The Beginning of an Adventure

There is a fountain that flows red wine 24-hours a day in Central Italy.

I hope that this got your attention because this is the kind of header that I want to have every week that I am on this adventure!

My name is Olivia Atsu; I am a senior studying Computer Science and Cyber Security. I decided to study abroad in Florence because I was looking for a new adventure. My family has moved around a lot my life and it has made me someone who loves change and seeing new things. I came to the United States when I was eleven years old, and although I have not seen all of America yet, I’ve always wanted to see what the European countries were like. Italy was number one on my list because of its rich history and culture. Italy is home to a lot of big fashion houses such as Gucci, Prada, Versace, and cars companies such as Ferrari. The Italians have such a rich culture that I wanted to come and see for myself, and so far, I feel that I have made the right decision as it is so wonderful here.

This blog is going to be about my “accidental” learning experiences. By this I mean that I will be walking around Florence and just observing the place, looking at the people, interacting with the locals, and writing about my experiences. I will also talk about some safety guidelines while being here in Italy and share some cool photos of things that I find or the environment.

In my time being here, I hope that I find my Lizzie McGuire adventure…

Just kidding.

But on a serious note, I hope that I will have some of the best days here and make some of the best memories. I want to learn as much Italian and be able to converse with the locals in the language, I want to see all the touristic and non-touristic sides of Florence, and I would like to go to as many countries in the European Union as I possibly can. I also hope that I will learn more about myself and that I am able to step out of my comfort zone to fully immerse myself into this culture.

I have already done and seen quite a bit in my first week here. Last Sunday, I wandered off to a place called Piazzale Michelangelo. This is a piazza that was made to commemorate the work of Michelangelo, so there is a replica of the David statue overlooking the city. I have to say that it is one of the most beautiful places that I have seen so far in Florence because it gives you a view of a large part of the city. The walk there was quite intense and long, but it was so worth it once I reached the top and saw the breathtaking view. Once I got up there, I conversed with a few Italian boys who were merrily singing along to “Stand by Me” with a public artist. We talked about how wonderful Florence was, and some differences between Florence and the rest of Italy. To them, Florence is much more animated, and touristic than the rest of the country… apart from Rome, of course. I have to say that it’s been my favorite experience here so far. There are so many more things that I have yet to experience here, and I can’t wait to share them all with you.