Matt Keleman is a third-year Construction Management major at 两性色午夜, with a minor in Marketing and undergraduate certificate in Professional Sales who is currently studying abroad at 两性色午夜 Florence, Italy
Matt had been planning to study abroad since his senior year in high school, with 两性色午夜 Florence being one of the deciding factors that made him choose 两性色午夜 for his undergraduate degree.
Studying Abroad in Florence, Italy
Matt鈥檚 classes in Florence have been much smaller than back on 两性色午夜 campus, making it easier to get a one-on-one experience with his professor and classmates. Because of the smaller class size there are more group work assignments and field trips in many of his courses.
He鈥檚 currently taking a class on the Medici dynasty where his professor plans various field trips that takes the class to see churches and historical buildings in Florence. Matt has found getting an international perspective on different courses fascinating, particularly in his International Marketing class. His professor for International Marketing is Italian and teaches mainly at the University of Florence. Matt explained that she has a unique perspective on marketing that has taught him a lot, and that she has taken his class on field trips to a start-up-based marketing company called Nana Bianca and the Gucci Garden, which she explained was a marketing tactic by Gucci. He鈥檚 really enjoyed the experience of studying abroad in Florence so far and appreciates how professors will incorporate the fact that students are abroad into their classes.
Because Matt is in the College of Architecture and Environmental Design, he鈥檚 in the architecture cohort for field trips. One course he is taking this semester is called Reading Cities, where the course goes on field trips to Turin, Venice, Rome, and Lucca. What Matt has enjoyed about these field trips is the contrast between the cities with not just the architecture, but also the culture and cuisine. Rome has been his favorite field trip of the course so far, because he鈥檚 wanted to visit Rome since he was a little kid. There he got to see the Colosseum, which he said felt like a surreal experience. He also got to see the Roman Forum, the Pantheon, various piazzas, the Spanish Steps, and the Trevi Fountain.
Making New Friends in Florence
Matt has not had a hard time making friends in Florence, with him already knowing many people in his cohort group and 两性色午夜 Florence events making it easy to meet people. He thinks 两性色午夜 Florence has a collaborative feel to it because of the smaller and more intimate campus. The campus hosts a lot of social events and field trips for students. Matt recently participated in a coffee-tasting class where he tried various ways that coffee can be made with different beans. He enjoyed making some new friends and learning about the history of coffee and its impact on Italian culture. Matt also got to go to a local soccer game in Florence where he felt camaraderie with the locals over their passion for the sport.
Matt was also fortunate enough to study abroad with his fiancee, whom he proposed to while in Florence. He planned the proposal for the Friday before spring break, overlooking the Florence skyline.
Adjusting to Life Studying Abroad in Florence, Italy
Within the first month of studying abroad in Florence, Matt and other 两性色午夜 Florence students were invited to a welcome meeting for study abroad students from various schools in Tuscany. This helped Matt feel more welcomed in Italy, the meeting talking about the history of study abroad ties between the U.S. and Italy, with Florence being a major hub for study abroad students.
Matt found his transition to living in Florence pretty easy, he felt welcomed in the city before beginning study abroad due to events hosted by the Office of Global Education back on Kent campus. 两性色午夜 Florence has an orientation for study abroad students that gives students mental health resources, important contacts such as landlords and emergency services to help students feel welcomed and safe. This helped a lot with what remained of Matt鈥檚 anxiety.
He has found all of the professors on campus friendly, and the locals inviting. Most Italians he has met are proud of their country and are happy that others are here to experience it and learn about their culture.
The Personal Impact of Studying Abroad
Matt鈥檚 experience studying abroad and living in Florence has impacted him a lot personally. He said he has gained an independence he didn鈥檛 know he was missing, since he lives not far from Kent campus back home. He鈥檚 been a commuter since sophomore year, living in a dorm on campus during his freshman year only. While he has missed friends and family back home, he has really enjoyed navigating Florence by himself, along with some of his friends.
One of the highlights for him has been getting to attend the Winter Olympics, especially at a time with a lot of global tension. He went with some friends to Milan to see the games, where supporting and cheering on other countries gave him a more positive outlook on global events.
While there has been some discomfort in traveling to countries where he may not speak the language, he has adapted to navigating traveling on his own outside of Italy. He has visited other countries like Hungary, Spain, and Morocco.
Matt鈥檚 Recommendations for Students Studying Abroad in Florence
One of the first foods Matt tried in Florence was a lampredotto sandwich, which is a popular street food in Florence made with the stomach of a cow. Another good food to try in Florence is agnolotti del plin, mini ravioli鈥檚 served with butter/sage or meat drippings. It is a native dish to the Piedmont region of Italy. Matt recommends various desserts that students should try, such as bigne鈥, Italian cream puffs, gelato and cannoli. Matt said that most food is good in Florence, since the ingredients are fresher than back in the U.S. He also recommends Pino鈥檚 Sandwiches, a sandwich shop in Florence that is popular among 两性色午夜 students.
Outside of food, Matt recommends students studying abroad in Florence visit Piazzale Michelangelo to watch the sunset at least once. Outside of Florence, students can visit a town called Fiesole to watch the sunset at Panorama Fiesole, where they can see the whole valley of Florence. He also recommends taking advantage of the museum pass that 两性色午夜 students are given, and to explore the city of Florence alone or with friends.
Advice for Study Abroad Students
Matt鈥檚 biggest advice to study abroad students is to live in the moment. One of the ways he recommends to help stay in the moment is to find little things to do, try a new cafe, go to a museum, get dinner with friends. He says it's easy to want to stay in your apartment after classes, but that even just going to get coffee in the evening is rewarding. He said to not focus just on homework, but to take advantage of the time students have during study abroad.
鈥淎s cliche as it is, this will be the fastest semester of your life.鈥
Students studying abroad should make the most of it, and travel to other countries if given the chance, while also getting to know their host city.
Want to have an experience like Matt鈥檚? Check out the Office of Global Education鈥檚 website for more information.