8/30/16
As I sit on the plane to Chicago, I realize I'm not quite sure why exactly I'm leaving. Is it to get away from the stressful schedule I had demanded of myself at school? Am I just aching to leave Cedar falls, basically where I grew up? Maybe it is to finally have time to process my grief and find some sort of far fetched connection to my dad.
And, as I so eloquently put in my application essays, I also want to be in a culture so very different from Iowa. I love art, cooking, and talking with people who want to share their life experiences with me. I want to talk to people about the refugee crisis and their local politics. I want to explore the influence of religion on politics.
If you stumbled upon this blog or know me and are following this because you want to hear about my travels, let me establish something: this isn't a study abroad guide (although I do hope you find some helpful information) there won't necessarily be some sort of lesson or meaning in my posts (but I can be wise once in awhile, I've been told). This is mostly so I can update my extended family and friends and *work on myself* (and my writing, ahem) and maybe share it with my children and grandchildren one day, of which I hope to have many (shout out to my mom: it's going to be a while before that happens). Editing will be limited due to the fact that I would rather be exploring that triple-checking grammar (although I will check it, of course. This IS technically published material, right?). I apologize in advance for any mistakes.
I'm a junior studying abroad in Florence, Italy at Florence University of the Arts - Palazzi (FUA) for almost four months through my American university, the University of Northern Iowa (UNI). FUA is basically an art school--they have schools of journalism, fine arts, fashion, culinary arts, and more. I'm studying Political Science and Philosophy in their tiny liberal arts school, and please please please don't ask me about the future of American politics and/or Donald Trump. I don't get it, either. I'm thinking about going into public policy and running for public office one day. On that note, I should probably stop this blog before it begins. Oh, well.
One of my scholarships requires me to creatively record my experiences abroad. I hope to take lots of pictures with this neat little lens that pops onto my phone. I also want to try vloging (video blog, for y'all older folks) and art journaling. I will be at an art school, after all!
I welcome questions and blog interaction. Some FAQ/fun facts before I land in Chicago:
My grandma told me to watch out for "ISIS, earthquakes, and Italian lovers."
What will you miss the most about Iowa?
How nice everyone is? Is that a thing in Italy? My family, mostly.
Why Italy?
See above, also it's hard to find a study abroad program when you're done with all of your general education classes and you have two majors you have to take classes in. I had to choose between Scotland or Italy, and no offense, Scotland...
How did you find time to study abroad?
I am a busy woman at school. I would say beyond the 15 credits and a couple of extracurriculars busy--I took 19 credits last semester, was a Resident Assistant, and had (?? how many) extracurriculars and weekly meetings. I decided to put a hold on these things because people I had spoken with that had graduated college said not studying abroad was their biggest college regret. I made time because I knew it would be a great experience. It's all about priorities.
Are you going with anyone?
Nope! There's one other person from UNI going to FUA, but I’ve only exchanged a couple of lines with her.
Have you been abroad before?
Nope! But I'm not worried, surprisingly. I've flown by myself before, and I'm generally self-sufficient.
Do you speak Italian?
Not enough. I've learned enough to survive for now, and I'm hoping to learn more! My classes are in English.
The plane has landed. More updates from the air as I fly.
--Gabbie
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