Traveling to Rome was an unforgettable experience. With any experience comes hard adjustments and since this was my first time traveling anywhere I definitely faced some challenges. There were aspects in my host country that I was not used to and had to adjust to very quickly. A big adjustment for me was the sense of time in Rome. Italians are extremely laid back and take time for themselves especially in the workplace. Restaurants and other stores have siesta hours which essentially are a long break for their employees to do whatever makes them happy. At first this aggravated me because I was hungry and couldn’t find anything open for food. I would come back from class and crave a certain food that I know I couldn’t have. After a while I started to understand and would plan ahead for this and actually participate in taking naps during this time.
My perspective in the beginning was very negative but as time went on I grew as a person and actually gained a sense of love for the siesta time. I even utilize it as a mental health check back at home and take a siesta break to make sure I am taking time for myself especially when I am stressed. I now understand that the siesta time is popular in their culture because they extend the day much more. In the U.S. we work on a 9-5 schedule but Italians can often work on a two block schedule.
From an outsider perspective this siesta time can be described as unnecessary and obnoxious because in the states mental health and long break times are not a thing. In the states after you are 18 years old during work you are only allotted a 15 minute break. Seeing Italians take a 4 hour break is a drastic number that Americans wish they got but this jealousy they feel can quickly turn to anger. However it is not the Italians fault they are given this siesta break so it is unfair to them for you to be mad at them. I believe that corporations implementing a better siesta time could help to see their employees more productive. With such limited breaks during a workday, many employees could use a refresher before they approach their work. I have been in a workplace many times where by the afternoon the employees are all exhausted and unproductive.
These reflections helped prepare me to be able to respond to future cultural misunderstandings and conflicts whether it be abroad or in my home country. It is important to understand each culture’s days work differently because of their geographic position, cultural norms, and other major factors. Throughout this experience I have learned and grown as a person. Next time I travel to a different country or state that is outside of my normal cultural setting I will be more prepared and understanding of their different aspects of life. I didn’t know what to expect or how to prepare before I went abroad but now I feel very knowledgeable and know that I wont have as many conflicts as before.