My identity, being that of a liberal, college attending, middle-class, Hispanic woman, definitely affects the way I see the world. Due to being a minority I can quickly understand and empathize with other minority groups around the world that are faced with obstacles brought on by the majority groups. Also, my liberal political stances and love of politics have kept me updated and educated on world events. This will greatly aid me in understanding the current state of my host country. Even though there is always room to grow and to learn about Italy’s political, social and economic issues, I feel confident that I am arriving with some background knowledge that will help me in my classes abroad and when interacting with locals.
I certainly believe that those from different backgrounds and with different identities than mine experience and view the world in a distinct way. Every individual, even those that share many of the same identities, can still view the world very differently depending on their personal, and very unique, life experiences. This is only further emphasized when the identities of individuals are very different. For instance, an individual with identities on the opposite side of the spectrum as mine, such as a Conservative, upper class, white man, may share certain perspectives with me on how we view the world, but most likely we would bring very different viewpoints to the table. The working class environment, disruptive political riots, and affectionate cultures are things that I will be able to grasp and understand more easily. Although I may not have personally experienced all three while growing up in South Florida, my close relations, especially those in Latin America, have and their stories have impacted me greatly. With this knowledge I will not be as shocked with Italy’s current situation, although it will still be a new environment, and I will be able to adapt faster to my new living situation and connect easily with the locals.
Additionally, I am also looking forward to seeing how this study abroad experience will impact how I identify. Although my identity is something no one can take away from me, I imagine that living in Rome for so many months will alter which identities I showcase more often, which fade into the back, and which new identities I claim, or rather, which identities that I had all along will now surface. I am very excited to go on this new adventure and I look forward to reflecting on this journey. Rome, here I come!