15 March 2023 , 15:35
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An American student who studied in Florence has been slammed for writing a scathing review of the Italian city - claiming its residents are "hostile, inconsiderate, and preposterous". New York University student Stacia Datskovska wrote a personal essay about her experience after spending a full semester studying abroad.
Throughout the essay, which has been published on Insider, the journalism and international relations student shared her hatred toward the city and the people who live there. Stacia wrote: "I imagined fun potluck dinners with my roommates, summer flings with people who called me 'bella,' gelato that dripped down my fingers in the heat, and natural wine that paired effortlessly with good conversation and better prosciutto.
View on the dome of Santa Maria del Fiore church and old town in Florence (Getty Images/iStockphoto)"But when my semester in Florence came to an end, I grew to despise the sights, hated the people, and couldn't wait to get back home to my campus in New York."
She went on to explain how she lived on Via dei Tosinghi street, which is a two-minute walk from the Cathedral of Santa Maria del Fiore.
Between struggling to get along with her roommates and the locals, she found herself spending full weekends alone, trying to avoid speaking to those around her.
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Stacia says she could provide "concrete examples" of when the locals acted "hostile, inconsiderate, and preposterous" toward her, claiming two women were rudely talking about her on a bus.
"I started to protest by presenting myself to the public in a way I knew they'd hate," she said.
"I started wearing American-brand athleisure, Nike Air Max 97s, and oversize hoodies. The Italians rolled their eyes as I passed them on the street."
View of the Santa maria nouvelle Duomo and the town of Florence (Getty Images)But what annoyed her most of all was watching her fellow New York University students embark on internships and networking events while she "wasted precious time in Florence".
Ending her essay, she wrote: "I was consistently frustrated by the fact that my life back in New York was not put on hold.
"I watched as my study-abroad classmates acted as if they could escape real-life obligations forever. I wanted to confront my obligations head-on.
"All of this shouldn't dissuade students from heading to Florence. My feelings aren't every college student's experience — yet I also can't be the only one who thought studying abroad was a nightmare."
After her essay was shared online, social media users started sharing their thoughts on her views toward the city and its people.
One Twitter user sarcastically said: "Finding out Florence is not New York and Europeans are not Americans must have been brutal."
Another user said: "Emily in Paris has caused irreparable cultural damage."
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A third added: "I bet this girl barely learned any Italian, did not learn any of the cultural norms, and didn’t travel to any Italian cities/towns that are not major tourist destinations.
"You can’t just land in Florence and expect to enter your perfect Italian fantasy.
"You’re totally allowed to hate your time abroad! Whether it’s because you didn’t like your program or because you struggled with homesickness. Going abroad isn’t easy!
"But hating your time in Italy because it isn’t the fantasy you created in your head is obnoxious."