First-Year Abroad: An Interview with History major Wyatt Geary

Tell us a bit about yourself!

I have lived my entire life in Texas. I came to FSU because of its reputation and study abroad program. I spent my first year abroad: fall and spring in Florence, Italy, and summer in Valencia, Spain. Studying abroad allowed me to convert my out-of-state tuition into in-state tuition, another factor in my decision to attend university. FSU also accepted a lot of credits from high school, which made it the ideal choice for me.

I am a History major with a minor in Italian. I plan to go to graduate school for history. I am currently looking into different doctorate programs in the U.S. and abroad.

What specific part of history do you like?

I have studied a lot of European and Latin American History. I would love to combine both of these areas. I am interested in researching contemporary immigration, especially Italian immigration to Argentina, Brazil, and the United States. The other topic that fascinates me is the History of Italy during the 19th and 20th centuries, which includes the Risorgimento, the role of the Mafia in the country's formation, and the First and Second World Wars. My focus is mainly on contemporary history in both Europe and South America.

How did you prepare for spending your entire first year of college in Europe?

I had traveled before—just not to Italy or Spain. I had visited Central America, Japan, and different parts of the U.S., but I had not been to Europe and had never been abroad for such a long period. That was a step more significant than any previous.

My approach to dealing with the challenges of being away for such an extended period was not to look at it as one extensive process but at every individual challenge as they arrived. That's who I am and my outlook on the world. As issues came up, I dealt with them. Seeing life as individual challenges rather than an overarching problem allows me to operate successfully in new environments, as thinking of issues that have not yet arrived only induces further stress.

What classes did you take abroad?

As a History major, I had many course options. In Florence, I took classes on the Mafia, 19th-century European History, and modern Italian History. In Spain, I took courses on the Spanish Civil War and Archeology. And as a first-year student, the study centers also offer FSU Core classes that one must take anyway. I was able to complete all my core requirements abroad.

The benefit of taking classes abroad is that the professors will take the class out of the classroom. Especially in History courses, we went to different museums and walked around historic city centers, and these site visits were a critical part of the learning experience. In Tallahassee, most instructors have to provide this experience inside the classroom.

For the Spanish Civil War class that I took in Valencia, we visited some bomb shelters used by the Republicans in the Spanish Civil War when faced with Nationalist air raids. In the Art and Architecture class, we walked to different locations in Florence every week to see the many architectural styles and visions, such as the Uffizi Gallery and the Cathedral of Santa Maria del Fiore. We took notes wherever we went. I gained so much indispensable information from those classes.

What sort of excursions did you do while abroad?

During my stay in Florence, we went on four excursions to places across Italy. We went on weekend trips to Turin, Milan, Naples, and Rome. With the Valencia program, we traveled to Barcelona and Madrid. These trips provided me with new perspectives on the host countries. Traveling helped me understand the many different layers of Spanish and Italian culture.

Did you have any major challenges that you needed to overcome, and how did you do that?

There were some challenges. One was staying on top of the coursework rather than giving in to the constant appeal of going out and exploring the city you were abiding in.

Another was more personal. I used to be very soft-spoken, and I discovered at a certain point that to make myself understood, especially when practicing speaking Italian, I had to articulate and make my point much more transparent than I was initially used to. Not only is there the possibility that someone may not hear you because you are speaking to them from a distance but what you are saying also needs to be more comprehensible, so you must speak clearly and loudly to convey the message, heightening communication skills.

Constructing new friendships was less of a challenge. I knew I had to reach out to people and could not wait for others to take the initiative. It took some effort, but ultimately, it was not impossible.

What surprised you the most about studying abroad?

I met many people from within and outside of the study abroad program. Many had different perspectives and opinions from the ones I held. I had not realized how much culture and upbringing influence people's worldviews. The people I met had incredibly enlightened worldviews, which inspired me. I see the world from a different angle now because of the friends I made from Central Europe, Western Europe, and even South America. That's the most surprising aspect of having lived abroad.

Did you learn Italian while you were in Florence?

I took Italian I and II in Florence and am currently enrolled in an Italian III course. I also tried to talk to as many Italians as possible and made many friends with whom I am still in touch. Talking to local residents helped me learn so much more about Italy. It also gave me opportunities to practice my Italian. I spoke to people, listened, and tried deciphering any text I saw, such as the signs and graffiti everywhere. Immersing myself in Italian culture helped me tenfold; it sped up the language-learning process.

After spending two semesters in Florence, you moved to Valencia for the summer. Was that a relatively smooth transition?

Spanish and Italian cultures have many similarities, so moving from one to the other was not so difficult. However, leaving the connections I had made in Florence within the study center and the city was more challenging.

Both study centers are in these incredibly historic buildings, and when you step outside, you are in spaces where people have contributed majorly to history for hundreds of years. It felt surreal to imagine I was walking in the footsteps of Dante, Michelangelo, and Machiavelli. There was history everywhere in every street corner.

The Florence study center is more centralized, as all the teaching activity is in one building. You get to see everyone regularly. Valencia has two buildings, so you don't always know every student regularly. However, I also took fewer classes over the summer than during the fall and spring, which could have contributed.

What advice would you give to other students who are thinking about studying abroad, specifically during their first year?

I recommend going into the FYA experience with a receptive attitude. Be ready to try new things, events, sports, and excursions, even if they are not entirely within your comfort zone. Don't say 'no' to something without giving it a chance. Allow your preconceived worldview to be altered.

For example, while abroad, various language exchanges involved diverse activities such as 'aperitivos' or salsa dancing lessons. These were things I had never done before, but I thought they would help me learn languages at a higher rate and meet more international people. I got over feeling embarrassed and stopped worrying about what others might think. Try something new to expand your world.