Reflecting on My Rose-Tinted Experience:
The time I spent studying abroad is a portion of my life that will always have a rosy hue when I look back on it. Never in my life have I experienced so much in the course of three and a half months. The friends I've made will be life-long and the things I've learned not only about myself but about the beautiful country I could call home for a short time will always stay with me. The classes that I took were so interesting and hands-on that I really felt like I learned more than I thought I would.
I met an Australian while I was abroad and he told me that in Australia it's encouraged to take a year off and travel the world. I hope that now that I'm back I can facilitate that sort of cultural norm here in America. I hope you found this blog helpful and I encourage you to take the plunge and experience studying abroad in the future.
Gratzie Mille!!
Mathieu Berube
Tuesday, September 6, 2016
Don't Waste Your Time Abroad
Don't Waste Your Time Abroad:
So this is something I noticed from some of my fellow Americans while I was abroad and I just wanted to address it so you guys don't make the same mistakes they did.
It may seem amazing that you're studying abroad and you may want to let lose because no one knows you here, but remember that you are a representative of America and your actions influence how Italians view America.
When you refuse to learn the language you are doing not only yourself a disservice but your fellow Americans a disservice. It's extremely helpful to learn the language, even simple sayings or conversation starters can go a long way.
Being in another country for the first time can be intimidating but the worst thing you can do to yourself is find your safe spaces and stick to them. The local American hot spots may be easy to go to and are a lot of fun but those places are not representative of Italy as a whole and you are wasting your time here if you frequent them. There are a lot of interesting places not only in Florence but all over the place. A good app to get is Tripadvisor. It helped us find new places to go. I've also made a post of good places to go for food or drinks so I hope that helps.
So this is something I noticed from some of my fellow Americans while I was abroad and I just wanted to address it so you guys don't make the same mistakes they did.
It may seem amazing that you're studying abroad and you may want to let lose because no one knows you here, but remember that you are a representative of America and your actions influence how Italians view America.
When you refuse to learn the language you are doing not only yourself a disservice but your fellow Americans a disservice. It's extremely helpful to learn the language, even simple sayings or conversation starters can go a long way.
Being in another country for the first time can be intimidating but the worst thing you can do to yourself is find your safe spaces and stick to them. The local American hot spots may be easy to go to and are a lot of fun but those places are not representative of Italy as a whole and you are wasting your time here if you frequent them. There are a lot of interesting places not only in Florence but all over the place. A good app to get is Tripadvisor. It helped us find new places to go. I've also made a post of good places to go for food or drinks so I hope that helps.
Friday, September 2, 2016
My Favorite Restaurants and Bars
My Favorite Restaurants and Bars:
In no particular order...
La Milkeria- A good breakfast place that makes amazing crepes.
Yellow Bar- Popular restaurant that makes their own pasta in house and they have a large menu.
Eduardo's- Amazing organic gelato place that makes their own waffle cones and bowls. Their menu changes during the season.
Rubicante- Restaurant with a great picture menu, they also have a unlimited wine and pasta deal however it's frequented by American students a lot.
Oil Shoppe- Panino place with amazing options to make your own panino or order off their huge menu.
Sandwichic- Panino place with a student discount menu and original furnishings from the previous owner sets a retro vibe. They have a pear jam to die for!!
Kitsch- Bar/Restaurant with an amazing apperichiena and really good drinks. It's super popular so you should make a reservation.
Off the Hook- Great Bar with amazing burgers and an interesting atmosphere. They also have live music on certain nights.
Osteria Nerone- Restaurant with a very eccentric interior. They have a diverse menu.
Le Menagere- Trendy café with chic food however it can be a little pricey but you're paying more for the atmosphere.
Il Cubano- Hole in the wall Cuban themed bar with reasonably priced drinks that are really good. They make amazing mojitos fresh which is what they're known for.
Johnny Bruschetta- Super interesting concept, they have so many different types of bruschetta; my friends and I just ordered several different kinds and shared.
Gusta Panino- Trattoria located on the trendy piazza Santa Spirito; I had the best meal when I was in Florence here. They have a good takeaway menu as well.
In no particular order...
La Milkeria- A good breakfast place that makes amazing crepes.
Yellow Bar- Popular restaurant that makes their own pasta in house and they have a large menu.
Eduardo's- Amazing organic gelato place that makes their own waffle cones and bowls. Their menu changes during the season.
Rubicante- Restaurant with a great picture menu, they also have a unlimited wine and pasta deal however it's frequented by American students a lot.
Oil Shoppe- Panino place with amazing options to make your own panino or order off their huge menu.
Sandwichic- Panino place with a student discount menu and original furnishings from the previous owner sets a retro vibe. They have a pear jam to die for!!
Kitsch- Bar/Restaurant with an amazing apperichiena and really good drinks. It's super popular so you should make a reservation.
Off the Hook- Great Bar with amazing burgers and an interesting atmosphere. They also have live music on certain nights.
Osteria Nerone- Restaurant with a very eccentric interior. They have a diverse menu.
Le Menagere- Trendy café with chic food however it can be a little pricey but you're paying more for the atmosphere.
Il Cubano- Hole in the wall Cuban themed bar with reasonably priced drinks that are really good. They make amazing mojitos fresh which is what they're known for.
Johnny Bruschetta- Super interesting concept, they have so many different types of bruschetta; my friends and I just ordered several different kinds and shared.
Gusta Panino- Trattoria located on the trendy piazza Santa Spirito; I had the best meal when I was in Florence here. They have a good takeaway menu as well.
Mathieu's Tips and Tricks
Mathieu's Tips and Tricks:
1. If you really like a restaurant leave a tip and get the server's name. Come back again and you may get money off your meal.
2. Meeting Italian friends is hard but once you make one they introduce you to more. It's like a chain reaction.
3. You should always attempt Italian. It's really appreciated.
4. Good gelato is not piled high nor is it oddly colored. Pistacchio should NOT be neon green! Good gelato is naturally colored and kept in deep tubs.
5. A lot of the Italian quintessential ways of life only really apply to the countryside nowadays.
6. Water is not free. Sometimes you can ask for tap which is cheaper.
7. Catholic churches have dress codes. Rule of thumb: closed toed shoes, cover the shoulders, and no hats. Most places will just ask you to remove your hat but the Vatican literally has people that check if you are following the rules. If you aren't, you are asked to leave.
8. Northern and Southern Italy are completely different places with different ways of life.
9. Unlike our own currency, Euros have 1 and 5 dollar coins so don't toss coins because they are useful here.
10. If you want to blend in dress for the season not the weather. Italians still wear pants and jackets even if it's warmer than 60 degrees.
11. When ordering coffee it's normal to order things like a cappuccino or a cafe latte but in the afternoon it's unusual to order anything but an espresso.
12. Italians believe in a relaxed dining experience so you need to ask for the check or get the server's attention because they won't come to you.
13. You must either call a taxi beforehand or go to a taxi stand because it is illegal to hail a taxi off the street in Italy.
14. There is no salad dressing other than oil or vinegar and even those are seen as odd by some Italians.
15. Pizza comes only in thin crust with very limited toppings. There is no pepperoni only prosciutto.
16. Tipping is not necessary in Italy. I would only do it if you plan on coming back often to your favorite restaurant or cafe.
1. If you really like a restaurant leave a tip and get the server's name. Come back again and you may get money off your meal.
2. Meeting Italian friends is hard but once you make one they introduce you to more. It's like a chain reaction.
3. You should always attempt Italian. It's really appreciated.
4. Good gelato is not piled high nor is it oddly colored. Pistacchio should NOT be neon green! Good gelato is naturally colored and kept in deep tubs.
5. A lot of the Italian quintessential ways of life only really apply to the countryside nowadays.
6. Water is not free. Sometimes you can ask for tap which is cheaper.
7. Catholic churches have dress codes. Rule of thumb: closed toed shoes, cover the shoulders, and no hats. Most places will just ask you to remove your hat but the Vatican literally has people that check if you are following the rules. If you aren't, you are asked to leave.
8. Northern and Southern Italy are completely different places with different ways of life.
9. Unlike our own currency, Euros have 1 and 5 dollar coins so don't toss coins because they are useful here.
10. If you want to blend in dress for the season not the weather. Italians still wear pants and jackets even if it's warmer than 60 degrees.
11. When ordering coffee it's normal to order things like a cappuccino or a cafe latte but in the afternoon it's unusual to order anything but an espresso.
12. Italians believe in a relaxed dining experience so you need to ask for the check or get the server's attention because they won't come to you.
13. You must either call a taxi beforehand or go to a taxi stand because it is illegal to hail a taxi off the street in Italy.
14. There is no salad dressing other than oil or vinegar and even those are seen as odd by some Italians.
15. Pizza comes only in thin crust with very limited toppings. There is no pepperoni only prosciutto.
16. Tipping is not necessary in Italy. I would only do it if you plan on coming back often to your favorite restaurant or cafe.
Food and Drink and Where It's From
Food and Drink and Where It's From:
Bellini- Venice
Lemoncello- Naples/Amalfi
Pesto- Cinque Terre
Parmesan- Parma
Balsamic Vinegar- Modena
Pecorino- Sicily
Carbonara- Rome
Pizza- Naples
Gelato- much disputed, most places claim they invented it
Bellini- Venice
Lemoncello- Naples/Amalfi
Pesto- Cinque Terre
Parmesan- Parma
Balsamic Vinegar- Modena
Pecorino- Sicily
Carbonara- Rome
Pizza- Naples
Gelato- much disputed, most places claim they invented it
Thursday, September 1, 2016
Venice and the Friends from Canada
Venice and the Friends from Canada:
I had been planning to visit Venice eventually. Many of my friends had gone for Carnivale but I wanted to go when it wasn't super busy. But I made my reservation on the high speed train and arrived at the train station to find that one of my friends from Canada was there with her friend. So we took the train together.
Watching the train pull into Venice was absolutely magical. The city truly sits on the water. However when it came to the city itself there wasn't a lot to do other than see the sights. Everything was really expensive too. Venice is very much a "come see the sights for a day and leave" kind of experience.
I had been planning to visit Venice eventually. Many of my friends had gone for Carnivale but I wanted to go when it wasn't super busy. But I made my reservation on the high speed train and arrived at the train station to find that one of my friends from Canada was there with her friend. So we took the train together.
Watching the train pull into Venice was absolutely magical. The city truly sits on the water. However when it came to the city itself there wasn't a lot to do other than see the sights. Everything was really expensive too. Venice is very much a "come see the sights for a day and leave" kind of experience.
My Secret Bakery Experience
My Secret Bakery Experience:
My friends and I were out really late one night doing what college kids do and one of my roommates suggested that we go to the secret bakery. He had been living in Italy for a semester already so if he suggested something I was all for it. So we make our way through these little tiny streets when we come upon this unassuming glass door. Behind it is a bakery where they make breakfast pastries for the morning. So we buy a couple croissants filled with cream and they are insanely good because they are fresh. And this operation is completely off the books, you just knock on the door and they give you some food for a couple euro. It was such a unique experience and I truly felt like a local.
My friends and I were out really late one night doing what college kids do and one of my roommates suggested that we go to the secret bakery. He had been living in Italy for a semester already so if he suggested something I was all for it. So we make our way through these little tiny streets when we come upon this unassuming glass door. Behind it is a bakery where they make breakfast pastries for the morning. So we buy a couple croissants filled with cream and they are insanely good because they are fresh. And this operation is completely off the books, you just knock on the door and they give you some food for a couple euro. It was such a unique experience and I truly felt like a local.
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