Final reflections: Hamish’s gap experience

Today we’re catching up with Hamish, one of our gap students from Australia, who’s just wrapping up an incredible four-month adventure in Italy. After spending two months in Florence and another two in the seaside town of Sestri Levante, Hamish is getting ready to travel a bit more before heading back home.

Curious, open-minded, and always ready to dive into new experiences, Hamish has made the most of his time here: from studying Italian in two very different regions to exploring local culture, food, and everyday life. Before he sets off on his next journey, we sat down to chat about what he’s learned, what surprised him the most, and how it feels to say arrivederci to Italy (for now!).

Let’s start from the beginning. Before leaving Australia, what was your biggest fear?

I think my biggest fear was the distance. Australia and Italy are on opposite sides of the world, and it was my first time living away from home for so long. That was a bit scary. But I also saw it as part of the adventure: being far away gives you space to grow, to meet new people, and to have new experiences.

That’s right, and what about your expectations?

I had good expectations! We have great Italian food in Australia, but I wanted to see how it actually is in Italy. And yes, it’s very good. I also love history, so I was really excited about the museums, the architecture, and the monuments. And then of course, learning Italian. This was my first real attempt at studying a language!

You decided to split your four months between Florence and Sestri Levante. Why did you choose that, and are you happy with that decision?

Yes, I’m very happy. I wanted to experience different parts of Italy and four months gave me time to do that. I was in Florence at the start of summer, and then I spent July and August by the beach in Sestri Levante. It was a perfect combination. 

Florence was lively and full of students, while Sestri was smaller, quieter, and more local. In Florence I heard a lot of English while in Sestri, mostly Italian. That really helped me improve!

Did you manage to meet and speak with Italians outside of class?

Quite a few! My host family in Sestri invited some friends over for dinner one night. We all spoke Italian the whole evening: it was a big moment for me. They were impressed, and I was proud that I could keep up and understand everything.

Now, looking back, what was the most challenging part of the whole experience? And how did you overcome it?

It was probably the constant change in friend groups. Every few weeks new students arrived and others left, so it was a bit hard to build long-term connections at first. 

Then, of course, the language, especially grammar. There were times I had to stay in and study instead of going out. And I remember the first week very vividly. I didn’t expect the classes to be entirely in Italian! That was a shock. But after a week, I got used to it.

Everyone says that! Okay, now the opposite: what’s one memory you’ll cherish forever?

That’s tough, there are so many. I’d say the friendships. I’ve met incredible people, and we traveled together to Florence, Sestri, Rome, and many other places. But also, I loved my solo “nerd” weekends visiting small museums and historical towns. I’m a very social person, but I also really enjoyed those little personal adventures!

And, on a deeper level, is there something you discovered about yourself during this time?

I realized I’m a big planner. My calendar is always full, everything scheduled. But here I learned to be more spontaneous. Trains were late, plans changed, and at first that stressed me out. One time I got stuck in Pordenone: instead of getting frustrated, I explored the city, had a great pizza, and it became one of my favorite memories. So I learned that sometimes you just have to let go and go with the flow.

That’s such a great lesson. Has your perception of Italy changed since living here?

Definitely. Before coming, I had this romanticized image where everything was picturesque and everyone was drinking espresso in the piazza. But when you live here, you realize that this is just real life for people. Florence and Rome are beautiful, but they’re also home for the locals, just like Melbourne is for me. It made me see Italy not just as a postcard, but as a place where real life happens.

And what about Italians? Any stereotypes that turned out true or false?

The hand gestures are absolutely true! But also, Italians are incredibly genuine. They speak honestly: if someone’s had a bad day, they’ll say it and not just stick with “I’m fine.” That honesty makes conversations deeper and more real. When I met my Italian relatives, I saw that warmth firsthand. They were so welcoming!

Right, because you also have Italian heritage. Did this experience change your connection to your roots?

Completely. My great-grandfather came from Italy to Australia, and before this trip, that connection felt pretty distant. I mostly felt it through food and family stories. But visiting my relatives here, spending time with them, speaking Italian… It made it all real. They welcomed me like family even though we’d never met. Now I feel like a part of me belongs here too:  in Florence, in Sestri, and in Friuli where my family’s from.

Now let’s talk about the language. You arrived with an A1 level and in four months you’ve improved so much. How did your relationship with Italian evolve?

Before coming, I literally only knew “ciao” and “grazie.” Now I can hold conversations, which still amazes me. My biggest tip? Just try. Don’t wait to be perfect; speak. Make mistakes, because that’s how you learn. I always ordered my coffee in Italian, even when it was just a few words, and people appreciated the effort. And sometimes, those tiny exchanges turned into real conversations.

That’s the best advice. Do you have another few quick tips you’d give future students?

1. Speak Italian at every opportunity, even if it’s only a few short phrases.
2. Write in Italian: notes, messages, anything that comes to your mind.
3. Read in Italian. Children’s books, especially, are great for learning new words!

Now that you’re finishing your experience, what’s next?

I’m going to spend a month in Scotland visiting family, and then I’m going straight back home to Australia. I’ve always wanted to be a pilot, and I took this gap experience to reflect. During the year, I did question it (maybe I should have stayed longer, maybe studied something else) but in the end, I realized that flying is still what I want. So this experience helped confirm that for me.

Would you do this whole experience again?

Absolutely. No doubt.

And finally, what would you tell someone that’s unsure whether to take a gap year abroad?

If you’re unsure, that’s exactly why you should do it. I talked to a lot of adults before deciding, and they all said the same thing: if you’re uncertain, take the time to figure it out. A gap year gives you space to grow, to face those scary questions about your future, and to find clarity. It’s worth it, 100%.