It’s been 12 days since I’ve moved to Florence (Firenze) and there are all sorts of emotions going through my head. For once in my life I feel homesick, often. How am I feeling homesick in a city that’s so beautiful, full of culture and places to discover, a place that feels so right? Well, even I cannot give you that answer. Adjusting to any new place will take time, especially when that place is in another country.

Moving from Boston to Florence is a HUGE adjustment to pretty much everything. All summer I’ve pictured it being an easy transition…yah know, move in to my apartment halfway across the world and instantly have a fabulous life in Europe…realistic right? Well no actually…unfortunately it hasn’t been that simple. Now don’t get me wrong, I’m already so in love with this city BUT there is a lot of adapting that needs to happen before I can fully take it all in.

Just to give you an idea of my daily struggles:

-LANGUAGE BARRIERS ARE SO REAL. Yeah duh Michaela, you’re going to Italy…where they speak Italian, obviously. But keep laughing when you’re trying to find class across town and you find yourself playing charades with the deli guy.

-People here grocery shop every.single.day. I learned that the hard way when my week of groceries went bad in 3 days. At least it’s all fresh food my body will love! (:

-Your transportation is your feet, always. Now I have a love- hate relationship with this. My feet are hating me and I still find it hard to believe I can’t hop in my car to drive across town, let’s be realistic…I’m so lazy. BUT on the plus side, I haven’t gained 50+ lbs. from all the carbs I’ve consumed because I burn it off from walking everywhere. 😀 (no wonder why Europeans can eat bread, cheese, and wine everyday and still look like super models)

-Gluten is the top of the food chain. That sounds like heaven right? Pasta, pizza, fresh bread, pastries…yes so so delicious and heavenly…but not with a gluten allergy ): 5 weeks before I left for my new tasty life abroad I found out that my years of stomach problems were caused by gluten and dairy. This is the biggest struggle thus far.
(I will post another entry on tips for a gluten-free life living in Florence sometime this month!)

Despite all of this, any new, unfamiliar place will take time to adapt to and my journey here has just begun. I am so taken back by all the beauty in this Country and still can’t believe I am living here. Thank you all for your love and support and look out for my weekly posts!

~Michaela

(for daily pictures add me on Instagram- @michaelakotob)