Florence Italy: Fisherman on the Arno River

As I captured the photo of the fisherman on the Arno River in Florence Italy, I couldn’t help but feel a sense of peace wash over me. It was as if time stood still for a moment, allowing me to take in the beauty of the moment.

From my apartment balcony, I could see the world below come to life, and I felt like the main character in my own story. The sound of the river flowing, the distant chatter of people, and the occasional sound of a car passing by created a symphony that was music to my ears.

As a kid who grew up in the suburbs, it hits differently looking at a city from above, watching people going about their daily lives.

Views from the Balcony

I frequently noticed a fisherman relaxing on the riverbank and occasionally individuals rowing on the water. During the springtime, birds would fly in mesmerizing formations against the evening sky. But best part of the balcony, was the breathtaking view of the sunset’s vibrant colors reflecting on the serene river below. It felt surreal to sit there and enjoy the view while sipping wine out of a coffee mug. Why a coffee mug? Because the apartment came with minimal dish ware and we were too cheap to buy an actual wine glass. BUT, we were one of the lucky few that had a microwave, so we had that going for us.

Studying Abroad in Florence

To give you a little context about how I ended up in the apartment, I studied abroad in Florence during my Sophomore year. Although the wifi was terrible, it was hands down the nicest place I’ve ever called home. Living abroad for the first time was definitely a rollercoaster ride, but it was one that left me with a thirst for travel. Since then, I’ve done everything in my power to keep exploring. And yes, I am one of those people who talk about my time abroad, but with a view like this, how could I not?

While I was there, I took classes in art history, watercolor painting, and marketing. Interestingly, all the teachers were European while the students were American, resulting in some cultural shock for both parties. My advertising professor even used her lessons as a way to constantly roast America and it’s lack of standards/culture. One memorable lecture included how even the cheapest Italian wine is better than its American counterpart. This is due to America allowing the use of sulfites and other dubious chemicals during production. Fun fact: because of this higher standard, Italian wine is less likely to cause hangovers.

While I was there, Florence was the top destination for U.S study abroad students – I’m not sure if that’s still the case. Most of the students in the program were girls from the midwest and many of them belonged to large sororities. They had some interesting stories about their time in college so far.

Living in Florence: Moments that Altered My Brain Chemistry

• Going to bed by 9pm because the WiFi died at 8pm every night
  • Hearing our neighbors go out every night when we’re already in bed
• Walking to the Mercato Centrale at midnight to get WiFi for a job interview that was on Californian time
• Daily grocery shopping because the produce is so fresh that it goes bad almost immediately.
  • Buying jam that grew mold within weeks of opening.
  • Being homesick for Target.
  • Going to the biggest grocery store in the city just to buy Frosted Flakes .
  • Finding the one Asian vendor in the marketplace to buy fried rice ingredients.
    • Figuring out my comfort foods are fried rice and sugary cereal.
• My mom sending my first and only care package.
  • Filled with cold medicine, hot cheetos, takis and a golden curry package.
  • Cooking the curry and having the vegetables be so fresh that their taste actually overpowered the seasoning.
• Experiencing frequent thunderstorms
  • 3 of us were from Southern California and made a big scene every time there was lightning
    • Our fourth roommate from Wisconsin thought we were idiots.
• Drinking wine at every meal because it’s almost the same price as water
• Walking 40 minutes across the river to our favorite gelato spot
• Pretending to be Canadian when people asked where I was from
• Setting up a rotation for the apartment toilet paper purchases
  • This was a major reoccurring issue in many apartments
• Locals mistaking students for homeless because we wore hoodies and sweats outside
  • My friend almost crying because she felt judged for wearing flip flops in public