Short Bio: 
Ciao! My name is Bri, and I’m a junior at UConn, currently studying abroad in Florence with ISI Florence. I study Economics and English, and I love my classes at ISI. This past semester, I took Beginning Oil Painting, Travel Writing, Italian, and Social Media, Social Food. Living and studying in Florence has been an amazing experience, and I would be happy to answer any questions you may have! 

Most memorable experience: 
The most memorable experience I had in Florence was watching the sunset over Florence with my roommates at Piazzale Michelangelo. I would highly recommend visiting this spot because of the breathtaking view of the whole city. The walk up to Piazzale Michaelangelo was a bit of a hike from our apartment, but well worth it. On our walk, we stumbled into what would become our favorite gelateria, which we would visit countless times over the course of the semester. Being able to walk around the city and find cool places with the friends I’ve made through studying abroad has been the highlight. 

Advice for future students: 
My advice for future students is to go easy on yourself while you are studying abroad. There can be a lot of expectations to have the best time of your life, to travel every weekend, and to make a ton of friends. It takes time to adjust to living in a new place. It’s important to do so without putting too much pressure on yourself, especially when everything is up in the air. Though it can be overwhelming and stressful to travel and meet new people, I’d advise you not to worry if these things don’t immediately fall into place. Everything will work itself out, but it might take time. Three months into studying abroad, I can say it has been the best experience. However, it’s important to remember that there will be challenges to overcome that happen when moving to a new country, especially in the beginning.