I studied abroad in Rome in the Spring of 2024, and I believe this experience is an excellent means of developing into a stronger person, especially as a young adult. By taking a semester in a foreign country, you’re not only changing scenery but also your way of life and the customs that you are used to. The customs of a place are the result of its culture which is built over generations, and during this spring, I was given the opportunity to experience this culture firsthand. One experience I had from early on was making an Italian friend while on a night out with some fellow study abroad students. We got to know about what Romans around my age do for fun, which includes watching football games, playing sports, appertivo with friends, and going out to nightclubs. This all seemed quite standard for a young person in college; however, after getting to know our friend and upon being invited for a hangout by their house, I realized that family life is very different in Italy in that it is standard for a young person to live with their parents well into their late twenties. Moreover, I learned about the hospitableness of Italians and that making meaningful friendships is possible despite the language barrier. This experience gave me more confidence that I would be able to adjust to the culture and would not have to worry about people being unkind. As my time in Rome continued, I noticed myself struggling with adjusting to a few mannerisms of Roman citizens, including the extravagant expressiveness of people’s voices and gestures, often leaving room for confusion as to whether someone is happy or angry and so on. From the perspective of someone from my host culture, the various hand signals and little intricacies in Italian culture would be completely natural; however, from my perspective, it was as if I’d have to learn two languages to truly immerse myself, being Italian and the many hand movements. Therefore, I took the initiative to learn and use as much Italian and gestures as possible, even though it was clear to native speakers that I was a foreigner. Though it was initially intimidating, it was clear that many of them respected the effort despite it causing confusion at times. My many experiences in Rome, from having dinner at an Italian friend’s house to simply using my knowledge of Italian to hold basic conversations with new people, have impacted me, making me more open and ready to jump out of my comfort zone. This exercise has let me reflect on my experiences and how I handled such a drastic leap of moving to a foreign country. By taking a look back, I can say that I feel fully confident that, moving further, I am more capable of adapting to and appreciating new cultures than I once was, and I am grateful for that.
