high-speed trains. I also discovered that I have the ability to learn anything. I\u2019ve always had a terrible sense of direction and an even worse understanding of public transportation, but through time and dedication, I knew the train stations like a local.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>I will always hold the memories I made of studying abroad close to my heart. I will carry all the lessons I learned with me every day. The most important thing I took from studying abroad is that nothing is out of my reach. I never imagined I could be brave enough to live in a foreign country and enjoy it. I was certain my fears would taint my experience. Now I know that isn\u2019t true and I am braver and more adventurous than I give myself credit for. Studying abroad has widened my worldview and given me more confidence in my day-to-day life.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Sometimes when I miss Italy, I think of an extra cliche quote, \u201cHow lucky I am to have something that makes saying goodbye so hard.\u201d Goodbye Florence! I was lucky to have you!<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Tori White<em>\u00a0(BA English) spent Fall 2024 studying abroad in Florence, Italy through <a href=\"https:\/\/www.isepstudyabroad.org\/\">ISEP<\/a>.\u00a0Maddie had the following to say about studying abroad,\u00a0\u201cYou will never regret studying abroad you will only regret not studying abroad. If you are thinking about it do it!&#8221;<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/UTCglobal\/\">Like us on Facebook<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p id=\"_2fknc0VwZBYe3o\"><a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/utcglobal\">Follow us on Twitter<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p id=\"_dp9EO44T8pbyHc\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.instagram.com\/utcglobal\">Follow us on Instagram<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Share this post:<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>My dad has always told me \u201cCliches are cliche because they are true.\u201d What he meant by this is that things become common phrases because they are universally true. Good things come to those who wait is a cliche because patience is a virtue necessary for success. 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