France | Chocolate and Cheese Tour

/in /by

By Jason Vu

What’s one way of studying globalization in Paris? Why not a tour of some of the best chocolate and cheese shops in town?

 

After our first week of classes, Prof. Behdad announced that he would be leading an optional excursion on Saturday to local cheese and chocolate shops in Paris. At each store, we would have the chance to sample products (all covered by our program too!) and speak to a few of the workers.

Prof. Behdad gives an introductory lecture before we begin our tour

 

Before we began our cheese and chocolate tasting, however, Prof. Behdad made sure that we would learn something from this experience by starting our excursion with a lecture on chocolate’s relationship to globalization. In a short amount of time, Prof. Behdad discussed the history of chocolate as we know it and its relationship to colonization and technological advancement. Far from pure entertainment, our trip was meant to give us a direct and intentional experience of globalization as it was shaped by historical interactions. WIth an added layer of background, we were finally ready to head out to our first Parisian chocolatier.

 

After getting off the metro in the historic district of Paris known as Le Marais, we walked a bit through some old, windy roads to our first stop: Edwart Chocolatier. At the shop, we were greeted by the friendly owner who proceeded to add to what we learned from Prof. Behdad with a brief presentation of his own.

Storefront of Edwart Chocolatier, our first stop!

 

Once he finished his talk, we moved on to the tasting portion of our program. Rather than having us all sample the same chocolates, the owner decided to spice things up by choosing our individual samples based on how we each answered his questions. For example, he would ask where we were from, our preference for milk or dark chocolate, and whether or not we were adventurous. Based off my answers, I got a piece of chocolate that includes hints of mustard and wasabi, making it slightly spicy! I was surprised by the combination, but it was tasty all the same. After buying some chocolate to bring home, we headed out to our next chocolatier, Pierre Hermé.

Pierre Hermé’s ice cream display

 

Unlike Edwart Chocolatier, Pierre Hermé was much larger and had a variety of other sweets other than chocolate like ice cream, macarons, and other pastries. Our focus here, though, was trying the chocolates made in-house by their workers. Since our group was so large, we couldn’t sample the chocolates inside, so instead, Prof. Behdad picked up our order of chocolates and we sampled outside. The chocolates from this store tasted much more like traditional chocolate with the exception of some samples that had hints of fruits and nuts added in as well. Once we finished our samples at Pierre Hermé, we went to one other chocolate shop before heading to a fromagerie or “cheese shop”.

Some cheeses on display at the local Fromagerie

 

The fromagerie we were headed to was fortunately within walking distance of our last chocolate shop, and it wasn’t long before we arrived. As a big fan of cheese, I was overjoyed by the variety of cheeses in front of me. Brie, Gorgonzola, Camambert— these were all cheeses I was super excited to sample. While not as related to globalization as chocolate, cheese is an essential part of French culture that is a must on any trip.

Cheese tasting time!

Prof. Behdad picked up our plate of cheeses and within minutes, we found a cozy park to sit in and began sampling our vast assortment with some complimentary bread. Every kind of cheese we had was different from the others and tasty in its own way. By the end of our small meal, I was stuffed and happy. The cheese tasting marked the end of our tour and was my signal to take a long food nap!

Jason studied abroad in France in Summer 2019. https://ieo.ucla.edu/travelstudy/GlobalStudies-France/

France | Getting to Know the City

/in /by

By Jason Vu

After a good night’s rest in my cozy new dorm room, I woke up bright and early to join my class for our first meeting together. Over the next two days, we would be getting to know Paris and specifically the area around us. At 9am, our class met in our residence’s lobby and began to head out on our very first trip. Led by Prof. Ali Behdad and our TA Mariam Rahmani, we headed out to get to know our home for the coming weeks.

La Maison Internationale, the central building of Cite Universitaire

 

Our first stop was to the central part of our campus, La Maison Internationale (“The International House”). Constructed in the 1930’s, the House was the first building of our campus and housed the school’s cafeteria, theater, and other student services. Prof. Behdad shared a bit about the history of Cite Universitaire’s founding as a place where scholars from around the world could gather and share knowledge in a spirit of peace and unity. For our class, the House would serve as a central meeting point whenever we had excursions into the city.

Prof. Behdad talks to our class in Parc Montsouris

 

Next up, we walked about ten minutes over to Parc Montsouris, a public park across the street from campus. As we walked down the windy roads and enjoyed the beautiful nature around us, Prof. Behdad talked a little about the history of Paris and the way the city was organized. Cite Universitaire and Parc Montsouris were located in the 14th arrondissement of Paris, one of 20 neighborhoods that divide up the city. To find our way around, we would have to learn how to use Paris’s complex metro system, but thankfully our program came with metro passes that were unlimited all month. With reassurance that we would (eventually) be able to understand Parisian public transit, Prof. Behdad then led us to a nearby train station to head into the city.

Place de la Bastille, major turning point of the French Revolution

Now in the city, we arrived at our first landmark—La Place de la Bastille. A giant pillar stands where, in 1789, French revolutionaries stormed the infamous Bastille prison to free political prisoners and arm themselves for the Revolution. After taking in the site of this historical uprising, we made our way down the street to the ACCENT Paris Study Abroad Center, where our regular class meetings would be held.

Courtyard of the ACCENT Paris Study Abroad Center

 

Once we arrived at the Center, we listened to a detailed orientation from the Center’s director on how to get by and behave in Paris. Information such as how to read Parisian transit information and order in restaurants was all laid out for us in an easy-to-digest manner to ensure that we would have the best experience possible in Paris. After the presentation, we had the rest of the daytime to rest up and get ready for the evening’s events.

 

Once evening came, our class regrouped for a quick picnic followed by a boat ride on the Seine river. As the central body of water in Paris, the Seine flows by some of the major landmarks of the city such as Notre Dame and the Eiffel Tower, making a boat ride on it an easy way of getting a preview of all the City of Lights has to offer. For me, one of the best things about this boat ride was noting all the locations I would have the chance to go to in the next month. There was a lot to see, but I was determined to see it all!

Jason studied abroad in France in Summer 2019. https://ieo.ucla.edu/travelstudy/GlobalStudies-France/

France | Arriving in Paris

/in /by

By Jason Vu

Here it is! After over a week of packing and goodbyes to family and friends, the day was finally here. In around fourteen hours, I would land in Paris where I would be living and studying for the next month. I remember feeling a bit nervous waking up on July 29th with my flight only a few hours away, but more than anything else I was excited. This would be my first time abroad for an extended period of time without family, so I was determined to make the most of this trip. At 1:40pm, after saying one last goodbye to my parents and clearing security, I boarded my plane and within moments I was off.

Nineteen hours later (flight delays…what can you expect), I was at Charles de Gaulle Airport in Paris, France. Once I cleared passport control, I made my way to baggage claim to gather my belongings, but after almost half an hour, my checked bag didn’t come out. Confused, I went to the customer assistance desk to ask about my bag, and it turned out that my bag, along with the bags of a third of my flight, had been left behind during our layover in Dallas. We’d get our luggage back within three days, but that still didn’t help my initial anxiety for this trip. Nevertheless, I grabbed the things I did have (good thing I had my carryon bags!) and made my way to the RER train towards Cite Universitaire.

I got to the university in the evening and immediately found myself having to find my way around a new campus environment. As the international university of Paris, the university was divided into separate “maisons” that represented the various nationalities represented on campus such as Belgium, Morocco, and India. The “maison” I’d be staying at was the “Maison du Portugal – André de Gouveia,” dedicated to the great 16th century Portuguese humanist of the Renaissance.

 

Located at the southernmost part of the university campus, the Maison du Portugal follows a more modern design compared to some of the other residences surrounding us. It was a bit of a walk from the train station, but I was eventually able to check in at the front desk and make my way to my dorm room.

Room 421—my single-bed dorm room (post-nap)

 

After a light nap and settling in, I finally had the energy to get in touch with my friend on the program to grab some dinner that evening. She reached out to another friend on our program, and the three of us were soon on our way to have our very first meal in Paris together!

 

In a rush of adventurous energy, we decided not to use our phones to find a restaurant and wander around the neighborhood instead. Luckily, our university was located right next to the 13th arrondissement of Paris, which is known for being home to the city’s own Chinatown. As a result, we eventually found the “Imperial Choisy,” a Michelin-ranked Chinese restaurant only 15 minutes away by walking. We sat down, ordered a few dishes, and celebrated our first night in Paris.

Our meal for the evening: Mapo Tofu, Steamed Chinese Vegetables, and Sichuan Chicken

Stuffed with one of the best meals of our whole trip, we got back to the Maison du Portugal at right about sunset (keep in mind, sunset in Paris was after 9pm). Back in my room, I took a look out of my window facing campus and was met with one of the most beautiful sunsets I have ever seen (picture below). In the last moments of the day, I thought back to my earlier ordeals with flight delays and lost baggage and realized just how small they were compared to one thing—I made it! Months of preparation and paperwork had gone into this moment, making sure I’d get to Paris safe and sound with everything I needed for the next month. And now, I was determined to make the most of it.

Jason studied abroad in France in Summer 2019. https://ieo.ucla.edu/travelstudy/GlobalStudies-France/

Italy | Staycation Abroad

/in /by

By Andrea Arredondo

Florence is wonderful and the accommodations arranged could not have been any closer to the classroom we met in, but July is a hot time of the year in Florence. As a Southern California native, I also am not used to humidity, so when a heat wave struck, I needed to swim in some water.

Beach, river, inflatable pool—I didn’t care. It was so hot and humid that I decided I needed to find a way to cool down. Unfortunately, the room I was staying in had so much natural sunlight, that it was very challenging not to sweat just sitting inside. I usually loved the natural lighting, but one weekend, I decided to find a place to swim—a shower just wasn’t going to cut it with that heat. Can you guess where I went?

Unlike other rivers, the Arno is not the cleanest. So, I did not swim there. With no beach within walking distance, I also did not go to the beach. Desperate to swim, a few girls and I decided that our only solution was to stay in a hotel. Now it might sound funny. Paying to stay in a hotel when you had an apartment in the same city? While this certainly isn’t for everyone, I was lucky to find some like-minded people in my program.

In agreement that we would be renting a hotel, we got to work looking for a place to stay. But, trying to book anything at the last moment in Florence is a challenge, if not impossible. Everything is either booked solid, or very expensive. But we persevered and we eventually found a hotel with an incredible rooftop pool and air conditioning inside.

Within minutes, we booked a room for the weekend. Upon arrival, we immediately went to the roof. While I was sure the view was going to be nice, what I saw was beyond what I expected. We basically bad a 360-degree panoramic view of Florence. As soon as I saw the pool, my focus changed toward jumping in. But as the composed college student I am, I applied more sunscreen and let it set before gracefully sliding in.

Wow. That swim was incredible and very much worth the wait. In the words of one of the other girls, it was “everything I wanted and more.” Relaxed and cooled down, we eventually went to the room where a massive bed, blow dryers, and the balcony of dreams welcomed us.

Hungry, I ordered a pizza which arrived in minutes. (Don’t forget to read my blog to learn how to make pizza like an Italian!). With the sun setting, a delicious pizza, and book in hand, I was truly living my best life that day. Not only did I get to swim on a rooftop, but I ate some pizza and was able to relax in an air-conditioned room.

As I mentioned at the beginning of this blog, some might think it is silly to stay in a hotel. But, if you should find yourself without air conditioner during a heat wave, I recommend you look for some other friends to see if any of them would be interested in stay at a hotel for a night. Trust me when I say it was worth every second.

Andrea Arredondo studied abroad in Florence in Summer 2019. https://ieo.ucla.edu/travelstudy/English-Florence/

Italy | How to Make a Pizza

/in /by

By Andrea Arredondo

What is the first thing you think about when you hear the word Italy? For me, it’s pizza. Imperfectly circular, cheesy, and saucy, a simple pizza is one of my favorite things about Italy. Lucky for me, while I was abroad, I had the opportunity to learn how to make a classic Italian pizza. Now, the instructions I am about to explain won’t give you a multi-topping Domino’s style pizza. Italian pizzas are (usually) stripped to their fundamentals. Instead, I will be sharing a no thrills, tasty and Italian-approved recipe.

Before going further, let me explain how I even learned the recipe. This journey started out when one day I received an email announcement from Accent, the program in Florence that helped organize my study abroad outings. Sharing that they would be hosting a pizza making class during lunch, I decided to sign up.

As the date approached, I looked at the list of other students that signed up and didn’t recognize a single name. In fact, all the other students were from different universities. But, determined to enjoy a handmade pizza, I went anyways.

At a small pizza shop near Accent, fifteen college students turned toward our instructor, a brawny Italian man. Excited to have students from different countries, he quickly gave us an overview of the process and pilled pairs of students into the kitchen for more detailed guidance.

As I waited for my turn, I met tons of students from UC Santa Barbara. Bonding over our hunger, we talked about everything we wished we were eating. Croissants. Burgers. French fries. Salmon. But most of all, pizza. It was great having the opportunity to meet students from other schools that like me, loved being in Florence but felt misplaced at times. We bonded over all the times our phones died and we somehow made it back.

Eventually it was my turn to head to the kitchen and I couldn’t have been more excited. After pulling my hair out of my face and washing my hands, I waited for instructions. Handed a lump of dough, I was told to add a little flour and stretch it out. If you have ever stretched dough, then you know that it can quickly get messy. Add too much flour and it flies everywhere. Add not enough and your dough sticks to the table. Lucky for me, my instructor added more flour when he realized that I didn’t add enough. I didn’t use a rolling pin to stretch out the dough. Instead, I stretched it on the table and eventually did the cool thing where you spin it on your hand.

Dough stretched, I then added a light layer of sauce and swirled it around. One important detail to remember is not to add the sauce too close to the edge to make sure your crust is big enough. Then, I was handed some pepperoni and mozzarella cheese which, I liberally spread on my pie (remember, I’m an “extra cheese” kind of girl). It is worth noting that unlike I thought, pepperoni goes before the cheese.

Seconds later, my instructor came out with a giant shovel like contraption which we used to scoop up my pizza and slide into a fire over. Do you know long to bake a pizza? One minute and thirty seconds. That is how long it takes to bake a pizza in a fire oven. So, shortly after leaving my pizza in the over it came back out again.

Perfectly toasted, I let me pizza cool before slicing it up and taking a big bite. Without a doubt, this was my favorite lunch during the program.

Andrea Arredondo studied abroad in Florence in Summer 2019. https://ieo.ucla.edu/travelstudy/English-Florence/

Italy | Forkfuls of Florence

/in /by

Okay, you can’t make a blog about Florence without at least one post dedicated to food. From pasta to gelato, Italians have perfected a variety of dishes. However, I also discovered some not-too-Italian dishes which were delicious while I was abroad. While some splurge on Italian shoes, I splurged on eating out. Eating is truly one of the greatest pleasures in life for me, but a lot of foods can be oversimplified to the point of boredom. Take a spaghetti for example. In theory, it is simple to make. You just boil some water, add the dried noodles, and pour store bought paste sauce over the noodles when they look ready. While there is nothing wrong with this, and at times it is all I can make at home, this pasta is in the words of one of my pickiest friends, “sad.” Funny as it may sound–and without judging anyone that prefers pasta this way–I had to agree with what she was saying. Fortunately for me, the foods I ate in Florence were anything but sad or boring.

In Italy, the pastas I ate were always divine. The tomato sauces had little chunks of tomato and seasoning mixed in. The noodles were never too soggy, but always perfectly al dente (this is when noodles are neither over nor under cooked). I am a “lots of cheese” kind of gal, so when I pile on parmesan in most pastas, it usually never melts completely. But the pastas I ate in Florence were always so hot when they were brought to me that the cheese melted as it touched the noodles.

Similarly, I noticed that food establishments in Italy took great care to make sure they were serving the food they envisioned. Even something as simple as an ice cream cone was carefully prepared. Whether it was ensuring the scoops were perfectly round or that they were centered right onto the cone, each gelato scooper prepared Instagram ready treats. One small detail that is more common in Europe, but does sometimes happen in the United States, is that there was a small, circular cookie or chocolate placed into the scoops. Aesthetic was it was, the little detail was also delicious.

Surprisingly, I event found airport food to be shockingly amazing in Italy. As I have written before, while I was in Italy, I became a mild coffee addict. So, before boarding my departing flight, I went to one of the coffee shops to ask for a “café cream.” Not expecting to experience a life changing moment, I immediately ordered another after sampling my first spoonful. For those of you who have yet to experience the magic that is the Italian “cafe cream,” think of a Starbucks Frappuccino but better. Creamier and consisting of a shot of espresso, this little desert is like the cookie butter of all butters… and it has since raised my standards so high for coffee.

I guess you could say that Italy changed my mind about a lot of foods. As someone who doesn’t like to eat meat more than once a week, I was worried that I wouldn’t have many options in Florence. Even worse, I wasn’t sure the meatless options would be any good. However, I soon found that salads were anything but disappointing. Instead, they were full of tasty flavors and vibrant colors. Have you had yams on salad? How about mozzarella cheese? Before Florence, I had never had either of those mixed into a salad, but since then, the topping that I usually put on salads has pleasantly increased.

I could keep sharing more about everything I ate abroad, but I think I’ll leave some things for you to discover yourself…

Andrea Arredondo studied abroad in Florence in Summer 2019. https://ieo.ucla.edu/travelstudy/English-Florence/

Italy | Art Scene in Florence

/in /by

By Andrea Arredondo

Florence is known for collecting some of the world’s most famous sculptures, paintings, and taxidermized animals, but with so many museums available, where should you go in the limited time you have there? Well art lovers and curious travelers, read to find out what some of my highlights and underrated recommendations are…

The Uffizi Gallery is by and large, one of the most famous museums in Florence and this is definitely not one to miss. Home to Botticelli’s Birth of Venus, Rafaello’s Madonna del Cardellino, and Caravaggio’s Medusa, each wing displays work by a variety of paintings by a myriad of artists. The Uffizi is easy to navigate and is air conditioned, which is a bonus during the summer heat. Best of all, after you finish, it is surrounded by other museums like the Pitti Palace and Palatine Gallery. Be sure to look for Titian’s Venus of Urbino before leaving!

Likewise, the Galleria dell’Accademia is well known for its collection of Michelangelo’s sculptures. As such, crowds quickly form and you can easily wait over two hours in line if you come at the wrong time. In order to avoid waiting, it is possible to buy tickets in advance so that you can go inside at a specified time. While the David may be the star of the museum, I also advise you take some time to appreciate Michaelangelo’s non-finito works before to see what sculptures look like while they are in the works.

A less visited museum is the Museum of the Opera del Duomo. Not very crowded, this museum welcomes you in through the Salone del Paradiso. It then displays Michelangelo’s much written about Pietà. Finally, inside another room that can barely be spotted, there rests Donatello’s creepy yet cool Penitant Madonna, a carving made out of wood. This museum may not be as large as the others, but it is a great way to get a glimpse inside the Duomo without actually going inside of it.

Similarly, Porcelain Museum is a smaller but still interesting visit. Found inside the Boboli Gardens, entrance is free with your ticket into the gardens (and completely free for locals, I believe). The Porcelain Museum can be a little hard to find as it is located at the very top of the hill and up a small staircase, but the hunt is worth the views in the small flower garden right in front of the museum. In addition to an incredible view of the Tuscan hills, the porcelain dishes found inside are beautiful to look at.

Now, any fashion lover knows that Florence is the home of Gucci, but not everyone knows that there exists a Gucci museum! Gucci Garden Galleria aesthetically presents a history of Gucci through clothing and accessories. From vintage pieces to more contemporary designs, you can learn more about this fashion leader’s inspiration in each room. Gucci Garden also sells clothing and items in a gift store—though I should let you know that the cheapest item I could find was a €10 post card (yes, just one post card). Students can get in for free, but I would only recommend this museum to someone that is interested in fashion history.

There are so many museums in Florence that I did not get a chance to see them all. Of the ones I did visit, these were my favorites so I hope you love them too!

Andrea Arredondo studied abroad in Florence in Summer 2019. https://ieo.ucla.edu/travelstudy/English-Florence/

Italy | Under the Tuscan Sun

/in /by

By Andrea Arredondo

If there is one thing that makes Florence unique, it is that the city is beautiful to walk though. Whether you are on one side of the Arno or the other, there is so much to see that you could easily spend a few hours taking in Florence. With little shops along the streets, one-of-a-kind museums, and restaurants that smell divine from outside—it is easy to find things to do even after you think you have seen it all. Trust me, when I say that there is always something new to do or see in Florence, there always is…

It was a Friday afternoon and I had just left my school bag in the apartment. I went outside only to embark upon the perfect afternoon walk! Image the most unreal, only happens in a movie type summer weather. Not too hot, a slight breeze, and low humidity. Aware that I had to be back in a few hours for dinner with a friend, I decided to wander Florence for around two hours.

Before going much farther, the first place I stopped at was a gelato shop near my apartment. Unlike most gelato shops, this one was special because it made freshly squeezed lemon-flavored treats every day. A lemon and gelato lover, this particular shop was my favorite in Florence.

Cone in hand, I then headed toward the Pitti Palace, where I finished my gelato and took part in some people watching. After, I headed down some smaller, ordinary streets. Intending to avoid the crowds along the river, I didn’t expect to find the art.

I have noticed a stigma against art painted on streets. Whether it’s street painting in America, or remaking signs as I saw in Florence, people love to judge street artists. Clet Abraham is a French artist who over the last few years have caught art-lover’s attention with his politically charged images. Painting over street signs, Abraham plays with lines, colors, and cultural references to make statements.

The further I walked down the tiny street (sorry guys, I didn’t take note of the street’s name), the more of the artist’s signs started to show up. Eventually, I realized why—there was a store which sold his work on that street. Impressed and amused, I went inside only to find stickers, bags, and posters of Abraham’s sign art.

Hoping to see a bit more of Florence, I eventually left and started to climb up a mountain. While it looked easy at first, the path quickly became very steep and I started to wonder, what if I just turn back now…? What at the top of this mountain can possibly be worth seeing? Half-determined to turn around, I then realized where I was heading: Piazzale Michelangelo.

Impressed that I had made it so far, I decided to finish the climb and see the view so many claimed to be the best in Florence. When I got to the top, I could see why others had fallen in love with the view—it was incredible. Arriving at sunset, the sun struck the Tuscan city with a soft glow that felt straight out of a movie (I know I keep saying that, but Florence really is so beautiful that it is the film site for many movies). Moments later, the sun sank further away and I realized it was time for me to head back.

Having an itinerary is great, but sometimes not having one can be super rewarding—especially in Florence! 

Andrea Arredondo studied abroad in Florence in Summer 2019. https://ieo.ucla.edu/travelstudy/English-Florence/

Italy | Solo Trip to Milan

/in /by

One of the scariest things about going abroad is going abroad by yourself—especially if you are a woman. But sometimes, it is important to have that alone time. While I was in Italy, I felt inspired by the powerful women I was reading about in class. So, one weekend, I decided to travel to Milan—alone.  

Now, I have traveled alone before, but I had never been to Milan. Excited as I was, truth be told, I wasn’t sure what I had in store for me. Would I be able to navigate the public transportation? Would I get to see all the museums that I wanted to? Was the hostel I was staying at be in a safe area? There are so many questions that went through my mind, but I just had to keep reminding myself that I was going to be okay!

When I arrived in Milan, I was very happy to find out that my hostel was less than a five-minute walk from the train station. Even better, when I arrived, the hostel was still serving breakfast (my favorite meal of the day) and I was able to check in without a problem. Even though I may have been nervous at first, clearly my day was already brightening up.

After a light breakfast, I then decided to start exploring the city. Before I left, I made sure to pull up the directions for the Duomo and downloaded them onto my phone. Ready to explore a new city I made my way until I found the large church where I have seen so many people take pictures before. After taking my own picture, I went inside the church and took in its historic beauty. After looking around, I made my way back outside and joined a group of students climbing to the church’s roof. The climb to the top of the Duomo in Milan may not be as long as the one in Florence, but it’s still took some energy out of me. Regardless, I would be lying if I told you I wasn’t a little disappointed by what I saw: construction.

Beams and poles were everywhere. It was still possible to see the gothic architecture and a view of the city, but each time I looked back at the center of the roof, wooden panels covered up ongoing projects. I am had a great time in Milan, but it seemed like I just picked a busy time to visit. Similarly, when I went to visit Teatro alla Scala later that day, the theater was also covered in scaffolding. Frustrated by all of the construction happening, I reminded myself that it was for the maintenance of the decades-old infrastructure.

Following my morning visits, I took the rest of the trip relatively calm. I hadn’t planned much so I was able to really walk around and take in the city. I went to McDonalds where I ordered some sort of coffee espresso cream. Then, I went to the Starbucks Reserve where I had more coffee. As a recent coffee lover, I found the Starbucks Reserve to be everything I through it would be–the pastries were divine and the coffee smelled unreal.

My experience in Milan might not have been as picture perfect as I wish it had been, but in hindsight I realize that I had an amazing time anyway. I had been to some of the most famous buildings in all of Italy after all! So, if I can remind you of one little detail it’s that there’s no such thing as perfection. My trip to Milan was wonderful. I ate great food and I was able to appreciate incredible art pieces. Even though some of the other things I saw weren’t perfect, they were still breathtaking. Best of all, I was able to create an amazing weekend for myself, without running into any trouble. So, if you find yourself planning your first solo trip in a new city, I encourage you not to be so nervous that you talk yourself out of an incredible opportunity. Perhaps, there might be some bumps along the way, but hopefully there will be more successes as there were for me in the end.

*Although I did meet up with a few friends for lunch on Sunday, I consider this to be a solo trip as I arranged and fulfilled all of my transportation and site visits by myself.

Andrea Arredondo studied abroad in Florence in Summer 2019. https://ieo.ucla.edu/travelstudy/English-Florence/

Italy | Textbooks and Traveling: What It’s Like to Take Classes A Foreign Country

/in /by

By Andrea Arredondo

Studying abroad may seem to be a bit counterintuitive. You are traveling to a foreign country and encouraged to see new places, yet you also have to take classes and are given assignments to complete. You are told that you should interact with locals and try to soak up as much of this culture and community you are experiencing, but that can seem challenging when you have to meet deadlines. It may seem like a lot, or impossible to try and strike a balance between the two, but keep reading to see what an average day abroad was like for me! 

7:00AM- Although I certainly did not need to wake up this early, my roommate and I regularly left the windows open overnight, forcing us to wake up earlier than either of us liked. After getting up, the weather was pretty cool so, I liked to do some of my readings. About an hour later, more girls would wake up in my hall and I would great ready for class. Depending on if I had groceries, I would either make something in one of the shared kitchens or buy breakfast at a local café.

10AM- In the morning we had a two-hour long lecture. Lectures were usually held inside the Accent Center, but at times we would visit museums or go on walks during these blocks of time. Professor Looby was really great at making lectures interactive. Often, he would ask us to read passages and state our thoughts. In class, we would expand our conversations by connecting the readings to famous paintings or statues. My favorite day in class was when we were talking about a song reference in one of our books and Professor Looby suddenly started to sing!

12PM- Lunch time! The nice thing about having such a long lunch was the ability to go across the Arno to try new places AND still make it back in time for class. Sometimes I even used this time to get ahead on work, visit a museum, or talk to family and friends back home.

2PM- After lunch we would have another two-hour lecture, discussion with our Teaching Assistant, or site visit. My favorite class trip was when we went to see the Pitti Palace. Here we were able to look at art which dated back centuries. There were also more modern exhibitions which showcased the influence of the late Renaissance period on modern fashion. 

4PM- Up to you dude! Once class was over, we were never forced to stay at the museums or churches afterward. After class, we were free to do as we liked. Of course, we could stay longer, but some days I went back to my apartment to do homework or else where to explored the city (read “Under the Tuscan Sun” to learn my favorite after class walk). Although class met every day, Professor Looby was very transparent about the work he wanted from us. As such, I was always able to plan my excursions accordingly.

The things that makes studying abroad manageable is that your professors know you want to spend time exploring the city where you are at. Of course, they will give you readings and papers, but it’s up to you to use your time efficiently. After all, studying abroad is more than just what you learn inside a classroom. 

Andrea Arredondo studied abroad in Florence in Summer 2019. https://ieo.ucla.edu/travelstudy/English-Florence/