Written by Molly Isabella (University of Virginia), Student Correspondent for CET Siena, Fall 2024
It’s back to school season! Time to pack up the car and head on down to Charlottesville for third year. Except that’s not what I’ll be doing this time around…time to pack a couple suitcases and hop on a plane across the Atlantic because I get to study abroad in Siena this semester!!!
The Dreaded Goodbye
Seeing all my friends make their way back to Charlottesville initially overwhelmed me. I got a FaceTime call from my roommates during their first weekend of the semester. It was so fun to see their smiling faces and I felt their excited energy beaming through the screen. We’re over halfway done with college and it’s time to make the most of it!
Even without being physically present at UVA, I still felt excited for the upcoming chapter I had awaiting in Europe. The idea of moving is scary, but on top of a new city, I knew I’d have to adjust to a new country as well. I spent my last few days in the US frantically reading articles about what Italians wear to class and what to do to avoid copious amounts of jet lag. The initial discomfort of being away hit me as soon as my plane took off from JFK, but after my long journey to Florence, I already felt better knowing there was so much to experience on the other side.
The Italian Welcome
Curiosity took over me when I began chatting with my Italian roommate, Valentina, in the waiting area of the Florence Airport. I wanted to hear about her thoughts of America (as she had recently taken a trip there this summer), what food I should eat around Siena, and what classes she was enrolled in at the University of Siena.
We instantly bonded over New York, her favorite US city and my home, and exchanged photos from various places we had been within the Big Apple. I hadn’t been to Italy before, but she was overwhelmingly excited to welcome me into her apartment, claiming it had the best view. I totally understood her eagerness once I saw that my new home for the next four months overlooks almost the entire city. I quickly settled in and caught up with my roommate, Carly, who’s also from UVA, and we toasted to new beginnings with a special dinner all together!
The transition was very smooth as CET instantly had activities planned for us. The first weekend was jam packed, including a visit to an alpaca farm, watching and then eating fresh pasta at a Tuscan restaurant, and getting to know both our American and Italian peers. We all bonded (maybe a bit out of fear) when a friendly camel named Fausto tried to join our circle at the farm. He kept bumping his head into us as if asking for extra pets on the neck! It’s fun to exchange different traditions, superstitions, and food preferences coming from many parts of Italy and the US. Something as simple as “knock on wood” turned out to not be universal, as Valentina and Teresa taught us their Italian hand gesture to avoid jinxing something.
Meals with Molls Goes Global
My daily routine has been hugely important as I want Siena to quickly feel like home. I think I ate the exact same bowl of oatmeal every school morning of second year. So it’s pretty obvious that I thrive off of consistency! I’ve started getting efficient in the grocery store, which was important to me as I love to cook, and that passion has grown since moving to Italy. We learned that you have to weigh your own produce before bagging it, and you mustn’t EVER touch the food without one of the plastic gloves. It’s useful to know these differences in culture when doing basic tasks, especially as a foreigner.
I have bought many types of groceries, but everything has been super well priced, fresh, and delicious. It’s fun to grab my reusable bag and walk down the street to the nearest Conad. Although that oatmeal has been replaced with yogurt alla fragola every morning, I do feel more confident each and every day in my culinary endeavors. So far I’ve played it safe with a lot of fresh pasta, but I am starting to correctly cook chicken and other meats here. Thank goodness my Italian roommates have been so helpful!
Is It All Just Sunshine and Rainbows?
While that may sound like a luxurious vacation in one of Europe’s most preserved medieval cities, there are definitely challenges in adjusting to a new place. I’m definitely not used to all the Italian, but have started taking classes and learning helpful phrases. You should have seen how frantic I was trying to order my first coffee at a bar, which is actually a café. I did not know the difference in price between ordering take away or here. So, I accidentally almost took the money dish on my way to a table!
I also had a little mishap trying to ask for stamps at the post office. I had to walk in and out of the building a few times to make sure I was in the right place. It can be frustrating, but every day here gives me the chance to independently learn my way around. There is so much culture to see and learn, and I’m just getting started! Stay tuned for the rest of my reflections as I get more and more familiar with living abroad!