Coolintown

Fitting in to the Florentine Lifestyle

Reading a guidebook is a good start to get to know your new home but until you actually experience things for yourself Florence will always be foreign.
Living abroad is all about challenging yourself, exploring, and most of all not being afraid to make mistakes. Here are a couple tips to help acclimating to your new environment just a little bit easier.

City Life

Living in the city. The first couple of weeks you are going to be a bombarded with overwhelming sensations. Try to absorb the new sights, smells, flavors, and attitudes with an open mind.

Do as the locals do. Look around and observe how the locals navigate. Walking into a bar and fighting the morning rush for the first time to order your morning cappuccino can be intimidating. Watch the people around you. This is without a doubt the best way to learn.

Get Lost. The gold ball on the top of the Duomo can be seen from almost any point in the city and can be a lifesaver in figuring out your way home. If you really get turned around don't be afraid to ask. The word “dove ” or “where” can be your best friend.

Fare una passegiata. Take a walk and get to know the new city around you. The best way to observe the city is by foot. Window shop, observe the historic streets, figure out the level that the flood reached in 1966, discover new places, and beat the summer heat by embarking on your own quest for the best gelato.

Bring your camera. Florence is such a beautiful city that it is hard to take a bad shot. Your time here is so short that it is worth it to capture your every moment. Take a look at the guide “20 places to take the most breathtaking photos” for inspiration.

Make an effort to speak Italian. You WILL make mistakes. Your first couple of times you probably won't even be understood, but it is the best way to learn the language and the best way to interact with the locals around you. Without even realizing it you will see significant improvements and have gained so much more from your time spent abroad.
It is almost too easy to make your way around Florence with just the bare minimum of Italian. Be persistent, even when the store clerks speak to you in English. Remember you are a visitor in Italy and people DO appreciate when you try.

Mangiare

Have an aperitivo. The experience of the aperitivo is a consolidated Italian tradition! An aperitivo is a pre-dinner drink, meant to “open” the palate and gives you a chance to socialize, relax, and nibble as dinnertime approaches.
A good rule of thumb for evening aperitivo is from 7:00pm to 9:00pm. What is offered with your aperitivo drink really depends on the bar. A few olives and potato chips are the classic offering, though some places get very elaborate with pizza, fruit salads, roasts, hot pasta, and cold cuts like prosciutto and bresaola.

Understand the Dinner Procession. It is completely common to order more than one course when out at a restaurant, the portions as you will discover are a lot smaller than at home.

The regular dinner procession is as follows:

• Appetizer (antipasto): crostini like bruschetta, a selection of cold cuts
• First Course (primo): Pasta, Risotto, Ribollita, Pappa al Pomodoro
• Second Course (secondo): Meat or Fish dishes
• Dessert (dolci): Gelato, tiramisu, etc.
• After dinner digestive drink (digestivo): Sambuca, Montenegro, Limoncello
• Espresso (caffè) or try a caffè corretto (literally meaning coffee corrected, which includes a shot of a dinner digestive mixed in with your espresso)

Different Price for Sitting Outdoors. Another thing that drives everyone crazy, including the Italians, is the fact that cafés or bars have different pricing if you decide to sit or stand. Many places also charge more if you want to sit outside and people watch. This is absolutely legal and those new to Italy need to be aware of it.

Shopping

20% Sale Tax Already Included. Italy doesn't have sale taxes per se, but has the I.V.A. (also known as V.A.T Value Added Tax), which is 20% of the selling price. The I.V.A. is already included in the price.

Tax Refunds for Foreigners. The I.V.A. is actually refundable for foreigners. At the airport, train station and borders, there are kiosks where the tax can be refunded. It important to keep all your receipts, fill out the duty free form, and have a legal ID as proof of your foreign nationality.

Returning Merchandise. There is really no such of thing as returning a purchased good for a refund in Italy. If there is something wrong or the customer changes their mind the store will usually either replace the item or provide store credit.

Operation Times. Most stores close at lunchtime for one or two hours. In recent years more stores are staying open throughout the day, but it is not yet a common thing.

Stay away from counterfeits. If you get caught buying a “fake” handbag from the many illegal street vendors here in Florence you could get charged a hefty fine or even arrested.

Watch your spending. Europe is expensive. Stay updated on the exchange rate. It is easy to spend a lot without even realizing it. Take advantage of the promotions that you get using the CoolinTown card.
*Stay away from bars that offer 5 shots for 5 Euro. Use common sense! This is not a way to save money but to get sick.

Grocery Shopping

Grocery shopping. For many of us grocery shopping in Italy is one of the biggest hurdles to jump.
To start fruits and veggies are handled with plastic gloves. In the same area where you will find the plastic bags you will also find a plethora of plastic gloves. It is considered “inconsiderate” not to use them. (Although I have never figured out why since it only makes sense that you would wash them when you got home).

This same produce has to be weighed before going to the register. You will find a little plaque next to the item that you wish to purchase that will give the name of the product (ex: pomodori), the price usually by kilo (depends on the produce) and a number (labeled under “tasto” for key). That number is the numbered key that you have to push to weigh your produce when you bring it to the scale. Once your produce is weighed a sticker with the price of the items will print. Place the sticker on the bag and you are good to go.

Checking out the clerk will most certainly ask you, “Voule una busta?” to ask you if you would like a plastic shopping bag. January 1st of this year Italy changed from plastic to biodegradable bags that cost considerably more than the non-environmentally friendly plastic ones. A biodegradable shopping bag will cost you between 8 – 10 cents. To avoid the extra charge bring your own shopping bags from home.

Grocery shopping for Italians is almost a daily event. Most do not buy food for the entire week but go out on a daily basis to get the daily necessities. The main reasons for this are: this guarantees that the products will be at their peak of freshness, most refrigerators you will find are not enormous subzero closet fridges but instead bite sized mini bars, but probably the biggest reason is that grocery shopping is a time to socialize.
Walking through Florence’s main food markets, Mercato Centrale is one of the greatest examples of this time-honored grocery shopping tradition. This indoor market open from 7am to 2pm is the best place to go for fresh fruits, vegetables, fish, meets, and countless other products. It is a great place to discover a wealth of typical Tuscan culinary delights but also to observe a bit of “grocery shopping”. Expect to wait not only your turn but also to wait until they finish their conversation.

Traveling

Take advantage of Tuscany. The region has a lot to offer. Before you start filling your social calendar with trips for every weekend reserve some time to just relax. Pace yourself and don't feel pressured to “get away”. Remember that while studying abroad you already are away!
Tuscany is filled with beautiful countrysides, beaches, mountains, vineyards, and some of the world's most extraordinary medieval cities. It is not only more economic but it is the best way to get to know the area around you.
Some of the reasons to stick around are:

• The medieval cities of Monterregione and San Gimignano
• The white beaches in Vada
• Wine tasting trips through Chianti
• Siena's Piazza del Campo and the Palio
• The Leaning Tower of Pisa
• Thermal baths in Maremma and Saturnia
• Skiing in Abetone
• The Etruscan village of Cortona
• Celebrate Carnevale in Viareggio

Travel abroad with knowledge. Plan ahead! Do some research before you go. The best way to maximize your time abroad and get to see and accomplish the things you want is by doing a little research.

Bus2Alps is the best travel service for students. They take the stress out of traveling. They offer reasonable prices and offer some of the most entertaining and adventurous destinations. For those that would rather relax and have someone else plan your vacation Bus2Alps is the best way to go!

Cheap airfare. Ryanair and Easyjet offer some of the cheapest flights around. You can find flights from as low as 8 euro if you buy at the right time. Book ahead to secure the best price. Both airlines leave from Pisa's international airport that is easily accessible by the many buses and trains that leave throughout the day from Florence’s Santa Maria Novella Train Station.

The Overview

The adventure. Not everything will go smoothly. Plans might go awry, trains might be late, or an impromptu bus strike (sciopero) might take place. These things happen, but having the mindset to go with the flow and realize that it is just a part of the adventure will make your time here so much more enjoyable.

Your Outlook. Experiencing a foreign culture can do a lot to change your outlook, both of yourself and the world. While you are here expect to be challenged linguistically, intellectually, and morally. Be open to experience a culture different than your own, and try to appreciate it for what it is. “If you reject the food, ignore the customs, fear the religion and avoid the people, you might better stay at home” (James Michner).