In my junior year at FIU, I studied abroad in Genoa, Italy. I was enrolled in FIU's Study Abroad: Hospitality and Tourism course which had pre-trip coursework and post-trip coursework in addition to the material that was covered while on program. We lived in apartments scattered throughout Genoa and would meet in the city center Monday-Friday in the morning so we could have class or go on a day trip. On the weekends we had off from class and were able to travel to other cities or even other countries. I spent one weekend in Venice, Italy and another weekend in Nice, France. All of our traveling was possible due to the highly accessible public transportation systems that run throughout Europe. This taught me to be aware of my surroundings, be punctual, and pre-plan my day to day activities. I got to experience a new way of living and immerse myself in the Italian culture. Our professor made sure we ate at local restaurants, shopped at local shops, tried to learn the language and etiquette, and get the most out of our experience abroad. I was also able to form new friendships whether it was within our class or with the local people. I truly had an incredible experience and it is one to never forget.