Read about Charlotte's amazing experience and about her favorite class while in Florence!
When applying to study abroad, there was no doubt in my mind that I wanted my experience to take place in Florence, Italy. Not only had I fallen in love with Florence when I was 13 years old, during my first and only trip with my family outside of America, but one of my closest friends at Fairfield was already set on studying there in the Fall. Above all, Florence, Italy is a dream for any English Literature and Cultural Studies student due to the city’s rich history, plethora of artwork and architecture, and deep connections to important works of literature. Beloved Italian poet, Dante Alighieri, for example, is depicted throughout Florence from plaques quoting his work, The Divine Comedy, to countless cafes and restaurants named in his honor, to graffiti art and murals of the poet sprinkled around the city
I got to know Dante in my favorite class of the semester entitled, “Dante Alighieri’s Florence: Readings and Cultural Walks.” In this class, we read excerpts from The Divine Comedy, discussing the work as a class and proceeding to follow our professor through the city while learning more about Dante’s life, the history of medieval Florence, and how the city inspired Dante and his writings. Florence was my classroom, which perfectly describes part of what makes studying abroad such a special experience. You are able to integrate into the culture not only socially, but also academically, gaining knowledge that makes you feel like you have lived in the city for years. I had a lot of fun sharing all my Dante knowledge with my parents when they came to visit in November. I loved showing them around the Florence I now knew; being able to point out different sites and explain important parts of the city’s history really made me feel like a Florentine local.
While I know I will not retain every detail from my classes abroad, by living in the city for an extended period of time I learned to appreciate the cultural importance of the streets I was walking down, the buildings I was passing, and the statues I was admiring. I know that if I am blessed with the opportunity to return to Florence, a part of me will feel like I am home
Are you interested in studying in Florence? Click the following link to learn more about the incredible opportunities you can have abroad with Fairfield University’s many programs.
