Traveling abroad and having the opportunity to study and live in Rome, Italy was a life-altering experience. Many people do not have the opportunity to study abroad, let alone visit other countries across the world. Settling into new surroundings and an entirely new environment that I am not used to make it a bit of a struggle to adjust to due to the cultural norms and customs that are unique to Italy. One of the things that caught me off guard and that was a recurring theme was the concept of not having anything to do at all times, taking things very slowly, and enjoying the finer things in life at certain times. In the United States, we are always encouraged to be productive and busy, but in Italy, it’s perfectly acceptable to spend hours sitting in a café, chatting with friends in the piazzas, or hanging out and doing nothing. At first I found it a bit hard to do this as I was extremely excited to be in a foreign country to explore, but after getting settled in it was easier to relax and follow as the people who live there do it. Taking a step back and enjoying a slower pace of life was a pleasant surprise as I haven’t done that back in the United States, but the values taken from it have helped me savor moments further and appreciate the little things. On a similar note, there is never a dull moment for Italians as they always dress up no matter the occasion. Back in the United States, it is relatively acceptable to walk out in your gym outfit or pajamas to run simple errands, whereas in Italy, no one does this. Everyone is dressed nicely at all times, even to do the most mundane of tasks, which took a bit of time to get used to and resulted in a lot more laundry being generated than normal. As I reflect from a more broad point of view on my experience of living and studying in Italy, I realized that my initial confusion and discomfort when it came to these observations that were abnormal for me, was a great opportunity for personal growth. Having to confront my own assumptions and biases about what it means to live a fulfilling life, especially one abroad and taking the time to slow things down and really enjoy the little things in life puts into question my cultural values that I hold at home and moreso, ones that I had taken for granted. The experience of living like Italians do made me more open-minded and empathetic towards people from different parts of the world and different cultures, ultimately making me a better individual. When you take into consideration the observations I described at the beginning, such as taking more time for yourself and moving at a slower pace or dressing up regardless of how casual the occasion, you conform and yearn to be more like the people that are native to the places that you are staying. I think people from the host culture would say that is the right way to live because life is too short and people such as myself that are Americans, we are quite the opposite in the motivations in our everyday lives. For someone from my host culture to see the experience I had and how it altered me and how I think on a daily basis, I feel as though they may be proud or happy to see that these positive effects rub off on people like myself that live and study abroad in their own country. Even though it can be difficult to fully acclimate to living in another country and culture, at least attempting to live the way the host culture lives and learn from your surroundings can have a much more apparent effect than one may think. When it comes to studying abroad, there will inevitably be moments of misunderstanding and conflict that will arise no matter how hard you try to avoid them. The key is to approach these situations with curiosity and an open mind, rather than judgment. Even though some cultures may seem to be more judgemental than others, it is important to remember that cultural differences do not necessarily make one culture superior to another, but simply reflect different ways of seeing and experiencing the world. In the future, these reflections will help me be a more adaptable and resilient person, especially when it comes to navigating the challenges of life back home. In summation, the cross-cultural interactions that I was a part of were tests that come in many different shapes and forms. Ultimately, remembering to take a step back and put yourself in the shoes of a person that has walked and talked a different way their entire life does not make them any lesser of a person that you can learn a valuable lesson from.
