When I first arrived in the city of Florence, I was ecstatic. I arrived in a gorgeous European city with tons of freedom and adventures galore. I was so excited to explore the city, make new friends, and start my classes. Despite my efforts, anxiety started creeping in; I wondered how I’d communicate with the locals. Did other people come alone, or was it just me that has to make new friends? Was I going to get pickpocketed? Was all that pasta going to go straight to my hips the way my mother warned me? What the hell was I supposed to wear this whole time?

Anxiety is Normal

Having questions, uncertainty, and anxiety is completely normal during your time abroad, especially when you are just starting out. And even if you came here with your friends from college and visited with your family a couple of years ago, there’s still so much you’ll realize you don’t know. This guide, from us (SRISA Students) to you, will answer as many of your questions as possible and make your time abroad go smoothly.

Top 10 Italian Cultural Norms

First of all, there are a multitude of Italian cultural norms that you need to be aware of:

1. Italians do not eat or drink from takeaway containers as they are walking. It shows disrespect to not sit and savor the food.
2. You may not eat your panini while sitting in the gutter.
3. Cappuccinos are not supposed to be ordered after 11 to noon–milk (considered a food) can upset the digestion of lunch.
4. If you ask for a ‘latte,’ you will probably receive a glass of milk. If you want to order a traditional American latte, ask for a ‘cafe latte.’
5. Aperitivo is a daily ritual: it occurs around 6 pm and at any cafe where you order a drink. Most aperitivo come with snacks. At some establishments, you can add more substantial items for a minimal cost (around 12 euros for a light buffet and drink).
6. Italian drinking culture does not see consuming alcohol as a means to get drunk; alcoholic beverages are to be enjoyed and enhance a meal—in Tuscany wine is a food rather than just a beverage. This is also why snacks come with aperitivo.
7. Italians dine much later than we do in the United States. Most reservations start at around 8 pm (20:00) and can go up to 10:30 (22:30). This explains why Italian culture has aperitivo–it helps you wait for dinner.
8. In Italy, many locals (especially men) are likely to stare at individuals whom they find attractive and think it complimentary (but not always so trust your gut). There is also a significant increase in cat-calling (see: “Ciao Bella!”)
9. As I’m sure you’ve heard by now, Italians are not fans of loungewear/sweatpants, and it is traditional to put effort into one’s appearance when going out in public. Italian culture is also much more conservative than in America, so it is respectful to follow their dress norms.
10. When trying to catch a train, your platform gets posted minutes before the train departs, so do not panic if it hasn’t shown up on the board yet. When trying to find your train, MAKE CERTAIN to check that the number on the side of the train matches the train number on your ticket, or you may accidentally end up going to the wrong place, without a seat assignment and maybe pay a fine.

Tips on How to Adjust to Your New Home in Florence

In all honesty, when I first got to Florence, I struggled a lot to figure out how to schedule myself, make new friends, and truly immerse myself in the study abroad experience. The best thing I did for myself was to be very intentional about the way I was spending my days; I made a list of places and experiences that I wanted to have in Florence and tried to check one off per day. This list doesn’t have to be expensive or time-consuming, just something new to shake up your days and broaden your experiences.

Schedule Friend Dates

The other thing I did was try to schedule myself at least two ‘friend dates’ per week. This can be as simple as stopping into a store to browse on the way home from class or even planning a trip together. It can be really hard to be disconnected from your friends from college, but the best thing to do is to dive head-first into your new friendships here. I have been so lucky to have met some of my favorite people while studying abroad, and I know many people say the same thing. Even if you came in with some of your old friends, it is so rewarding to add new ones into your mix.

Try New Things

Take advantage of every second of the study abroad experience. Say yes to things you are nervous about but want to try, say no to going out sometimes if you are feeling overstretched, and look for every little detail and detour along your way.

And don’t worry about skipping a workout occasionally—as Kamin (our Creative Writing Professor) told me and my friend Katie: “You can always work out in America, but you can’t have aperitivo there!”

A lot of this may sound really cliche, but it really goes by so fast. It’s insane how quickly you go from having so much time to staring down the last week of the semester, squeezing in every last drop of the city you’re so in love with. So take your time, go slow. Learn to enjoy every glorious moment in this historic city you are lucky to call home now.

Written by Spring 2024 Student Esti Goldstein