Gineen's Abroad Experience!
Aloha!! I'm Gineen!
Quick intro on me: I'm a sophomore at the University of Hawaii at Manoa! During spring 2023, I'll be studying abroad in Florence, Italy through UHM's study abroad center coordinated with Lorenzo De'Medici (LDM). I was born and raised in Oahu and it'll be my first time abroad so it's going to be a unique experience out of my comfort zone. However, I'm excited to learn about Italy's culture and take you on this journey!
Application & Possibilities
Providing some insight into the application process for studying abroad and obtaining a student visa in Italy:
The application process is straightforward. The study abroad center allows you to schedule an appointment to discuss your destination options, taking into account your preferences, degree requirements, and financial considerations. I will say that you do not need to fret over acceptances as the Florence acceptance rate is quite easygoing as long as you fit all the requirements.
I benefited from financial aid and scholarships, such as the Margaret Todd Endowment and Global Opportunities Scholarship Awards. I recommend exploring these possibilities, as studying abroad may be an unexpected opportunity that can be accomplished through these resources!
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When it comes to applying for a student visa, a crucial step is ensuring that your passport remains valid throughout your time abroad. You have the option to renew or obtain a passport before receiving your acceptance but I recommend that you have it settled beforehand to save yourself the stress of obtaining one on a tighter schedule. Our study abroad advisor, Greg, has expertly guided us through each stage of the visa application process. While it can be a bit stressful due to the short timeframe, Greg's assistance has been invaluable in gathering all necessary documents.
The Journey to Florence, Italy
To reach Florence, three fellow UHM students (whom I had just formally met at the airport right before our flight!) and I embarked on a journey involving a tedious three flights and two layovers. Our first destination was Seattle, where I hadn't planned on leaving the airport during our 5-hour layover. However, one of my peers invited me to join him in visiting a friend and grabbing breakfast. Thus, I found myself taking a train in 22-degree Fahrenheit weather with my suitcases but it was such a great experience getting a quick tour of Seattle. From Seattle, our next stop was Paris, where, unfortunately, we missed our flight to Florence. Nevertheless, with the assistance of customer service, we were able to secure the next available flight to our destination smoothly. Lorenzo De Medici had services pick us up and depending on whether we were homestay or apartments, they would drop us off either to retrieve our apartment keys or straight to our homestay!
Settling In! Homestay & Classes
In the two weeks since I arrived in Florence, I've been adjusting to my new environment and getting acquainted with fellow students in my program. For those in need of an international SIM card, LDM provides a detailed orientation with important information including what to look out for and what can be expected out of our experience. I opted for TIM as my SIM provider, benefiting from a student deal of 12 euros per month. However, it's crucial to ensure your phone has an unlocked SIM reader; otherwise, inserting an international SIM card won't be possible. There is the option for an e-sim but under a different provider that other students opted to go with! As for paying, every month, there are a few TIM stores around Florence to pay for another month in euros. The Tabacchi stores (basically small convenience stores) also allow you to purchase bus tickets and renew your TIMs.
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Before obtaining my SIM card, I navigated Florence the traditional way with a paper map. This led to a slight hiccup when I was late for my Wednesday class, struggling to locate the building. LDM doesn't have a traditional campus; instead, its buildings are scattered around the center of Florence! Eventually, I joined forces with two other lost students (recognized by their LDM tote bags) armed with the same map, and our collective efforts helped us find the place since Google Maps was no help either.
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I am thoroughly enjoying my courses as a communication and creative media student, choosing to focus on communications during my time abroad for further flexibility in my schedule. The professors are truly fantastic and skilled, making me anticipate a rewarding semester!
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Regarding my homestay, I am hosted by a chic elderly woman named Anna with painted portraits and photographs of her younger self on the walls of our living room. Although she doesn't speak English, we communicate with the help of Google Translate, and she has made an effort to assist me in learning basic phrases. I've developed a habit of sharing details about my day and trips with her!!! I truly did end up creating a bond with her by the end of my semester with her.
Homestay & Roommates
My roommate and I lucked out on our rooms..she takes upstairs and I take downstairs. We have two other students from another program in another room that we've come to get along well with and I was seriously saddened when we had gelato together for the last time before their program ended! There is the worry of homestays and having a roommate but it is a hit or miss, I really lucked out with my roommate. We ended up spending every day together with our group of friends so you never know!
Exploring Florence
Oh man, Florence is a lively city with so much history to explore. In any direction you head toward, you'll run into something interesting. It's a rather fast-paced city and so I gift the advice of slowing down and actually digesting what you see. I've stopped and stared at the Duomo for a few minutes a couple of times a week after class because it's a privilege to be able to see it daily and one day I won't be able to. This is me in front of the famous Poseidon statue in Piazza della Signoria (Signoria square)!! Right across from it is the famous Medusa and Perseus statue as well as other several statues!! You just have to see it in person.
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There's the fear of not knowing anyone abroad but with UHM's study abroad program, I had 20 other students with me so at least I had a familiar group of individuals. The three students I had traveled to Florence from Hawaii with ended up becoming my good and dearest friends. We ended up doing one last trip through Ireland, Scottland, and London with just the four of us two weeks before the program ended!
Exploring Europe
The difference between Hawaii and Europe is that there are multiple opportunities to travel to new places while under a budget. During my time abroad, I visited new places and many were day trips! Originally, I had thought the only place I would travel to would be Rome but I ended up realizing how affordable it was to travel. Florence is a great homebase since it's rather affordable for students. Take advantage of it's location since it can be as cheap as $20 to visit places like Rome and Milan! If you can't afford to travel much, don't worry and just know that Florence has much to see and a semester is so little time. Don't be afraid to take the bus around Florence. Google maps will show you the correct bus stops that will take you to your destination and you can buy these tickets at the tabacchi store. If you don't like to walk uphill, take the bus uphill to see the sunset at Piazzale Michelangelo.
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Some sites to take note of while traveling are..
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Train & Bus transportation: Hostels: Flights:
Omio Hostelworld Ryan Air
Trainline
Flixbus
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Roman Holidays
My first trip outside of Florence is Rome! I had worried about opportunities to travel when I didn't know anyone abroad but really, I was worried for nothing. Everyone is eager to travel and meet new people so as long as you are making the effort, there's no reason to worry too much. Be careful of pickpockets, especially in metros. I recommend you watch Roman Holidays before you visit Rome!! Places to visit are the Pantheon, Trevi Fountain, Spanish Steps, and St. Peter's Basilica in the Vatican. Those are all free places and if you visit the St. Peter's Basilica on Sunday, you can see the Pope and get his blessing! I'm not religious but it was a once in a lifetime experience! The inside of the Basicila has got to be one of the top gorgeous views I have ever seen. My friends and I got invested in the history of the Vatican city so it might be interesting to watch some documentaries and the movie, Angel and Demons to get a little familiar with the place. The museum was huge and we got to enter the room where the cardinals go for when they have to vote for a new pope. A famous gelato place is Giolitti, but it has a long line during the day so go during the night. My favorite place in Rome was the Borghese Gallery, the location is on top of a large park in the shape of a heart. It was absolutely gorgeous and the artwork in the Borghese Gallery is a must see so book tickets beforehand.
The Leaning tower of Pisa!?
Minor flex. I am holding up the leaning tower of Pisa. There isn't much to see here in Pisa, I'll be completely honest so don't book the last train ticket back! I would say a solid three hours is a great amount of time to check out the chapel and one of the last murals left by Keith Harring! It was seriously windy on this day so for those coming in the Spring, you may want to wear a hat. :) The tickets to visit were only $20 by the way!
Midterm
Well, I survived my midterms. LDM is honestly a fantastic school. They opt for students to have two 1/2 hour classes rather than for us to meet twice a week. My professors are excellent in teaching and I honestly love my courses. I am updating this after my midterms since I was busy studying for them but I just got the results for my last class today! They were all scored pretty satisfactory and the professors do a one-on-one meeting to go over what was great and what could be worked. Me and a friend celebrated by eating at Groms! A great place nearby the Duomo to get gelato.
School Trips!!
Included in our tuition for study abroad are two trips hosted by LDM. We get a two-day, one-night trip, and a day trip! It might change for those studying abroad in the future but we went to Cinque Terre for our day trip and Pompeii, Sorrento, and Capri for our two-day trip.
For those who love Luca, the film was inspired by the five fisherman towns of Cinque Terre!! It was quite different from back home but I loved being so close to the ocean again and roaming around the different towns was seriously fun. For those who plan on going by themselves and have the time, I recommend doing the hike! :)
If you're coming in the fall semester, you should definitely go for a swim here! It was freezing cold but a few UHM students jumped in and went for a quick swim.
Capri, Sorrento, & Pompeii
Coming on this school trip to Capri and Sorrento is actually my second time visiting the place! I will say that Sorrento and Capri are my favorite places I have visited!! :) It's hard to explain the ambiance but it's very much peaceful and tropical with a lot of sun. Being in Florence during the spring deprived us of the sun and I remember for the first time in a while I had the sun hit my face while we were at the train station in Sorrento. The school got us a boat and it gave us a tour around Capri and took us to the Blue Grotto! It's a once-in-a-lifetime chance to enter the Blue Grotto as it always depends on the weather to see if you can enter the cave. :) The first time I visited, I had to take a train back to Florence from Naples where Pompeii is located. We had bad luck with the inconsistent transportation and missed our last train home and Naples intimidated me at night but coming back a second time to learn about Pompeii helped me expand my experiences and I feel better about the place now.
Heading Home :,)
As the day to return home to Hawaii came closer, I kept thinking about the advice my advisor had given us at the beginning of the semester to take the time to immerse ourselves in Italy's culture and stay curious. I started to slow down on streets that I have walked past every day and I kept thinking about how soon it'll be my last day walking past. I felt the same when I would dine out with friends. I'm grateful that I was given the opportunity to learn abroad and broaden my views of the world. I met so many great people from all across the world and so I'll forever cherish the time that I spent in Florence, Italy.
The REAL TIPS!
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Had I been able to repack and do things differently, I would have brought two big-sized suitcases. I had to resort to buying airlock bags and using my homestay mom's vacuum to even be able to fit everything inside. There is also the reality that everyone..and I mean everyone spent a good week (if we were lucky) each month being sick with a cold. The medicine in Italy isn't as effective so I would have brought with me dayquil and nyquil. I bought more cough drops in Florence than I ever had back in Hawaii. I would have also stuck with the tedious routine of writing in a journey to document my days. This blog was been fantastic but I would want a more personal and short daily response.
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Thank you for reading about my experience abroad!!
Contact
Any inquires regarding studying abroad, feel free to contact me :)
Sidara @Hawaii.edu
