Student Journals: AIFS in Florence, Italy

Audry Corte
Texas A&M University
Richmond in Florence, Italy

Audrey Corte

My experience here in Florence has changed the way I look at my future. I started this unique journey as a college student wanting to learn as much as I could about another culture while having a great time in Europe, but as I come to the close of this journey, I have realized that I have gained so much more than that by coming to Florence this semester. Not only did I have fun and enjoy learning about the country of my ancestors, but I have fallen in love. I have fallen in love with the way the Italian culture is able to mix the unique history it has from the ancient Roman Empire to its unification to their fight in the Second World War with its current concerns and its future goals.

Audrey Corte
Italians seem know what the rest of the world has forgotten and that is this: To live life to the fullest, you must learn to “work to live” instead of “live to work.” As the rest of the world competes to be the first to accomplish some great thing, Italians prefer to sit back and enjoy what God has given them today and worry about tomorrow when it comes. That is what I love about this country! Being an International Studies major, I knew coming into this experience that I wanted to work overseas, but after living in Florence for these past few months and travelling all over Europe, I know that this is what I was truly meant to do. I do not want to go home yet, but I know that I must go. But, I also know that I will be back one day for a more permanent stay in this place I have learned to love so much.

Richmond in Florence

Richmond Florence Internship Program