Lily Newman

I spent my semester abroad, living in Florence and traveling around Europe. I got to visit incredible museums and cities, ate amazing food, and got to know other students from Syracuse and other schools. I loved all of my classes, especially Italian Mafia and Italy: Past, Present, and Future Challenges. I got to live right near the Duomo, which was also such a cool experience. Florence is an incredible city with history, art, food, and everything else you could want. I did not expect to feel so comfortable traveling or exploring a foreign city. By the end of the semester, I had mastered the art of public transportation, something that doesn’t exist where I live. I felt confident figuring out how to plan trips and explore a new place. I think that is so unique about the abroad experience; it’s a new level of independence and freedom. I would love to build on the history I learned from the two classes I mentioned. I have a comparative politics concentration for my political science major, and I would like to continue to learn more about the Italian government as well as others throughout Europe. I think analyzing other democracies helps us understand our own and prepare for future challenges.