In the streets of Florence, where Renaissance charm meets modern hustle, students studying abroad are perfecting the art of blending in. They are immersing themselves in the fabric of Florentine life, adopting changes in behavior and habits, so they experience the semester like locals, not tourists.
For study abroad students, the coolest trend is fitting in so we surveyed students for their tips. With more than 3,000 American college students flooding the city annually, according to “The Florentine,” it takes changing your habits to look like a local.
Many students, like Dominic Wiharso, a Columbia University student, want to forge a genuine connection with the city. Although becoming a local is almost impossible, maybe learning Florence’s small customs and traditions is the closest to getting there.
"Studying abroad is different than being a tourist; it's about learning the way people live in your host city," said Wiharso.
Stop looking at your maps.
With narrow sidewalks and confusing street names, finding your way around town can be hard. "I try not to stop in the middle of the road with Google Maps making it obvious I'm lost and not a local,” says an NYU student, Alma Wirth.
Wear a jacket
Unlike the hurried pace of New York, where coats are shed at the slightest hint of warmth, Florentines wear coats even in 70-degree weather. "Dressing accordingly to the weather instead of looking ridiculous wearing a miniskirt out when it's -12 degrees," says Iker Veiga, a student from Columbia University.
Drink an espresso
In NYC students walk around with water bottles and Starbucks cups; in Florence, people sit down and enjoy their coffee, and to-go orders are for rare occasions. And forget about ordering a cappuccino or latte past morning hours – milky drinks are strictly reserved for breakfast in Italy. For Italians, the richness of the cappuccino offsets the relatively small portion of food typically enjoyed in the early hours of the day. The best way to order a coffee in Italy is to order an espresso, or “un caffe."
Don’t look like you're in a rush
What sets Florence apart from other cities is its unhurried rhythm. Surrounded by Tuscan green hills, in Florence, time moves at a leisurely pace, with punctuality often taking a backseat to the enjoyment of the moment. Even if you need to be somewhere, the best way to transport in this city is to walk and enjoy your surroundings. “Enjoy your surroundings, it's beautiful here,” said Veiga.
Don’t yell
For Maescara, the easiest way to distinguish a local from a study abroad student is to notice who’s loudest on the streets."It's easy to tell who is from here. Americans are very loud,” noted Sofia Maescara, a local Florentine student, who provides an insightful perspective on distinguishing foreigners when walking around her hometown.
Travel Smartly
Traveling cheaply becomes a rite of passage, offering insights into the customs and rhythms of Italian life. Instead of high-speed trains, ranging from 30 to 80 Euro, local Italians opt for budget-friendly buses, embracing the unexpected pauses at random gas stations. If you want to travel like a local, take a bus. “I’ve never seen an American on a bus,” said Alma Wirth.
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