- What is your name?
Holly Pitches - Please write a short intro about yourself
I’m English, studied Erasmus in Florence 2018/19 then moved here permanently in 2020 and starting uni again in 2021 - Why study or intern abroad in Florence?
I wanted to learn a language and I fell in love with Italian, Florence was the option to study in Italy from my uni in the UK - Is Florence a safe place to study abroad (perhaps mention also some nice/cool neighborhood to hang out) ?
It’s safe-ish. There are still high rates of sexism and homophobia and are sexual assaults etc although no city is 100% safe. For students the Santa Croce area has the most low priced bars and people often hang out on the steps of the church. - Cultural differences (food, family, work, etc..)
Too many to count! The food in Italy is different, also how you eat. In the UK we eat dinner at about 5-6pm but in Italy it’s much later. We also don’t do primi/secondi unless we are going to a fancy restaurant and are very hungry to get a starter (but that’s more antipasto). The UK has lots of different types of food but in Italy the restaurants are mostly Italian then a few sushi and Latin American spots in the cities. Italians live with their families until they are in their 30s/40s and it’s not unusual to live in the same house or next door to your family when you are married. In the UK people tend to move out of their parents home at 18-25. Italian universities normally take exams as oral tests whereas in the UK most of the exams are written tests and essays and only foreign language ones are oral. Italians use lots of hand gestures that are a language of their own. Dialects are also other languages, rather than just a few words that are different like in the regional UK dialects. I could go on forever! - A fun story to share
A brief one: my friend and I wanted to go out to eat but took too long when getting ready and didn’t realise it was already 11pm (when most restaurants close). We found a pizza place on Google maps that shut at 11:30pm so we ran from one side of Florence to the other and got there at 11:25pm. The waiters saw how distressed we were (hangry!) so they let us in on the condition we were quick. When they brought us the pizzas they were in the shape of hearts instead of the normal circle ❤️ we were so grateful! And the pizza was amazing, it’s still my favourite spot in Florence. After pizza we all went on a night out, us and our new waiter friends! I still see them sometimes, a good start to a friendship! - What to pack before travelling to Florence?
Plug adapters!!!!!! And depending what time of year but as light clothes as possible (so you will be less hot) it gets up to 40°c in August and high 30s in September. For winter it gets to lows of about -2°c but only for a short time, back to 20°c in February!
You can pack lightly because there are shops and shopping centres in Florence, as well as ordering online. Bring things that remind you of home for comfort as if it’s your first time living in a different country you will get homesick once the novelty wears off. - Must do weekend trips (ie. in Tuscany, Rome, Milan, etc…)
Saturnia / Bagni di santo Stefano – who doesn’t love a natural thermal spa?
Lucca / San Gimignano / Siena – beautiful and close by.
Fiesole – Easy to get to and great views of Florence. - Any advice to the newcomers?
Learn Italian!! Go to classes, there are plenty of schools that don’t cost very much at all. It’s the perfect time to immerse yourself in the language and culture and pick up a sought-after skill as well as have a more authentic experience and making Italian friends. You will regret it if you go back to your country knowing only how to say ciao and order at a restaurant.
Student Stories in Florence: Holly from UK
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