Pictured: Liz in front of the Colosseum in Rome. Photo by Liz Kameen.

Hello, Moravian, and welcome to my new short-term column about studying abroad!

This semester, I’m in Florence, Italy, and despite all of my pre-departure fears, I’ve been having the time of my life. In my first article, I wanted to talk about some of the misconceptions and fears about studying abroad, whether or not they are true, and why I decided to do it. 

First, costs: many people think that studying abroad costs a significant amount of money. That’s partially true, but for me, it was cheaper to study abroad than to spend the same semester at Moravian. 

Tuition costs in Europe are significantly more affordable than in the U.S., and Moravian pays for all my tuition, since it’s less than 10k as I am participating in an affiliate exchange program: Lorenzo de’ Medici (LdM), which I am so thankful for.

Studying abroad seems scary, but that’s what makes it fun! It’s almost like doing something you’re terrified of, like skydiving, but jumping in any way –  and the adrenaline rush will carry you through your fears. I’m a big follower of not letting my fears stop me from doing anything because that makes life interesting! 

Even if you’re scared, college may be the only time you’ll be able to spend multiple months in a foreign country, so why not take advantage of that opportunity, especially at a school that offers so many resources to study abroad? 

If you’re afraid of making friends, don’t worry; I was too, and I found the best group of people I could possibly ask for. I already love and care about them so much. Since I was the only one from my school participating in LdM and I knew other schools sent up to hundreds of students together, I was horrified I wouldn’t find my group, but like everything else in life, it worked out. I’m so thankful I made this scary decision. 

And, even if you’re not a particularly social person, your program will often find ways to gently integrate you with new students through orientations, weekend trips, and housing assignments. 

If you’re interested in learning more of a language, there is no better time and place to do it than studying abroad. I knew virtually no Italian before I arrived in Florence, and I’m already starting to pick up on the language by trying my best to order food in Italian, hearing the TV, and listening to locals talking. You’ll learn so much, and your pronunciation will become better over time. 

Submerging yourself in a new culture is so interesting, and I think it’s essential, especially for Americans, to better understand other countries, cultures, and customs, as it seems Europeans are much more educated in countries outside of their own. In my experience, Americans tend to have a very US-centric view of the world, and exploring a new culture completely opened my eyes to how other countries operate. 

Florence has already changed my life — and I already got to visit Rome last weekend! There are performers on the street every night, ranging from chalk artists drawing on the sidewalk to musicians playing accordions, violins, opera singers, and pianists. They are all so incredibly talented. I’ll be honest: I genuinely started to tear up when I heard an authentic Italian sing and play Dean Martin’s Volare on a street piano.

The food is delicious, authentic, and nothing like Olive Garden (who would have thought!). And the food is SO much healthier than in America – I can’t even find Sour Airhead Extreme candy in Europe (I admit to missing my unhealthy American food at times).

Studying abroad also exposes you to real-life learning experiences that aren’t possible in a country as young as the U.S.

There are structures in Florence that are hundreds of years older than the signing of our constitution, and it’s so surreal to see such beautiful, old and well-preserved buildings like the Duomo on my daily walks to class. 

Also, so many notable artists, politicians, and celebrities lived and flourished in Florence. I can’t wait to visit Machiavelli’s grave like a true political science major – and I’m sure you can say the same thing about hundreds of other cities depending on your major and interests. Even though I’m not an art major, I have a big passion for it, and seeing paintings like The Birth of Venus and frescoes painted on every ceiling hundreds of years ago genuinely leaves me speechless and, often, in tears. 

So, why did I study abroad?

Because it’s a once-in-a-lifetime experience. I’m meeting new people all over the world and discovering the true meaning of independence. It was hard leaving my mom behind, and this is the longest I’ve ever gone without seeing her, but I know I’m becoming a stronger person because of it. 

If you’re even considering studying abroad, book an appointment with the Center for Global Education, ask questions, and make the leap because it might be the only time in your life that you can.