Students studying abroad are tempted to hop on a flight to a European country almost every weekend. Often, these quick getaways involve short flights that add up to a heavy carbon footprint. By intentionally planning a weekend rich in local experiences, students can avoid additional international travel, explore Tuscany more deeply, and, at the same time, limit their ecological impact.
This semester, ISI Florence launched a special initiative to boost sustainable practices among students. The Stay Local Weekend brought together the spirit of green travel, hands-on learning, and valuable connections with local culture.
Shop Like a Florentine
The weekend kicked off on Friday, February 13, with the ISI-sponsored activity Shop Like a Florentine: a lively team challenge that immersed students in Florentine culture and cuisine. ISI staff met with students at Fluid Café, a local business that serves sustainable specialty coffee. We enjoyed an Italian breakfast and discussed the team activity.
After breakfast, the four teams set out with grocery lists in hand and a €10 budget, wandering through the busy Sant’Ambrogio Market to purchase fresh, seasonal ingredients from local vendors. Through this hands-on adventure, they practiced Italian language skills and discovered the region’s flavors.
Mwaka Walubita, UMD, and Matthew Cabansag, PSU, buying a pumpkin at the market.- Roderick Li, UMD, and Laura Wong, RWU, looking for cheese!
Once the grocery shopping was done and they had found all the ingredients on their lists, students returned home to cook authentic Tuscan dishes, following our vegetarian recipes, such as Orecchiette ai Broccoli, Paccheri con la Zucca, Fagioli all’Uccelletto, Parmigiana di Cavolfiore (ENG. broccoli and pumpkin sauces for pasta, tomato sauce beans, and cauliflower parmigiana).
Laura Wong, from Roger Williams University, said, “This activity was very fun! I greatly enjoyed working with another student to shop at the market and cook! Together, we were unstoppable and made delicious orecchiette con broccoli”.
Team #1 Cooking Pasta con Broccoli- Team #1 Finally enjoying their meal!
Team #2 Grocery shopping, done.- Matthew on Team #3 finishing off the cooking.
- Team #3 with their beautiful Paccheri con la Zucca.
- Team #4 In the process of preparing a delicious vegetarian and sustainable meal.
Countryside Hike
On Saturday, the weekend schedule included a scenic hike along a trail in Fiesole, a small village on the hills overlooking Florence, offering a beautiful view of the city’s landmarks and the surrounding countryside. Unfortunately, the weather conditions forced us to postpone, but the students are eager to explore the greener side of Florence, so ISI Student Services is looking forward to rescheduling this day trip later in the semester.
Carnevale di Viareggio
On Sunday, a group of students joined the ISI trip to Viareggio and participated in the famous Carnival parade. The sun was shining, bringing happy smiles on this wholesome local excursion that allowed students to see the festive spirit of this seaside Tuscan town.
University of Maryland student Roderick Li told us, “Carnival in Viareggio was a great way to experience a different form of carnival than the one you would typically think of in Venice. It was interesting to see all the different floats, including the satirical ones. It was also cool that each float had a complementary soundtrack.”
Elise Fraser, also from the University of Maryland, said the experience was “super fun and a unique event! The carnival floats were impressive. It was also nice to explore a coastal Italian town and see a different side of life”.
The Stay Local Weekend was an opportunity for students to immerse themselves in local culture, slow down, and recharge through a variety of activities. They reduced their carbon footprint by travelling by train, bus, or on foot. They also helped support the local economy by buying groceries from local vendors, eating at small local restaurants, and purchasing souvenirs from Tuscan artisans. Students who signed up and participated in all three activities received recognition for their engagement with a sustainability badge on their LinkedIn profiles, issued by ISI Florence.
We look forward to offering this weekend-long agenda of activities again in future semesters. ISI Florence welcomes all students to participate and explore the hidden wonders of their host city in an eco-conscious way.