When I first applied to study French and Italian at university, I never imagined that I would have the opportunity to live both in the French Alps and the heart of Tuscany.

After my return to Edinburgh, I have had time to truly process and appreciate my year spent abroad.

I commenced the year nestled in the breathtaking mountains of Grenoble. As the semester progressed the lush green mountains slowly morphed into snowcapped peaks. Right until the end of my stay, I was still captivated by the stunning natural beauty surrounding the city. My daily journey to Université Grenoble Alpes was a scenic one, as the tram clattered through the town, from the typically French Haussmannian architecture to the modern concrete jungle, the mountains peaking out amongst the urban sprawl.

I suddenly found myself taking classes in art history, French language, and linguistics, whilst simultaneously navigating the unfamiliar French university system. The journey of learning French was one not lacking in difficulty, especially in the beginning, although as time passed words began to click and things started to make sense. The more I immersed myself into local life the easier it became, my understanding of the formal French language and culture came from having to manage life admin, such as opening a bank account and setting up utilities whilst on the other hand,  joining the badminton club at university helped me to properly understand informal, colloquial French.

What’s more, not only was I in Grenoble but I also had the chance to greater explore this fascinating corner of France, for example venturing along the windy roads to the ski town of Chamonix-Mont-Blanc as well as visiting the picturesque lakeside town of Annecy.

Before I knew it my alpine semester had come to an end, and I began the preparations for my study exchange in Florence.

Upon arriving in Florence, I was immediately amazed by the beauty of its ornate architecture and rich history. I made my way through the narrow streets to the apartment that would be my home for the next 6 months.

As I began my studies in Florence I noted a great contrast to my French experience. The grandiose Alps which asserted themselves as the opposing backdrop to the brutalist university campus transformed into historical Florentine structures scattered throughout the heart of the city.

The teaching style in Florence was new to me, coming from Edinburgh and being used to small classes and interactive tutorials it was insightful to have a more impersonal educational experience, often sitting in lecture theatres amongst hundreds of people, with no interaction, only listening. Interestingly, there was also no coursework only a final spoken exam.

In my spare time, I was able to venture around Florence, visiting its numerous iconic sites from the Uffizi Gallery to the Piazzale Michelangelo where I observed the astonishing sunsets with its panoramic view of the city. There truly is an endless list of art, culture, and history to absorb in this home of the Renaissance.

On a funny note, just before I left, the Tour de France held its exceptional departure in Florence which I thought was an interesting round-up to my year abroad, a nod to its gallic beginnings.

Experiencing two vastly differing cultures has broadened my understanding of both countries in a way that I could not have before. On the other hand, being away from Scotland for the year has also helped me to appreciate the value of my home country. Now, in the final year of my studies, I walk through Edinburgh with a fresh perspective and gratitude for life and university in Scotland.