McKenzy’s Tutorial Yr in Florence, Italy

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Desperate to step into the footsteps of a school scholar who studied and interned overseas in Italy? We lately caught up with AIFS Overseas participant McKenzy, a school scholar from Hawaii Pacific College who spent her fall semester learning overseas in Florence and returned to the town the next spring for a Research + Internship expertise. 

Learn on to be taught extra about McKenzy’s expertise with AIFS Overseas and the influence of being a world scholar and intern in Florence.  

Kiki: I’m Kiki, our host, and right now we can be speaking with McKenzy. I’m presently an AIFS Overseas Alumni Ambassador, and I’ve this chance to be right now’s host as a result of my training overseas expertise in Paris, France.  

Similar to McKenzy, we’re each unpacking from this wonderful journey, and I can’t wait to listen to about your expertise, McKenzy. Are you able to begin by telling us which AIFS Overseas program you participated in? 

McKenzy: Sure! Hello, guys. Hello Kiki, thanks a lot for having me on. I used to be in Florence, Italy. I began learning there for the Fall 2023 semester, after which I went again and studied and interned in the identical location for the Spring 2024 semester. 

Kiki: That sounds wonderful, and I really like that you just ended up going again. A number of my pals and friends additionally went again to France as a result of they didn’t wish to keep in America afterward, so I simply love that you just ended up going again to Italy. It sounds such as you had a good time. 

What was your largest motivation to check overseas? 

McKenzy: I actually simply felt like I wanted a significant change. I used to be on this lull of motivation and felt like I used to be hitting a wall in my training journey. I wished to expertise one thing that was larger than myself, one thing completely different that might change my life. After which, in fact, simply the concept of desirous to do one thing that I’d all the time wished to do, which was journey round Europe. I simply felt like saying “sure” to the chance that was presenting itself, it was precisely what I felt known as to do. 

Kiki: Yeah, and I really like that you just have been simply searching for a change of tempo and searching for one thing completely different to do. That’s what plenty of school college students are searching for, as a result of the training can get fairly monotonous, and issues can get very repetitive. 

Searching for that change of tempo, for one thing to deliver again and regenerate a ardour for training is one thing that plenty of college students are in search of. In order that’s actually good that examine overseas is what motivated you to proceed your training. 

What challenges did you face previous to going overseas? 

McKenzy: Despite the fact that I felt known as to have a significant change, this concept of [study abroad] being so main and so life-altering was actually scary. Additionally, going alone made it far more nerve-wracking. It was attention-grabbing how shortly [these fears] went away after I acquired there. I nearly began appearing in a method that I all the time wished to however by no means may at house or at my college—I grew to become much more extroverted, talkative, and out of my shell. I put plenty of vitality into fostering new connections, reaching out to the individuals round me, and prioritizing my desires and wishes for my semester overseas. 

Kiki: These nerves are a traditional a part of the expertise. Particularly since you’re shifting in a foreign country to a spot you’ve by no means been to. So, in fact, you’re going to be nervous earlier than going overseas, however I’m glad that you just have been open to it and having such a good time and changing into somebody you all the time wished to be. That’s very lovely to listen to. I undoubtedly relate to that, I’ve change into much more open, extroverted, and comfy talking with individuals ever since going to France and having these experiences. It’s plenty of enjoyable. 

McKenzy: Yeah, life-changing actually. 

Kiki: It really is.  

Have you ever introduced any parts of your life overseas again house with you? 

McKenzy: I believe that there have been loads of life-style adjustments that I beloved and loved and I’m making an attempt to implement in my day-to-day again house. A significant factor individuals do in Italy is take pleasure in these lengthy meals collectively—actually taking time to attach, examine in, snort, and simply have a superb time over a few completely different meal programs. And their slowed down life-style, simply making an attempt to stroll somewhat bit slower, stopping and speaking to individuals, attending to know the individuals round me extra personally… Once I was there, I made so many wonderful connections with not solely the individuals in my program and the buddies in my life there, however my professors and the individuals at my job the place I interned. I believe simply that the arrogance and reliance in myself that impacted each a part of my life there, now impacts each a part of my life right here. 

Kiki: That was very fantastically mentioned. I couldn’t agree extra about that slower life-style and that chance to soak up and observe individuals and your environment is one thing that I’ve additionally adopted since my examine overseas. To have conversations and dig somewhat deeper together with your friends. In my case with my host dad and mom, they might all the time have conversations with me and my roommate. The conversations have been by no means shallow, they have been all the time asking good questions like, “What do you consider this case happening in Paris proper now?” They have been very open to having these conversations with us and inspired us to interact with them in these conversations. That general life-style of taking issues sluggish and having fun with your life, and dealing to stay, not residing to work, that life-style change is one thing I’ve loved and tried to reimplement since coming again. 

Any recommendation for future examine overseas college students? 

McKenzy: The largest factor is to be open to something and all the things and say sure as a lot as you’ll be able to if it feels best for you. Now could be the time to lean into this cliché of “examine overseas modified my life,” and take be aware about the way you’re altering and adjusting. Discover stability between your research and journey. And general, simply care for your self and perceive that being light with your self and giving your self grace when issues are arduous is so necessary. Do not forget that you’re not alone—everybody goes by way of these very same feelings and are on the identical rollercoaster of examine overseas and experiencing the identical lived experiences that you’re, and also you all are simply hitting them at completely different factors of the semester. So simply attain out to the individuals that you just love and be there for others after they ask in your compassion and empathy. 

Kiki: I couldn’t agree extra with being extra open-minded. Additionally, being very understanding of the nation that you just’re in and its social guidelines—that’s one other factor I’d add to that, as a result of that comes with being open-minded and open to completely different experiences. A number of international locations could have completely different customs than what we’re used to seeing. So, it’s necessary to know that going into it since you may by accident get someone somewhat upset with you, and also you wouldn’t need that particularly when it’s your first time there. 

McKenzy: I believe citing that concept of tradition is so necessary. My professors discuss so much about how so many college students go overseas and so they’re simply searching for a three-month trip moderately than experiencing the place they’re residing and dipping their toes into tradition and getting concerned and studying as a lot as they’ll. I simply assume that’s so necessary, and it’s not touched on… It’s a very powerful piece of recommendation, which is don’t deal with this as if it’s only one cease in your grand tour. Bear in mind that you’re residing there, and you’re experiencing it as your day-to-day… that’s a blessing. Be concerned in as a lot as you’ll be able to within the nation, the tradition, and your environment. 

Kiki: Undoubtedly. Attending to know the town and nation that you just’re residing in is so necessary. And it’s so necessary to be taught concerning the historical past of the place that you just’re in, as a result of each nation, and even completely different elements of the identical nation, have such completely different histories, and it’s actually attention-grabbing to study these issues. 

What was a memorable expertise you had whereas overseas? 

McKenzy: I actually had so many, and all of them are so completely different. I believe probably the most memorable experiences for me are simply within the mundane, on a regular basis issues. Attending to go to dinner each night time with my pals, regardless of how busy we have been… Getting to go to and journey with my pals from house at their completely different examine overseas areas… Forming my friendships and connections with the individuals in my life… These have been probably the most life-changing and thrilling experiences. After which, in fact, simply navigating the tradition and gaining a very new sense of self. 

Kiki: I’ve grown a lot as an individual since my time overseas. And it was simply so good to have the ability to go to France and discover the nation as a person versus going to France on household journeys and going to just one a part of France after which going house. I acquired to discover the nation somewhat bit extra and take extra time to get to know the nation. So, that was a very nice expertise for me as a result of I beforehand wouldn’t have been in a position to do this. 

How was it adjusting to your life again house? 

McKenzy: I actually felt fully modified. I felt reinvented, remotivated in direction of my research, and realigned with who I’m and who I want to be going ahead. I simply felt so fulfilled and related with so many individuals round me. I found out a lot for going ahead, not solely in my private life, however in my profession and my skilled journey. It was so attention-grabbing to have this realization simply from that short-lived expertise of being in a unique nation… to see how a lot it formed you as an individual and the way completely different you are feeling coming house. Nearly like all the things stayed put [at home], and right here you’re fully completely different and new.  

The basic problem that I speak about with everybody in my life is this concept of the “post-abroad droop,” which I’m certain you’ll be able to relate to. It’s so arduous to come back again to actuality and watch the reminiscences or have to speak to your long-distance pals about what you simply skilled altogether and never have that be your day-to-day. I’m nearly reaching my [one-year anniversary], and getting these little flashback reminiscences is loopy as a result of seeing what my days seem like now versus then is somewhat bit miserable, however I’m so grateful that I acquired that have in any respect. 

Kiki: Yeah, I really feel you on the post-abroad droop. It’s hit fairly arduous for me. It felt like a fever dream, and I do know that it wasn’t. I’ve photographic and video proof and reminiscences to show that it wasn’t a fever dream for 3 months.  

It undoubtedly did take a while readjusting and getting again to work, getting again to my research, going again on campus after greater than six months of not being there… that was a extremely bizarre expertise for me. I used to be like, “Oh, I’m right here once more for the primary time in months.” And I didn’t even notice that it had been that lengthy till I needed to step foot on campus. And simply that entire bizarre adjusting interval. 

Even nonetheless, like going again, my reminiscences, I’ll get flashback notifications from my images like, “Hey, six months in the past you probably did this.” Like, sure, I do know I did this six months in the past. I don’t know if I ought to see this proper now as a result of it makes me wish to return.  

And it’s really humorous as a result of a few of my pals ended up simply selecting to not cope with the post-study overseas droop, and so they ended up going again to France. Certainly one of them is learning in France. She’s doing sustainable design in France. And one other one is instructing English there. So, they’re each residing their greatest lives in France. They aren’t coping with having to be again fully in America. 

McKenzy: Wow, what a possibility! 

Kiki: I do know! Effectively, that wraps up our dialog for right now with McKenzy. Thanks all a lot for listening in right now. And thanks, McKenzy, for chatting with me. Please don’t overlook to subscribe so you’ll be able to hear extra tales about learning and residing overseas. See you subsequent time! 

Are you a scholar who’s able to take the leap and examine and/or intern overseas like McKenzy did in Florence? We’d love that can assist you begin your journey!   

Right here at AIFS Overseas, we all know a factor or two about serving to school college students and pre-professionals examine and intern overseas. Our packages are extremely inclusive, which takes plenty of the stress out of planning. From coordinating your housing to offering issues like cultural and social actions, excursions, complete insurance coverage, 24/7 emergency assist, on-site employees, and extra, you’ll take consolation in understanding you’ll have assist all through your whole expertise overseas.