u/WhyIzGamora

Mi dispiace che la mia grammatica non è ottima. Italiano ovviamente non è la mia prima lingua.

Ciao a tutti. Sono degli Stati Uniti e studierò alla Università di Firenze per un semestre nel autunno. Sono molto emozionata e voglio fare tutto che posso durante il mio tempo lì. Non voglio cadere nelle trappole per i turisti, e di conseguenza sto mirando per consiglio delle attività che devo fare, luoghi che devo visitare, ristoranti e bar che devo provare, eccetera. Sto provando di fare ricerche prima di arrivare perché voglio avere un piano è fido le raccomandazione degli Italiani più delle raccomandazione dei siti web americani che posso vedere quando lo cerco nel internet.

Disclaimer that all of the information below is assuming I get approved for my student visas, which I have not applied for yet as my school does that for me.

Also just to make this super clear, when I talk about visa expiration I am talking about student visa expiration specifically. I live in a visa exempt country and do not need a visa for an additional 90 days (out of 180) after my student visa expires.

I’m not entirely sure if this is the right subreddit for this but fingers crossed someone can help me. I’m a student from the US and will be studying abroad in Italy in the fall and Spain in the spring. I have a few questions about the specifics of the 90 out of 180 days of tourism you get in the Schengen area on a US passport in addition to your visa window.

My plan is to arrive in Italy a week early with my first passport and Italian student visa, be there from September through mid December, spend the month between my two programs split between some Schengen country and the UK, reenter the Schengen zone using my Spanish student visa with my second passport, stay in Spain from January through May, and then travel until July in both Schengen and non Schengen countries before going home. If everything goes according to plan I will be in Europe for around 46 weeks

My school made it seem like I can’t exit and reenter the Schengen zone after my visa expires even though I will be well within the 90 in 180 days limit and that I have to leave from the country my visa is for, but the most I look into it the more I am questioning whether or not that is actually true.

After my visa period ends, can I exit and reenter the Schengen zone as long as I don’t exceed the 90 in 180 days rolling window? Do I have to get any specific paperwork to visit non Schengen countries in eastern Europe (other than Russia and Belarus) besides ETIAS? Can I leave Europe to go home from any country? I’m not planning on spending my entire summer there so the rolling limit of 90 out of 180 days won't be an issue even with the time I spend in the Schengen zone between my visas. The eligibility window for my Spanish visa will be at least 18 weeks (126 days), making it impossible for me to overstay the 90 days unless I spend a full 90 days in the Schengen zone after my visa expires which I will not be doing. However, I would like to understand the specifics of what I can and cannot do to avoid accidentally getting into trouble with border patrol. Any insight that people can offer is greatly appreciated!!

I've been learning Italian for around 2 years and am going to be studying abroad in Italy next semester. I consider myself fairly proficient but am hoping to improve my speaking ability before I go abroad. Is anyone here willing to have some conversations over messages on here in Italian to help me practice? Ideally someone who is also decently fluent and can correct my grammar when I mess up?

Mi dispiace che mia grammatica non è molto buona. Italiano non è mia prima lingue.

Sono una studentessa e studierò alla Università di Firenze dagli Stati Uniti per un semestre nel autunno. Sono molto emozionata ma anche un po’ nervosa perché mio Italiano non é fantastico e anche non so tutte le sfumature culturale dell’Italia e non voglio fare qualcosa offensivo accidentalmente. Ho imparato un po’ della cultura e la storia italiana nell’università ma voglio imparare più prima di studiare là. Qualcuno ha consiglio di che aspetti della cultura devo sapere prima di arrivare?

I’m an international student who is going to be studying abroad at the University of Florence for a semester. I don’t want to have to bring my current dorm stuff from the US all the way to Italy so I’m planning on purchasing new things once I get to Florence and then either selling it or giving it away when I come back home. Does anyone have recommendations for good places to get things like bedding?

I (20F) have been working out consistently for around 3 months and have seen some pretty good progress so far. I am going to be studying abroad in Europe next year and am aiming to do the Tour du Mont Blanc hike next summer, which is 105 miles over 11 days with 31,000 to 35,000 feet (9,500 to 10,600 meters) of elevation gain. I have been hiking since I was 4 and have done a fair amount of it but still feel like my endurance isn't the greatest. I really want to start some hiking specific training next month to make sure I am actually physically prepared for all the hiking I want to do once I get to Europe. I currently work out 2-4 times a week but am going to bump that up to 5-7 once I'm no longer in school for the summer and have more time. So far this is a general outline of what I am planning to add.

Double leg standing calf raises with barbell

Seated calf raises with dumbbells

Weighted lunges with dumbbells

High incline treadmill with heavy weights in backpack (more than backpack goal weight)

StairMaster

Running (some sort of beginner running program like Runna with the goal of running a 10k by the end of the summer)

Shorter hiking trips with weights in my backpack (more than backpack goal weight)

Overnight hiking trips with my backpack at goal weight

I know it's not super put together or anything which is why I'm coming here for the advice of people who know a lot more than me lol. I also don't have a set workout routine as of right not because I did a challenge program that recently ended so I'm also in the process of putting together a regular weightlifting program for the summer (open to suggestions there as well!!)

I (20F) am going to be studying abroad in Italy and Spain from the US from September 2026 to May 2026. I love hiking and am really hoping to do some camping and backpacking while in Europe, particularly in the Alps and Dolomites. I am going to go on some backpacking trips over the summer as well but I honestly have no clue where to start when it comes to purchasing gear. I am not going to have much room in my suitcases going abroad so I’m hoping to get some advice as to what gear is absolutely necessary. So from much more experienced backpackers, what things do I absolutely need and what are some brand recommendations that people have?

I (20F) am going to be studying abroad in Italy and Spain from the US from September 2026 to May 2026. I love hiking and am really hoping to do some camping and backpacking while in Europe, particularly in the Alps and Dolomites. I am going to go on some backpacking trips over the summer as well but I honestly have no clue where to start when it comes to purchasing gear. I am not going to have much room in my suitcases going abroad so I’m hoping to get some advice as to what gear is absolutely necessary. So from much more experienced hikers and backpackers, what things do I absolutely need and what are some brand recommendations that people have?

I (20F) am going to be studying abroad in Italy and Spain from the US from September 2026 to May 2026. I love hiking and am really hoping to do some camping and backpacking while in Europe, particularly in the Alps and Dolomites. I am going to go on some backpacking trips over the summer as well but I honestly have no clue where to start when it comes to purchasing gear. I am not going to have much room in my suitcases going abroad so I’m hoping to get some advice as to what gear is absolutely necessary. So from much more experienced backpackers, what things do I absolutely need and what are some brand recommendations that people have?

I (20F) am going to be studying abroad in Italy and Spain from the US from September 2026 to May 2026. I love hiking and am really hoping to do some camping and backpacking while in Europe, particularly in the Alps and Dolomites. I am going to go on some backpacking trips over the summer as well but I honestly have no clue where to start when it comes to purchasing gear. I am not going to have much room in my suitcases going abroad so I’m hoping to get some advice as to what gear is absolutely necessary. So from much more experienced backpackers, what things do I absolutely need and what are some brand recommendations that people have?

I don’t know if this is the right sub for this I (20F) am going to be studying abroad in Europe next year and am really hoping to spend some time hiking and backpacking, particularly in Italy and Switzerland. I have been hiking since I was 4 but I would by no means consider myself super experienced and I’m currently not in the greatest shape. I am trying to get in better shape before going abroad so I actually have the stamina for everything I want to be doing. I have been going to the gym since early February but am looking to do some conditioning more specific to backpacking so I can actually carry a pack and move at a reasonable speed. Does anyone have any specific recommendations for things I can do? My plan as of right now is largely incline treadmill with a weight in a backpack on my back as well as some real hikes with the same set up but I was wondering if there’s anything else I should do to give myself the best chance for success.

If you commented under either of my previous posts and I have yet to complete your survey, I promise I will get to it later. I had to go to class and switch to doing other work but I am extremely grateful to all of you and will make sure to repay your kindness within the next few hours. I ended up with a lot of responses and some really interesting data!! If anyone else has surveys they need completed, feel free to put them in the comments even if you did not complete mine earlier and I'll make sure to get to them later as well. You guys are seriously the best!!

I was scrolling on Instagram earlier and got one of these ads for what feels like the 17,000th time this week. Every time I’m cautiously optimistic and click on the links only to discover once again that the “inclusive sizing” they claim to have is absolute fucking bullshit. Like what do you mean you’re for women with bigger boobs but don’t go above a fucking F cup for band sizes 30-34 or above an I cup in general (US sizing)? Why the fuck do your ads show women with at least up to K cups to show your inclusivity when you don’t actually make bras that would fit them? Why on earth do your sizes range from S to 4XL instead of using normal bra sizing like a size inclusive brand should? I’m so tired of seeing ads like these everywhere when the stuff they claim doesn’t at all line up with the reality of their products. Don’t let me get excited at the prospect of more bra brands that fit me only to disappoint me with false advertising the second I click on the link. Holy hell.