Hi Bedford! I’m currently a sophomore at Florida State University. For over 15 years, FSU’s First Year Abroad (FYA) program has offered students the opportunity to spend their first year of college abroad at one of our four study centers. Spending three semesters abroad allows students to be fully immersed in the culture, history, and customs of another country. With an opportunity to switch locations over the summer semester, this experience fosters global citizens who have a unique understanding of what it truly means to live abroad.

My first-year aboard with this program, I was fortunate to study two semesters at FSU's Valencia, Spain's campus and the summer semester at their Florence, Italy campus. During these 11 months, I was able to travel the world, visit 3 different continents, 20 new countries, and meet people of all shapes and sizes. One of the most exciting parts of traveling was getting to try a variety of new cuisines and dishes, so I wanted to feature some of my favorites over the past year.

Did you know paella actually originated from Valencia? Traditionally, Paella Valenciana is often made with chicken, rabbit, and snails, spiced with sweet paprika and saffron. Paella was one of my favorite dishes to get while in Spain, and my friends and I loved to go out in a big group and get a huge plate of paella to share! Patatas Bravas are also one of the best things to eat in Spain. They’re covered in Bravas sauce, which is a spicy tomato sauce, and garlic aioli. Bravas are a perfect appetizer and don’t forget to order an Agua de Valencia on the side, a traditional Valencian drink similar to a mimosa! The beautiful Valencia orange trees are scattered all over the city.

In Scandinavian countries, it’s popular to see lots of potatoes and lingonberries combined with many meat dishes, which surprisingly was one of my favorite combinations of food that I tried abroad. When I visited Sweden, I tasted a variety of Swedish meatballs that certainly lived up to their hype. In Finland, my cross-country ski group visited a reindeer farm, where the farmers prepared a reindeer dish for us to try. It was strangely delicious, but I still can’t get over the fact that I actually ate reindeer.

This summer, my friends and I visited Jordan, Turkey, and Egypt on our break and had an absolutely incredible time. We were mostly eating kebab and lots of grilled meats, but in Cappadocia, Turkey, we got to experience Testi Kebab, also known as pottery kebab. The Cappadocian region is extremely famous for their hot air balloons, as well as their pottery, so they use clay pots to cook their meat in, making for a delicious dish and an extremely cool presentation. The hummus in many of the Middle Eastern countries that I traveled to was also delicious!!

After studying for two semesters in Spain, I was given the opportunity to study in Florence for the summer! Though it seems predictable, Italian food is absolutely delicious, and many of my classes were focused on traditional Italian cuisine. I loved learning about the different regions of Italy and which regions’ popular dishes come from. If you ever find yourself visiting Florence, I really recommend stopping by Pizza Napoli 1955 for the best pesto pizza you’ll ever have in your life. Seriously, it’s amazing. On our school trips to Venice and the Amalfi Coast, I got to try many different Italian seafood dishes that continued to blow me away. Though I’m happy to be back in Tallahassee, I would do anything for some homemade gnocchi!

Whether you’re a super picky eater, or someone willing to try anything (like me!), traveling abroad and learning about different cultures through cuisine is a fascinating and entertaining experience for anyone who wants to experience it. If you have the opportunity at any point in your life, GO FOR IT!

To learn more about the FSU first-year abroad program, check out their website at www.international.fsu.edu.