Housing and Classmates in Florence

July 11, 2017

This program is split between two cities – Florence and Rome. In Florence, we are staying in an apartment style hotel that is only a 10 minute walk from the Duomo. The apartments vary in size (2 person to 6 person) with two people sharing a single bedroom. Each apartment has its own kitchen as well as dining and living space. Best of all, they have air conditioning!The rooms are fairly well kept, but still have a touch of rustic Tuscan charm. I cannot speak to the housing situation in Rome, but I have been informed that it is very similar to the set-up we are staying in currently.

Dining/living space of the apartment, stocked with dishes and utensils.

View of the kitchen in a 4 person apartment; the refrigerator and dishwasher are in the cabinets under the sink.

The 18 students (plus the teaching assistant) are living the same building, which is very convenient for socializing. Less than a handful of the students on the trip knew each other previously, but after only a day and a half together, I feel as though the whole group has befriended one another. Everyone is eager to make friends, and there are numerous group activities planned, so it’s easy to connect with each other. We are not provided meals, other than two group dinners, so that means we are shopping and cooking together, which is another way to bond with your suite mates. Others have already discussed having a potluck dinner between all of the apartments so that we can spend more time together and show off our individuals cooking skills.

The group outside before our dinner together at Trattoria San Lorenzo

Meeting new people and sharing this incredible experience with others makes the trip that much more enjoyable. I’m generally a shy person, so I was worried about going abroad for 4 weeks with strangers, but my fears have been quenched, and I’m sure I will miss this group as soon as the dialogue comes to an end.

Written By

Sarah Williams

Hi! I'm currently a second year Biochemistry major with a minor in Neuroscience, finishing my first co-op at Warp Drive Bio where I utilized structural biology techniques to aid in drug discovery. Science and travel are my two greatest passions so I couldn't pass up the opportunity to combine them on the Italy and the Scientific Revolutions Dialogue! I spent a week in Northern Italy in high school, and I'm so excited to be exploring more of the country, especially while leaning about its significance in the development of science. All of my free time will be spent walking through cities with my camera in hand, eating my weight in cheese and gelato, and (hopefully) learning the local language.