Study Abroad in Florence (semester programs)

The semester program in Florence does not offer business courses that can be used towards your major, but it is a wonderful place to have a study abroad experience, and the program at Palazzo Rucellai is a UConn program and is very well run. Every semester, there are a large number of UConn students in the program, from majors in a variety of schools and colleges.

Here are some reflections from Lauren, one of our business majors who studied in Florence:

As I walked around the city of Florence I found myself surrounded by little pizzerias, small boutiques, and “mom and pop” style restaurants. The quaint streets and shops of Florence had managed to retain their antique character; their culture has not yet given way to the vastly commercialized modern landscape of contemporary society. Large corporations and skyscrapers do not yet adulterate the city’s time-honored streets. Within the boarders of the entire city, I discovered the presence of solely two large billboards. Such a sum seemed astonishing when juxtaposed with innumerable advertisements which adorn the facades of New York architecture.

The absence of large industries and “big businesses” in Florence perplexed me. In the absence of large corporations, what constituted a “good” job? I wondered if there was a place for the corporate employee within Florence, and if there was, did they make more money than the old man who owned the small pizzeria down the street? As a marketing major, I wondered if my specialized sector of business even existed within the context of such a city.

I sought to uncover the answers to such inquires, asking several of my Italian friends what a “good” job was in Florence. They each responded with a disparaged expression, advising me that I must distinguish the differences between the Italian and American cultures. Perhaps my friend Christian answered my question most eloquently when he said, “You must understand that there is no definition of a “good” job in Italy. In our culture, a job is not what is important. In America, upon meeting a new acquaintance, the first thing a person typically divulges is their name, followed quickly by their professional title. Here, in Italy, we disclose details of our family, our friends, our hobbies, or passions, and only thereafter would we mention our job. Here, it is the person, not their job which constitutes their worth and status within society. Our professions constitute only a portion of our beings. A man who owns a small pizzeria has a “good” job, not because of his daily salary, but rather, because he owns a shop where his friends and family can come to visit and chat; a special piece a family’s heritage which can be passed down from generation to generation.”

Stories such as Christian’s can truly come to highlight the worth of such an experience; an experience which reshaped my outlook on life and what truly constitutes happiness. I believe that it is all too often that we become “stuck” in our own lives. Stuck in the same routines and the same schedules; stuck in society’s narrow definitions of ‘good’ and ‘bad’, of what is prestigious, and of what truly constitutes worth in ones life. Studying abroad provides an opportunity to experience new outlooks, views, and perceptions of life. It provides one with the opportunity to step back and re-evaluate ones life, goals, and ambitions. It allows the individual to view the world through their own distinctive lens.

The rest of the reflections from this student can be found here.