Written by: Brynn Cumicek | Spring 2024
Wells in Florence
This semester I am studying at Lorenzo De Medici through the Wells in Florence program, and I love it! I would recommend this program to anyone looking to study abroad in Italy. I have traveled to many cities in Italy during my time here, and Florence will forever be my top choice for where to study abroad. While being in Florence, I have been able to explore and try so many new things that it’s starting to feel like home, which is not something you would get studying in a bigger city.
While studying abroad, I am making sure I take advantage of all the opportunities given to me and really get to know Italy during my time here. The Wells in Florence program does a great job of offering trips and activities for their students to really dive into the Italian culture. I will be attending two overnight trips put on by Wells: an overnight trip to Venice and an overnight trip to Monte Carlo, Monaco, and the Italian Riviera. Along with the two I am attending, they offer many more, such as hiking in 
the Alps and Lake Garda and a day trip to Cinque Terre. Planning these trips on your own can be very stressful, and you may miss important activities you wish you would have done, but Wells does this all for you and takes the stress away. All you have to do is pay a certain price, and the transportation, hotel, and activities are all planned for you, along with some free time to get the most out of these trips. I am also participating in activities such as climbing the duomo, visiting museums, wine tasting, cooking classes, farmers markets, food tastings, and more activities offered to me through this program.
The Wells program has an awesome relationship with many landlords around Florence that allows them to offer us apartments in the most amazing locations. I love where I live. I am a 2-minute walk from the Duomo, 12 minutes or less to all my classes, and within walking distance of any stores, museums, restaurants, tourist attractions, and public transportation if I want to go on any trips. Being so close to everything I need makes me feel safe, knowing that if I ever need something, I am only minutes away.
When I first arrived in Italy, I had no idea what to expect because it was my first time in Europe. I didn’t know any Italian, and I thought the language barrier was going to be a very difficult thing, yet it was not. To my surprise, most people I talked to, whether it was at a restaurant, school, or just out in public, spoke a good amount of English, and I was able to have conversations with everyone. I also started learning Italian while I was here for one of my classes, and it’s also something that’s helping me communicate and learn more about Italian culture.
Throughout my time here, I have made lifelong 
friends and memories that will stay with me forever. It is a very strange yet happy feeling to walk down the street in Italy and recognize people or have others recognize you; it has made it feel like a second home to me. The relationships I have made abroad are so special and something I will never forget. I had the opportunity to meet so many people, travel, and start seeing the world, which has been a dream of mine. This experience has taught me how to be more independent and how important it is to take all the opportunities given to you. Italy has become such a big part of my life that it is going to be a hard goodbye, but I’m also looking forward to coming home and seeing my friends and family.