Swanson School of Engineering

By Caiden Martos, Mechanical Engineering, Summer 2026

As finals wrap up and the time to head to Florence for a semester abroad rapidly approaching, I am very nervous for what’s to come but also incredible excited. As someone who has only ever been to Canada, I’m sure life in Italy is going to be very different. I’m most excited to travel around the country on weekends trips to various locations that I have had on my bucket list for years and can finally come to frution. These include The Colosseum, il Lago di Braise, and Lake Como since that’s where Naboo is filmed in Star Wars and I think it would be incredible interesting to travel there. I am ready to hike trails across the Italian landscapes, visit their sprawling lakes, and admire the beautiful mountains. All in all, even though I’m nervous, there’s a lot to be excited for.