14. Tips

Hmmm. This is a hard question. To start off, I would most definitely recommend for everyone to study abroad. I think that living for such an extended time in a different country in which the people have different ways of doing everything is most definitely an experience necessary to understand culture, humanity, and the way the world functions in general. Additionally I would recommend that if you are studying another language you study abroad at a site where you can put that language into practice, because being here I really have come to realize the power of language barriers, and how much speaking the language of another culture can allow you to tap into that culture and understand them. I know that if I didn’t speak Spanish my experience here would have been a completely different one.

With this in mind, I would recommend that a student coming to study here who speaks Spanish well should go study at the University of Buenos Aires rather than NYU Global Site. I say this because I think that if a student desires to really be integrated in the circles here of both academia and social life he/she needs to be circling in the Argentine institutions rather than a New York institution located in Argentina. Although it is possible to break out of the American “bubble” of the NYU academic center by going out and participating in outside activities or by meeting people at bars, I can imagine that attending classes with Argentine people at the University of Buenos Aires campuses would be a cultural experience on a whole other level. Although the academic center is nice because it is small, homey, and friendly, if you have adequate Spanish I think that studying outside of NYU would give you a much more radical experience!

Regarding housing I would definitely recommend living in a homestay! First off it is a little cheaper than living in the dorms, and second off it forces you to practice your Spanish and be surrounded by Spanish speaking people while at home. No matter what level of Spanish you are at, homestays always force you to improve and be more culturally integrated. Don’t be afraid of getting a bad homestay, because if you do you can always switch!

The third thing I would say is to balance travelling and staying in the city. Don’t freak out if you find yourself not travelling very much and remember that you came to study in a different country, not to travel the country. Enjoy the city, and try to really find yourself a life here.

 

I'm going to begin by saying I definitely do not feel ready to say goodbye, to sum things up, to leave, or to even think about my return to America as anything other than an annoying particularity I'm going to have to deal with in two months. My program ends at the end of this month, but I'll be staying a month longer. Now that the trees have turned from old withered crones into fluffy, majestic decorations and the weather is opening up the city like an oven with a warm batch of strudel inside, my desire and tendency to exist in the present moment is escalated. But these prompts are again stirring that reluctant part of my brain that is making me reflect.

I would recommend Berlin for the self-motivated student, but not for most. While there is so much beauty and culture in the city, I feel much of it is hidden. And while there are tons of activities available to those in the program to familiarize one with all that is out there in Berlin, it's a bit overwhelming and again, you have to sign up. Sign up, do everything, and even further than that get outside information and GO, because from my own experience, there aren't too many cases of condensed information and experiences here. You take it all in at the pace of the European dinner- slowly and with a relaxed earnestness. There is no certain way to be sure you are going to get the most out of Berlin. This city, from what I have heard and can tell, changes so rapidly and is in some ways so abstract, that you have crazy control over how your experience here is going to go. You can find anything here, you can be mostly anything. It's what I would expect of New York, without the obsession with money.

Tip for the bold, and sometimes outspoken, foreigner: Don't talk to Germans about WWII, and sometimes the Berlin Wall. They're sick of talking about it. I haven't made this mistake personally, but I've heard enough about annoyances to just say to flat out ignore it.

Spend as much time in parks and abandoned buildings as you can- these are rare in cities like New York and worth the travel. Also, go out and stay out late. Berlin has to be the best city for nightlife, and everybody is so, so nice! Take advantage of these great inventions: Bier Gartens, Bicycles, Strudels, and Sausages. It sounds simple, but it's worth it! I recently bought a bike, and if you're here for any amount of sunny time (aka not February and March) it changes the way you interact with the city- you become part of a subculture of mostly young Berliners and eight times more aware of your surroundings. The initial reluctance of leaving the dorms (oh no I have to walk so far, take the train, etc.) is partially erased by the owning of this amazing transportation device.

For preparation: Learn German, don't expect everything to be gorgeous, and relax- Germans are probably some of the nicest and most polite people out there. If you have trouble ask and you will receive. The administrators at the Berlin site are some of the most extraordinarily chill, caring, and smart people I've interacted with at the authority level of NYU. Furthermore, knowing even a little of the language for a culture that's foreign to you gives you a huge advantage in perspective and mobility. I simply can't feel at home unless I can get the gist of what 80% of the people around me are saying. Changing the language you speak and understand, I believe, changes a bit about how you think about things.

It seems like my future-self back in the states is a world away, and I'm caught up with this city so deeply that my relationship with Berlin and the German culture is rapidly adapting, always. I'm certainly not the most qualified person to be giving tips, but I can say I've had an amazing time here and can't wait to use the next two months to continue to take advantage of this opportunity.

 

I would without a doubt recommend the Florence program to someone considering studying here. The campus is extraordinarily beautiful, to the point where I still can’t believe it looks like it does when I go there.

When it comes to living situations, I have loved my off-campus apartment, but I got tremendously lucky with the group of girls I was put with. Part of me wishes I had done a homestay for the purposes of actually practicing Italian all the time, as opposed to living with a bunch of English speakers. I came with the goal of becoming fluent in Italian and have not achieved it.

A few tips for Florence include:
1.     Visit all of the touristy sights before tourist season rolls around. I know that may seem logical, but I didn’t climb the Duomo when there was no line and now the line is around the side of the church. I also did not appreciate when I had the Uffizi to myself, and now you can barely move inside.
2.     Take full advantage of your museum card. NYU gives you a card that allows you free entrance and to skip the lines at most major museums. Do it and do it all the time.
3.     Shop at San Lorenzo Market for your vegetable, cheese, and meat needs. Everything is fresh and delicious and cheap. If you’re living in the center, shop at the Conad across the Ponte Vecchio. If you’re living farther outside, I’ve heard Esselunga is extremely cheap.
4.     Travel within Italy. Everyone always wants to go to the major European cities on the weekends, which is something you should do, but remember that Italy is full of some of the most gorgeous places on earth, so give it credit. Take weekends for Tuscany, Venice, Rome, and Naples/Amalfi Coast. Why live in Italy if you don’t explore it?
5.     Try and avoid bars and clubs that Americans frequent. Try out places across the Arno. Don’t go to Space. There is a 100% chance you will be groped, male or female. 
6.     Don’t buy anything close to the Duomo. Even if you go a few blocks in the other direction, it will be probably half as expensive, even more so if you go across the river.
7.     Try and speak Italian as much as you can. Even if they respond in English, keep speaking in Italian. Don’t give in! Everyone in Florence speaks English, but why live somewhere abroad and only speak English?

Generally, Florence is amazing for food and art. The major recommendation is basically not to act too much like a tourist or an American. Try and live like a Florentine in order to get the full experience.

1.     Beware of the Baguettes.
 
I’ve included in many of my blog entries the phenomenon that is French bread.  At the end of my semester, I am here to warn you.  Baguettes are deadly.  They are so easy and cheap to substitute as a meal but MAKE SURE YOU EAT SOME VEGGIES TOO!  I have gone too many days without having a fresh fruit or vegetable anywhere near my mouth (it’s hard to find a wide selection of good looking produce here in France).  While French food is really good as the stereotype insists, I found it very hard to eat in a balanced manner while being in Paris.
 
2.     Don’t be afraid to speak French!
 
So many French people will start to speak English with you as soon as they detect any hint of an American accent.  Don’t give up!  Respond to them in French and generally you can get the conversation to veer to the French side of things. 
 
3.     Don’t let Paris overwhelm you!
 
I unfortunately let this happen to me sometimes and would find myself in bed all day rather than just choosing one thing to do and then doing it!  Paris has so, so much to offer, it’s impossible to do it all even in four months!  Find what is important to you and seek it out!  And of course, try new things as well. 
 
4.     Walk.  (I took the above picture mid-walk!)
 
Everywhere.  All the time!  Paris is incredibly beautiful and, like New York, it’s incredibly walkable!  Also, learn the bus routes! (I never did this because for some reason buses confuse me way more than metro systems but everyone I know who takes the bus, much prefers it to the metro!  You get to see so much more and are generally not stuffed into the bus in the way that you sometimes can be in the metro).  
 
5.     Get out of NYU Paris!
 
The campus here is very small and homey and it’s easy to get caught up in the NYU life and not really go much beyond it (I feel guilty that I didn’t break out of this community so much).  That being said, it is a really nice place to be and I have made some great friends while being here!  (And because they are not French I will be able to see them in New York!)
 
6.     Enjoy yourself as much as possible!
 
Yes there is homework.  No it is not as much as back in New York.  So take advantage of your extra time.  This can be hard to do but push yourself as much as possible.  You won’t regret it.

When discussing the things one needs to know before traveling to a certain place, the knowledge is endless.  One could read travel book upon travel book and still never truly grasp the ‘genius loci’ or any other sense of the location.  But, existing within the realm of study abroad sites and a college student framework, there are certainly a few tips that can be passed down from student to student.  I hope to relay a bit of my experience on things I wish I had known and things that I know now about Buenos Aires, Argentina.
 
Reasons why one should come to Buenos Aires: (oh god, where do I begin…?) if one is interested at all in Argentina, or perhaps South America in general; if one doesn’t mind stepping into a different culture, astray from that of the United States or Europe of which we are so closely related to; if one knows a little bit of Spanish, or is willing to be immersed in it and learn much more; if one has a little adventuresome wanderlust, to see epic beauties and glorious cities across the continent one never thought one would ever have the chance to see (which is more a reason for anyone to study abroad anywhere, no?).  These reasons, among many others, drew me to this location.  South America is more or less made up of ‘second world’ countries.  But what did I know about any of Latin America before coming here?  Shamefully, not that much.  But now I have so much history and cultural studies that I have gained through my classes and through my experiences here, and I could not be more pleased with finally beginning to know an area of the world I was once previously clueless about.
 
The weeks before coming here, I was apathetic and lazy, but excited to make this new change in my life, and excited to go from bitter Wisconsin winter to this sort of paradise I made out in my head.  Friends of mine were excited for me because they figured I was moving to the jungle.  I had to get through to them that I would be living in an incredibly large and very modern metropolis, although ideas of moving somewhere that would be more or less ‘tropical’ sent me in dizzying reveries.  Too bad I am sitting here, writing this in pants, thick socks, a shirt, a heavy sweater and a scarf.  Which brings me to another important tip: PACKING.
 
One is always warned to pack as minimal as possible, and this is beyond true.  I tried to do this (I basically had one big duffle bag with me for my four months here), but most definitely still ended up bringing too much with me (and I’m the kind of person who very much enjoys bringing my entire wardrobe, especially all my shoes, with me almost anywhere I go, but cut it down so low, and somehow it still was too much).  Also be incredibly aware of the climate of the place you are going.  People warned me it would start to get a little cooler right before we left back to the states, where it will be summer again (that will be an interesting change to make).  No one said it would be this cold, however.  I only brought one sweatshirt, and thankfully had some jeans on me.  I was lucky to have my parents come and visit, in which I asked if they could be the wonderful parents they are and BRING ME MY SWEATERS.  Thank goodness they did.
 
I could go on and on, and talk about how one should be in a homestay, and about traveling throughout South America while here (Uruguay is just a ferry away, there are buses that travel internationally to almost anywhere you want to go, etc), but I suppose I’ll save that for pre-departure orientation, NYU study abroad fairs, and the like.  All I must say, however, is that Buenos Aires is such a unique experience, and NYU does an excellent job with the education and the staffing here, and I could not be happier with my choice.  Leaving will be a difficult thing to do.

Thinking about what tips to give other students who plan to study abroad in Buenos Aires is a little mind numbing because I feel like there are so many, yet that I will forget to mention all of the most important ones. However, to start off I would just like to say, dear potential study abroad student: COME TO BUENOS AIRES. I think it is a wonderful idea to study abroad here if you think you can manage a little culture shock and don’t mind having to speak a different language daily. As NYU’s only study abroad site in South America, Buenos Aires is the perfect place for an adventurous student, and often seems to be overshadowed by all the programs in Europe (no offense to anyone studying in Europe). Also, the staff here is probably the friendliest you will meet in NYU and will be on a first name basis with you a few weeks in.
 
Not only will you have to learn to speak Argentine Spanish, but also get to experience a culture that we, as North Americans, really don’t know much about. I’m sure that a few people are probably shaking their heads at that statement right now, but it is so true. How many things can you say about Argentina? What do you know about besides the details of the last dictatorship, if even that? I’m going to be completely honest, I didn’t know that much about Argentina before I came (partly why I chose to study abroad here), but these past three months have really opened me up to the differences between this culture and my own, both good and bad. For one thing, the political culture of this country is completely different and continues to fascinate me every day. Don’t be surprised to see (or possibly find yourself in) protests, strikes or political rallies here. Argentine citizens relate to politics and the government in a very physical and direct manner that is something we don’t really experience in the United States.
 
I think I’ve been a little vague up to this point, so let me get down to brass tacks. One of the most important lessons to learn here is that things are not as cheap as you think, though they are usually cheaper than in the US. When I first came here, I kept miscalculating the exchange rate and thought that things were expensive, but once I fixed this problem I actually started to mentally devalue money and spend more than I should have. On that note, traveling in Argentina (and South America) is more expensive than you would think. Far more expensive. Always keep in mind that a one-way plane flight to a different Argentine region (Patagonia, Salta, etc.) will most likely cost you over $200. A round trip ticket for a 20 hour long distance bus ride will cost you about $175, so make sure to plan your trips wisely in order to save some money (especially since student discounts are essentially nonexistent here).
 
When it comes to housing, stay in a homestay (unless you don’t speak any Spanish) because you will become far more immersed in everyday Argentine customs and cultural norms than if you were to just live in one of the apartments here. Not to mention, you may make a few lasting connections with your family or at least come away with a good experience. However, BIG word of advice, do not stay in a homestay that you do not like! Mention it as soon as you can, even if it’s just the food that bothers you. NYU has the power to change it and doesn’t ever mind doing so. Oh, and another important thing to remember, that I am currently experiencing as I type: bring some warm clothing. It will not stay summer forever. I made the mistake of only bring two sweaters and no tights and now have had to buy a few things. You won’t need a giant winter coat, but bring something to keep you warm or suffer the consequences.
 
Besides all that, I would suggest brushing up on Spanish before you arrive so that you don’t feel as stressed out when you get here. Also, though I said before that you should keep in mind that travel is expensive here, that does not mean that it isn’t worth it! When you come, you have to go to Patagonia! The landscapes are so varied and dramatic, with everything from breathtaking glaciers to arid deserts. It’s not to be missed. As for the city itself, I would say that you try to walk as often as you can, provided that where you are going is decently safe (Another tip: always be alert as to what type of area you are walking in and keep an eye on whatever you are carrying. If you follow this rule – meaning no wandering the city completely drunk – the chances of you getting robbed are slim. Students usually get robbed here because they aren’t paying attention to what is going on around them). Walking is a great way to get to know Buenos Aires, and your feet will unwittingly bring you to some kind of gem – whether it be a great café, book store, cemetery, or museum – before you know it.

Wrapping up the end of the semester always calls for reverie on all the adventures I’ve gone on throughout the past couple months. When I think back to my first week here in Accra it’s overwhelming to think about the things I wish I had known before coming. That’s what makes this experience so memorable and life changing, that I was forced to figure things out on my own and that I only had a certain amount of warning and the rest was up to me. Some days I’m more bitter than others about that fact but in the end I don’t think I would have had the memories I do had I been warned about so many things beforehand. There is also only so much warning one can give a traveler, especially going to a place such as Ghana and Africa in general. People can tell me that it’s going to be hot, that I’m going to be a minority, and that the traffic is bad, but it doesn’t sink in until you’re sweating on the walk to class, being constantly stared at, and sitting hours in traffic. In the end I think it all comes down to what is the most important things to know before coming to Ghana. While some things are good to handle and figure out on your own others are better if you are well prepared. A couple of examples include getting packages at the post office and catching a cab back from the airport. Two things that other study abroad sites probably do pretty easily and don’t need advice on are things that aren’t as smooth here in Ghana.

The post office is an incredibly corrupt and hectic system. First off it is incredibly expensive to send a package to Ghana. If using USPS it’s around 60 dollars to send a small package while using UPS that same size package would be around 200 dollars. The package isn’t delivered right to you room or even the academic site, but is held at the post office where you go and pay duties in order to pick it up. The post office is really large and it takes a little over a month for it to make it here. The women assessing the package and duties stamp an arbitrary amount on it and ask you to pay somewhere in the 50 cedi range depending on what’s inside. Then you are forced to bargain your way down until you give up and pay whatever amount you’re willing. I was sent to two different post offices and was forces to fill out tons of paperwork and give them a copy of my ID as well as my contact information. The woman wanted to charge me 50 cedi and I was able to talk her down to 15. I must say that the flaming hot Cheetos and sour patch kids that waited inside were wonderful after such an awful experience. My body was shaking and there were a couple of moments I thought I was going to cry. The amount of disrespect they postal services treats you with is unbelievable.

As for trying to catch a cab from the airport we weren’t told that cabs are actually not allowed to pick you up right in front of the airport. So tons of cabs are driving by dropping people off and trying to pick more people up but are unable to stop because the police are patrolling the area. My friends and I had paid 5 cedi to get to the airport when we were leaving for Spring Break. The airport taxis that we were forced to take were charging anywhere from 10-25 cedi. We were appalled at how much they wanted to rip us off simply because we were foreigners. In the end we tried our hardest to get a cab for cheaper but we were told by a man that, “This is the airport sweetie, the prices are different.” With his rude comment still in my head I bit my tongue and we paid 10 cedi to get home. The entire situation was incredibly stressful and I wish someone had warned me beforehand so I knew that it was going to be more expensive.

In the end I learned the hard way on those two things and I have definitely learned the hard way on some other day to day activities in Accra as well. But learning these life lessons are what make me a better traveler and bargainer here in Ghana. Some things are best learned on your own. I feel like I’ve grown up a lot since living here for the semester. There were so many instances where I was forced into a situation I may not have enjoyed and instead took the responsibility and learned from it. I think that’s the case with many of the people in the NYU Accra program.      

Be aware of your resistance, and resist it!  Push yourself to explore beyond the program into whatever Accra has to offer you.  Don’t let fear or apathy or homework keep you inside the dorm.  It’s so easy to sleep in every morning, do only two or three things a day.  Accra moves slow, and so can you, but you will feel infinitely more rewarded and feel more at home in Ghana the more you do, and the more you push yourself.  A good friend of mine who was a Hungarian exchange student to my high school passed on his mantra for success to me: “Never say no!”.   I used it for the rule of thumb on my exchange to India and only ever regretted the times I didn’t follow his advice.  Here in Ghana, I have (more than I like to admit) fallen prey to the easy way, staying inside out of the heat and keeping to myself.  To reward me, I have no Ghanaian friends to say goodbye to, no real friendships outside of the program, and that break my heart.  I feel that in some way I have failed this experiment I have put myself to.  My friends who fought tooth and nail to engage, who let homework slide in order to meet friends, who went out during the days, in the weekday evenings, they are dreading leaving Ghana.  I wish I was, but instead I am ambivalent.  I am looking forward to going home, but my guilt at not trying harder will follow me home.
            Be aware of yourself, and how you interact with other people.  Accra is a small, small program, and frankly, it’s mostly women.  That’s a lot to handle for four months, even with the prevalence of single dorm rooms.  You owe it to yourself and everyone else to be as forgiving, conscious and positive as possible when things are hard.  Try hard to let things go, because when you come home it really won’t matter.  What will matter is how much you enjoyed your time in Accra, and that is up to you.
            These things said, Accra is not an easy study abroad site.  Open gutters and fufu and banku is not for everyone.  If you do come to Ghana, definitely make sure you do your research beyond Lonely Planet and come with an open and patient mind.  When you are here, don’t be afraid to ask for the things you need, but realize getting them will depend on your own persistence.  The Accra site offers you a place where you can engage in a million things or none at all.  Your follow up is important to your success and students are expected to do a lot on things on their own that New York would take care of.  One email or meeting in New York might mean four or five here. Live in either dorm, but known that Solomon’s is a traditional dorm, and Church is more like apartments and is therefore more independent.  Realize you will walk to and from school a lot, in the heat.  Pack and dress accordingly, and while the rule no short-shorts applies, everyday summer clothes are fine for Accra and for classes.  Outside, for internships and traveling, loose fitting and more conservative is better.  Girls especially, if you like cloths don’t expect to hit the mall, but don’t pack much.  Buying fabric and getting clothes made for you is one of the best ways to carry Ghana back with you in a unique way.  Go to Osu and enjoy Epo’s Spot and Sunshine and Pippa’s, but make sure you get recommendations from the CRA’s, University of Ghana students and other students at your internship.  Explore new places.  Accra’s nightlife goes as late at you are willing to stay up, so you have plenty of time.  Travel in small groups, and travel outside Accra. 

Most importantly, never, ever say no.

(The image is my own, from Independence Day)
 
 

Giving advice to another student considering studying abroad is like trying to give advice to someone who has decided to suddenly take up something like pole vaulting, bungee jumping, or some other dangerous sport--and is completely clueless about how difficult it will be to begin with. I know for certain that when I was asking for what to expect from the staff and from previous students, there was not anything they could really say concretely about how to prepare. Upon arrival I simply felt thrown headfirst under the bus, with my hands and feet hogtied together for all the helplessness I felt upon arrival. It will be a shock, and it will be scary to an extent, depending on how well you personally handle change. But there is not anything I could tell you to best prepare you for what will happen, you simply have to let it happen and improvise as you go. 

If I could take a stab at perhaps a handful of things to remember and keep in mind, ("tips", if you will) I would have you understand that homesickness, loneliness, sadness, and struggle is a natural and normal part of your experience abroad. It is okay to feel these emotions, along with every other emotion that you will feel: happiness, excitement, the absolutely satisfying feeling of mastering enough of the local language to buy coffee, doubt, confusion...these emotions are completely okay. And what is more okay than this is the oscillation between these feelings and associated ones. I will not say to you that it will be easy, but I can tell you that the feelings you are feeling are acceptable to feel and are a huge part of why the abroad experience will be important to you. I have had the wonderful opportunity to live by myself for the first time and have learned so much about myself and how I personally function because I allowed myself to feel whatever feeling I am feeling at the time. Do not allow others to tell you that being sad is bad, or being homesick is not allowed because of your "really awesome experience that you need to be happy for at all times". It is complete bologna. Embrace it.

Another tip I would have for you is to learn as much as you can about the language that pertains to your site. It will help you feel less disoriented in your new culture. Believe me, when you can learn this around people who speak your language you will feel less like a little kid returning to childhood and more like an adolescent. It isn't much of an improvement, but I can say from experience that feeling like a cultural infant is possibly the most uncomfortable, disengaging experience I have ever had. You have enough to learn about the culture from scratch: how to get your groceries, how to operate public transportation, how to get your school supplies, how to use the toilets, how to comport yourself with other people at a bar etc etc. You do not need the added stress of not being able to communicate to do all of the above. This is one of the biggest suggestions I can offer: learn the language when you are comfortable and you will not regret it! 

My final tip is to be sure to go out and make as many friends as possible within the first couple weeks in your program. I forgot that this was not just a vacation, this was me studying for an entire semester's worth in a different country: I had responsibilities and needed a support group to get me through the semester. You need a support system, I can almost guarantee you. Being social creatures, this is a necessity. It is perhaps the most disorienting thing to be in a new country and at first the instinct is to withdraw, but a social group is very important. This also can't hurt when you are planning on traveling somewhere for spring break! Travel buddies are great things to have. 

Studying abroad is an intense experience, I can't really believe that I am leaving soon. As long as it felt at times, as if it would never end, the end has crept up on me and bitten me in the behind. While I face the end, I can look back and say that this has been an experience that will be with me for the rest of my life and I hope that those who do decide to study abroad will take these considerations in mind. 

The best piece of advice I have for people coming to study abroad in Buenos Aires is to prepare to relax and go with the flow. BA is an incredible city, but it’s a hard place to live, more so even than New York in many ways. I’ve learned to love living here, but there are many facts about how the city runs that took getting used to. For example, oftentimes, the ATMs are out of money or don’t work on holidays and weekends. As an orientation leader, I was able to watch people’s initial reactions to this. “Why is it out of money?” they would ask me as if I have control over the flawed Argentine banking system. I just shrugged and explained that Argentina is not the United States.
 
I learned in AP US government that United States citizens have a very particular political culture where we expect people and companies to be held accountable for their actions. This sentiment could not be more different in Argentina. Businesses, such as the post office, will technically close at 5, but don’t bother coming after 4 because they have finished working for the day. Things like this used to make me so frustrated with Argentina, but I’ve modified my attitude and relaxed. Changing my mindset has made all the difference; I no longer let the small inconveniences bother me to the degree that they used to.
 
Furthermore in Argentina, timeliness and punctuality are not regarded as important; events hardly ever begin as scheduled and if someone is 15 minutes late, they’re on time. As a very prompt person, this used to drive me crazy. I regarded punctuality of others as a sign of respect and alternately, I found it disrespectful when people would be late. I’ve learned over time here that people are doing their best and being late just happens. One major factor is that the bus always seems to take longer than expected, but sometimes, it just is hard to be on time. Living in a homestay, I never know when my homestay mom will want to chat on my way out or I’ll decide to straighten up to be convenient for my roommate on my way out. I’m guilty of losing a bit of my timeliness, but the intent is never to inconvenience the person I’m meeting. Life here just moves a bit slower and you have to take that into account. Argentina’s been an incredible place to live and you’d be hard-pressed to find a country as relaxing, but with that comes a slower and more inconvenient pace of life.

I took this picture of a giant container of dulce de leche. It's proven to cure any bad mood ever.

I have heard more than once that people’s biggest regret from college is that they didn’t get the chance to study abroad. For those who don’t think that they will get anything academically from a semester abroad are wrong; while the credits may not apply to your major completely, living in another country is definitely a learning experience and I highly recommend it. The challenge is choosing your city and asking yourself, “What are my limits?” You have to decide how immersed in another culture do you want to be. Do you want to be somewhere modern and fast paced like New York? Do you want to take yourself outside of you comfort zone? One NYU study abroad site isn’t more fun than another, they are all in good cities. However, these are important questions to consider before choosing to study abroad in Florence. 

Florence, Italy is in the western society of the European Union, however it is neither modern nor urban. I would recommend studying abroad in Florence if you are interested in the unique tradition, nature and culture. I believe a lot of students were not prepared for this drastic change in lifestyle, they looked for what they couldn’t have and didn’t feel comfortable in Florence until the very end. These students learned about the customs the hard way, by being ripped off by tourist traps or treated badly on the bus. However if you want to learn the Tuscan traditions the easy way, I would suggest living with a family or joining an immersion language group.
I learned that a lot of Italians want to practice their English, however most Americans stay together in groups and do not participate in international programs. Forcing yourself to meet some locals is worth the initial embarrassment of not understanding Italian, because you will feel rewarded after you help them with English. These conversations let you view the country from the inside and find local restaurants, bars or activities.
In addition to knowing about local immersion programs, I wish I was more prepared for the weather. The landscapes of Florence are one of the most beautiful parts of the city, however you cannot enjoy it if it is pouring rain and you don’t have rubber boots, or if its freezing cold and your coat isn’t heavy enough. The weather has been very unpredictable this semester and has affected a lot my travel experiences.
Florence is a perfect city because there is so much life to it, and while it is small, there is always something to do. Make sure to take an easy course load when registering for classes, because you want to be give yourself the freedom to do more than homework every night. The city is close enough to take the hour train to Pisa Airport for low-cost Ryanair or WizzAir flights to almost every main city around the continent. However while the flight is cheap, you have to think about how much time you will be outside of Florence and ask yourself if it is worth it. While booking all of my trips around Europe, I am happy I stopped myself and made my spring break an Italian trip. Ten days around Italy wasn’t enough time to be able to see every region. The train system in Italy is very easy and convenient, I wish instead of flying and driving to other countries, I used Trenitalia more to see other cities in this country. 

I fell in love with Florence when I crossed the Arno River and discovered Piazza Santos Spiritos where not only are the restaurants are amazing but the gelato at La Carraia, Coffee at Volume and aperativo at Zoe became my favorite places to go. I suggest using your first weeks exploring what is around you before going visiting other cities. There is nothing worse than discovering an amazing bar like Rex, or a new gelateria like Badiani two weeks before you leave. Learning your surroundings doesn’t only help you get to know the city but also helps you learn the language outside of the classroom.

 
Studying abroad in Abu Dhabi is one of the best things I’ve ever done.  I’ve really come to love this city and have felt closer to my potential here than anywhere before.  Why I think I’ve done so well and enjoyed it so fully is because I’ve popped all of the typical bubbles of a student’s experience here.  The school can seem small, the city- fake, the culture- nonexistent, and things to do- minor.  But those are ALL wrong.
 
One of my favorite things about Abu Dhabi is how incredibly easy it is to network and make connections.  The city is transient, no one stays here for too long, few people put down their roots, and statements like “I’ve known him forever” are only said through stories, and this makes for a fascinating environment where people form relationships (personally and in business) much faster.  Add to that the simple and true phrase, “I’m just an interested student,” and you have every door open to you.  Not only have I attained my most prestigious internships while here, but I also have made connections with wonderful and influential people just by being interested.  
 
A second think I’ve loved about my study abroad here is the amazing people.  I talk to EVERYONE and I learn so much.  I ask my cab drivers questions, I debate with students, inquire with professors, and take advice from my superiors at work.  I do this everywhere I study or travel, but there is something special about this city.  There are so many fascinating stories in Abu Dhabi about every corner of the world, all parts of the mind, the heart, and more.  People live such disparate existences here in Abu Dhabi and come from an even larger variety – and it makes for deep, deep well of knowledge.
 
The third thing I love about Abu Dhabi is how small it feels.  Even though it is a city of around a million people, there isn’t an overload of things for a student to see, places to eat, nightlife venues, etc- but there is still more than enough.   Some of my favorites are Spinney’s for groceries, Ray’s Bar in Etihad Towers for the weekends, the Corniche for walking or running and Chamas to eat until your stomach explodes or maybe one of the obscure Lebanese, Saudi, or Ethiopian restaurants with no name.  The coolest part is that so many things still happen in Abu Dhabi- there are endless amounts of concerts, more and more academic discussions, sporting events come around, and so on.  It is wonderfully full of activity but doesn’t make you feel like you have to try a new place every single night.
 
Lastly, I love the travel opportunities from Abu Dhabi.  Not only does the school fund various class trips at no additional cost to the students- I’ve had fieldtrips to Jordan and Oman-, but there are also so many fascinating and cheap locations for weekend or longer trips: Egypt, Lebanon, Turkey, Sri Lanka, India, Kenya, Armenia, etc.  It is almost literally the center of this hemisphere and that makes for a great jumping off point.
Overall, I love Abu Dhabi and I’ve loved my experience here.  I’m even thinking seriously about trying to find a job here when I graduate in December.  For anyone thinking about coming I say that I hugely recommend it, unless you are looking for an intense party scene. My most important tip is to look really deep into the cultures present here: the Emirati, ex-pat, migrant, tourist, student, and all those in between, or such intriguing and overlapping presences here.  The school may be small, but you can get out, the culture may seem shallow but is more complex than anything I’ve ever witnessed, and the city is full of activity and surprises.    
 
All you have to do is pop those bubbles.

Florence is the perfect place to study abroad. When registering for housing, my friend and I decided to live in NYU’s apartments, which are off campus. We figured that living in the center of the city would allow us to have the best experience as well as expose us to Italian culture and we were definitely right. Although campus is stunning, it takes a while to get to the center of the city. Not only is it up in the hills, but it sits in a residential area, which makes it hard for students to interact with Italians, whether it be at a restaurant or while walking through the leather market.
Furthermore, after visiting friends at other NYU abroad sights throughout Europe, I have come to appreciate Florence so much more. After a week here, I knew my way around the city, had figured out where to grocery shop, and discovered where to get my morning coffee. Not only is Florence small, which definitely made adjusting easier, but also the people here are so friendly and warm. They may not all speak English, but everyone here is always willing to help you out and make you to feel at home.
My friends and I made the mistake of assuming that Florence is warm year round. It turned out, that this year was one of the coldest winters in European history. Leaving our rain boots and heavy winter coats behind was definitely a huge mistake. I also did not realize how heavily weather impacts ones experience in a foreign city—always check the weather before planning a trip!
Overall, my experience here in Florence has been amazing. Other than better preparing for the cold winter, I would not change a thing about this past semester. Having the experience to live in a foreign country has been life changing.