CEA CAPA Education Abroad in Florence, Italy

I was very anxious to go abroad, but I should not have been anxious at all. Throughout my four months in Florence, Italy, CEA CAPA provided everything I needed to make sure I was always confident and comfortable. The location was amazing for the topics that I studied - art history, fashion, cinema - there was always so much to pull from and go see. I was also scared having never learned or spoken Italian before, but I never had a problem getting around and many spoke English, and the teachers were always very supportive in helping us be more open and work hard. My Italian teacher was actually my favorite teacher since she was a tour guide and somehow knew everyone in Florence! I also lived in The Social Hub in Florence, and the building had everything I needed and more - it was so beautiful and I will literally dream about going back to that rooftop bar and pool for the rest of my life. I'll also miss all of my favorite haunts that I came across during my time there and just how magical they all felt.

I had an amazing experience studying abroad in the Fall 2023 semester in Florence, Italy through the CEA Program. The variety of course offerings, professor-student relationships, and out-of-class activities were incredible. I had the opportunity to learn Italian, meet with professors outside of class, and attend a pasta-making class through CEA! I loved the food and culture of Florence with its tight-knit community and authentic, traditional recipes. It was an experience I will never forget and I hope to return soon!

I would reccomend this program to anybody who is in college and interested ins tudying abroad. Although the program was Business oriented, I was able to have all of my classes cover GE credits that I needed at my home institution. CEA was super helpful throughout this expereince, from airport pickup, housing matinence, and setting up extra activities. I had the best time abroad and CEA made it even better. Because of the location of Florence, I was able to travel to Germany, Spain, and Portugal. I also visited a ton of cities around Italy. There is a week off in between midterms and the next half of the semester, which was awesome to be able to travel around.

I had the most unforgettable experience in Florence, Italy, last summer! What really set it apart for me was how helpful the CEA CAPA team was. Any medical issues or maintenance issues were fixed within the day so that I could enjoy the trip and have everything go smoothly. Florence is one of the best cities for study abroad due to its walkability, proximity to other countries for travel, and climate. And even though I love Italian food, there were many different food options for anything I was craving, all within a short walk from my housing. Would not have changed a single thing.

Studying Abroad with CEA CAPA was one of the best decisions I've made. I had some of the best times of my life in Florence and learned so much while there. One thing, among many others, that sets CEA CAPA apart from other programs is their housing. Other schools abroad have housing outside of Florence, but me, and all of my friends on the program, had apartments within a 5 minute walk of the Duomo. Being so centrally located made this experience immersive and made Florence become my second home.

I had the most amazing, immersive, and life-changing experience during my study abroad in Florence with CEA CAPA. I met so many amazing life-long friends and had an immense amount of support from the staff at CEA CAPA that made me feel like I had made a new home for myself in Florence. They were always so attentive and ready to give us any suggestions or advice we needed so that we could maximize our experience. Our housing was also extremely nice, being located right in the middle of Florence and only a 5 minute walk from the CEA CAPA building.

Before choosing Florence, I talked to many students who had previously studied abroad. Some people claimed Florence was a "basic" destination and "everyone studies there", but for me this was not the case. Florence was the best study abroad destination for me personally and for many of my peers. There is so much to see, do, and experience as I never had a day in which I was bored. Italy is full of amazing food, art, history, and culture. My housing with CAPA was amazing, a 3 minute walk to school compared to my friends in Barcelona who had at least a 45 minute commute to school including the metro. I met so many new people that I still talk with today. I think about this experience every day of my life.

Studying abroad in Florence was the best decision I have made through CEA CAPA. I always knew going to college and studying abroad was one of my top priorities and experiences I wanted to have. Everything blew my expectations out of the water, as I was not anticipating the guidance, transparency, and support that CEA CAPA offered. I was able to form relationships and connections not only with my roommates, who were perfect and randomly assigned, but also with the locals. I was also able to embark on excursions and travel to places I never imagined I would be able to go to. This broadened my outlook on different cultures and ways of life. Academically, I also had a tremendously positive experience, as I was able to get to know my professors one-on-one and immerse myself in my education, which I found very interesting. Seeing the material I was learning by going on field trips to different museums and monuments was a highlight of my time in Florence. Overall, there is not one thing I would have changed; I was able to grow within my identity, meet best friends for life, learn about new cultures, and so much more!