I Came, I Saw, I Loved.

Emma Fiore spent 8 weeks in Florence, interning with a professional contemporary dance company through PAA’s Performing Arts Internship in Florence program.

For as long as I can remember I have dreamed of traveling the world. I have always wanted to learn about my family history, experience unique cultures, and grow as an individual. This summer, I was fortunate enough to accomplish all of these personal goals by taking part in a Dance Administration internship in Florence, Italy through PAA.

When I first landed in Italy I was completely overwhelmed with both excitement and nerves, but I knew I would soon be able to call this place home. During the first week I made new friends in my Italian class, discovered my favorite place to lookout over the city, and of course had tried almost every gelato flavor. My nerves had quickly faded away as I embraced this wonderful adventure and used every moment to try new things and make great memories.

At my dance administration internship I was also having an amazing time while being immersed in the unique dance culture of Italy. The studio I worked at was a professional contemporary dance company and they welcomed me into their family with open arms. Most days I would work in the office marketing for performances, sending emails, or doing other administrative tasks. I had the pleasure of attending one of their performances as well which was one of my favorite nights of my entire trip. The show was all in Italian, however I loved being able to understand and connect to the show through the universal language of dance. It was a truly beautiful experience.

Throughout the next few weeks I would begin having conversations in Italian when I ordered my daily cappuccino or gelato. I would make friends from all different backgrounds and travel to places I never thought I would see. During the weekends I was able to visit the Amalfi Coast, Pompeii, Pisa, Lucca, Venice, Verona, Siena and Cinque Terre. I unexpectedly got to travel to Croatia and Barcelona as well. All of these experiences taught me so much about the world and myself as an individual.

By the end of my trip, I began to reflect on the experiences I have had, the family I had gained from my internship, the culture I was able to learn so much about, and the growth I was able to make in only 8 short weeks. Florence had become my home, and my dream of traveling the world had become a reality. I will hold the memories I made so close to my heart, and will forever be a better person because of this experience. This quote I saw as I boarded my plane home truly embodies my time in Florence. Veni, Vidi, Amavi: I came, I saw, I loved.