Studying abroad was a challenging, amazing, and unforgettable experience. It taught me so much about who I am, what my values are, and how to truly become a well-rounded global citizen. This, some may consider, once-in-a-lifetime opportunity allowed me to truly immerse myself in each culture that I was presented with. From Italy to Switzerland to Germany to France to Spain to Austria to London and so on, I was able to not only get a glimpse of what that culture was like, but I was able to truly live within it. The opportunity to study abroad was an opportunity that I will forever be grateful for.
Although this was a truly amazing experience, one thing that comes with those kinds of experiences is some challenges/hardships along the way. When thinking of a specific cultural experience/ observation that was challenging during my semester in Rome, only two truly come to mind. The first was navigating the language barrier and the second was the longevity of meals. Although when arriving in Rome I knew a language barrier would be a problem, I don’t think I expected it would be so challenging sometimes. The language barrier was normally challenging in restaurants when the waiter would not understand what you were trying to order and bring you out something completely different due to what they believed you asked for. This also occurred in public spaces, like the grocery store, when asking where something may be, as well as in taxis or Ubers, when the driver misinterpreted what your destination was. This challenging cultural experience definitely made me feel uneasy but also a sense of guilt because I wasn’t able to talk to them in Italian, due to my poor knowledge of the language, rather they had to try and figure out what I was saying. Before coming here, I was quite narrow-minded and assumed that everyone would speak English, so after arriving I was quite shocked that this was a challenge I faced. However, this experience challenged me to see things from a new perspective and learn a new language in order to allow for true immersion in the Italian culture.
My second cultural challenge focused more on the longevity of meals and the social event that seems to be contingent upon these meals. When arriving in Rome and eating their tasteful Italian cuisine I began to notice how slow the process was in comparison to America. In America, meals are usually more fast-paced sometimes even on the go, and never last longer than an hour or two. However, in Italy, two hours or more at a meal was a normal occurrence. I started to realize that a meal wasn’t just a time to eat food and start your next activity rather it was its own social event. A social event that requires lots of people, lots of food, lots of talking, and lots of time. Italians truly take their time with their food, and I soon learned this was out of appreciation for the meal and all of its components: the high-quality ingredients, the preparation, the presentation, and the consumption. So, after initially being annoyed by this slow process, with time, I found myself appreciating the longevity of meals for all of its components as well.
These two experiences undoubtedly deepened my understanding of each culture and their unique importance. Navigating my way through this semester and going through some hardships in between the amazing moments, I was able to truly find myself and who I want to be: a global well-rounded citizen. An asset and quality that I believe will take me far and beyond my future goals.
Some pictures from abroad:
