One of the many things that make Marist’s Study Abroad Program stand out is the Freshman Florence Experience (FFE), in which students are offered the opportunity to spend their entire freshman year at the Marist-affiliated campus, Lorenzo de Medici, in Florence. An entire school year of delicious food, breathtaking views, and exploring one of the most beloved cities in Europe, what could go wrong?
The biggest issue amongst FFE students that seems to occur has nothing to do with their time in Florence, but rather, the reverse culture shock when they attend Marist for their sophomore year.
“Leaving Italy and having to adjust to Poughkeepsie was hard for us. You would think that the culture shock of going to Europe would be worse, but our group adapted so well,” said Morgan DeBaise, a current senior at Marist who participated in the FFE program. “Italy became our home, even the lifestyle became home to us.”
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