Florentine Home

There is something about Florence. I can’t really put my finger on it, but something about this city makes me feel as if I’ve found what I had been looking for.

The decision to travel abroad for a year was an exciting and life-changing one, as this was the first time truly being on my own. During my time here, I found this difficult at times, being away from all the things that make me feel at home— my family, cats and dogs, and familiar surroundings. I realized that it was a lot harder being on my own then I had expected. But in these moments, I turned to Florence. The Duomo has got to be my favorite part of Florence. Walking up to it takes my breath away each time, it is truly beautiful, astonishing, and incredible to behold.

I have learned a lot while living here in Florence. I have been learning the language, things about Italian culture, the food customs, how to get places and where to go, but mostly, I have learned a great deal about myself. Who am I when it’s just me on my own? What do I think about the world, and what do I think about myself? Being here has given me the opportunity to ask myself these questions, and Florence has allowed me to be open to new experiences, feelings, and moments that I would have never encountered back at home. I will return back to the U.S. with so many memories, and Florence will forever live with me, and I am happy to call it home.

by: Zoe Myers, Andrews Adventist University