London seemed like a blur, maybe because I was so exhausted, maybe because of the culture shock, maybe because it was just awesome.

We’ll go with the last one.

Flying to Florence was a mix of excitement, anxiousness, and uncomfortable napping. At one point, I awoke from my slumber and, there, through the tiny airplane window, towering mountains glistened in the sunrise. I could not believe it.

That was one of the first real moments where I thought to myself, “I’m really far from home now.” After that the plane landed and finally, I was on the doorstep of the dream. I was finally in Italy.

I collected my bags and walked out into 50-degree weather, looked at the pink and red buildings with cobblestone rooftops, and I was audibly giddy.

We took a scenic bus ride through the Italian countryside, and while some slept, I was yet again glued to the window marveling at the new scenery.

Once again, I was blown away how different the architecture was from back home. Everything seemed older, from the homes to the roads and factories. While the houses and apartments may have been different, they all shared cobblestone roofs and a similar color scheme.

We finally got to the hotel where we were staying (which was insanely nice for a group of college kids) for two weeks and unpacked. I had met my new roommate in London, but I didn’t really know him, which made me nervous. This was the first time I had a random roommate in my college career, so the classic thoughts went sprinting through my mind. “What if he’s weird? What if he’s a dick? What if he can’t handle my snoring?” Luckily, all my nerves were put to rest after movies and the NFL were brought up. I knew this living arrangement was going to work out just fine.

The first night in Florence was also the first night I had really gone out with my new friends. It takes me awhile to get comfortable in a new situation, so I was a little apprehensive of a night of drinking in a foreign city.

My nerves lessened when we were with other people, laughing and carrying on. Finally someone suggested we meet up with others and we were off.

Florence at night was something out of a movie. Each block we looked down, there was a marble statue or a beautiful fountain. When we turned a corner and saw Palazzo Vecchio and the David replica. I was awe stricken.

“Are you kidding me? You just turn a corner and that’s there? That’s just normal here?” a slightly inebriated Alex yelled.

We hit a margarita bar in the basement of an old stone building, took a flaming shot with my fellow study abroad friends, and it was onto the next one.

After the next bar, one of my new friends came up to us and told us about how her new Italian friend said he could get us into a club.

What was one of the last things my mom told me before I left? “Don’t let some Italian man take you to a random bar.”

I was sketched out, but also a little drunk, so I followed my group of friends into the discotecha, filled with flashing lights, dancing girls on stage and a bumping sound system.

We danced (some on stage), had a few more drinks, had my first cigarette (sorry Mom) and by 3 a.m., I was so tired, I thought I would fall asleep on the wall. We rounded up the group and walked back to our hotel unharmed.

Tip #5: No man/woman left behind.

If you go out together, stick together.

If you study abroad, you’re going to go out and get drunk. It’s legal, it’s fun and you should go out.

Be careful, though. Honestly, we got lucky that our “new Italian friend” wasn’t trying to scam us. Always go out with a group of people you trust will get you home.

The weekend calmed down a bit after the first night and “real life” started up for us on Monday. That first week in Florence went so quickly, (a recurring theme) from classes in the mornings and tours in the afternoons.

I’m not good with picking up languages. It’s never been a strength of mine, and so taking required Italian classes scared me a bit.

Tip #6: Just because learning a language may be intimidating, try to learn it anyways.

Our first teacher was a gorgeous twenty-six year old who spoke just slowly enough for us to comprehend the new language. This was a great start for me, but our second class, in which our teacher pushed us with conversation almost exclusively in Italian, was where I started to really pick up the basics. Classes were tough for me, but the tours afterward made every struggle worth it.

Actually exploring Florence is something I will never forget. The program I’m in really does an amazing job of immersing us in the culture and history of each place we visit. That first week, we developed an understanding of the city, while learning the history of its eight-hundred year old churches and streets. The highlight though, was Piazza di Michelangelo. If you’re in Florence, take the hike up there, you will not regret it.

After I caught my breath from hiking up the hill, I looked out at a picturesque view of one of the most beautiful cities on Earth. From the dome of Il Duomo, to your average apartment building, the ancient city shined with a gorgeous mountain range peeking over it in the background. I could not get enough. I knew I needed to see her again.

Even though no one wanted to go with me, I woke up the next day at six in the morning.

I was determined to watch the sunrise over Florence.

Tip #7: Even though there may be cute girls in the group, do things on your own.

Florence with the sun rising over is one of the most beautiful things I’ve ever seen and a memory I will cherish for the rest of my life. There’s no way for me to accurately describe the gorgeous shade of pink the sky was, or the almost divine, golden hue the city took that morning, so you will have to go yourself and see it.

What made it even more special was the fact that it felt like I had the city all to myself. Not only were there no kids from my program with me, but there was no one up there period.

I made enough memories that first week for a lifetime, and I still had Venice and another week in Florence before I even got to Rome.

I need a nap just thinking about it.

Stay tuned in The Dakota Student for more updates from Alex Stadnik. Alex is a staff writer for The Dakota Student. He can be reached at [email protected].