Emre Akcakanat, Global Business Institute: Florence Spring 2025
When I first got to Florence, I felt a little overwhelmed. Don’t get me wrong, it’s an amazing place. But adjusting to a new routine, new language, different class structures, and trying to keep up with everything socially made my brain feel constantly “on.” I felt like I had to be doing something all the time, or I was missing out. That kind of pressure builds up.
The turning point actually came during a weekend trip to Sardegna. I wasn’t expecting much because I just wanted to get away for a couple of days. But I found this quiet park near where we were staying, sat down, and just… existed, and it was great. No notifications. No schedule. No rush to post a picture. That moment helped me breathe differently. It was the first time I really slowed down and let go of the feeling that I had to be “on top” of my experience. From then on, I approached my time abroad differently.
I started taking more walks by myself in Florence, journaling a little, and not saying yes to every single outing or day trip. I was still very engaged, but I gave myself space. Honestly, it made the whole experience way more enjoyable.
My advice for anyone studying abroad is simple: it’s okay not to do everything. You don’t have to be constantly productive or busy to get the most out of your time. Build in breaks, explore slowly, and don’t underestimate what a random quiet moment like the one I had in Sardegna. That’s when the real experience starts to sink in.
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