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- Italy is a lax country compared to the USA. This “easy-going” structure is found within the Italian lifestyle. In such instances, I found myself surprised by how flexible Italian work hours were. For example, some stores would open much later during the day or close earlier than expected to accommodate workers’ daily lives. Additionally, the act of eating with one another is something quite cherished in Italy. Having a meal with another is a shared experience. Meaning that the goal of eating is not fully to intake nutrients but rather to have a deep conversation with the person you are sharing the meal with. It is for this reason that meals in Italy are meant to last a considerably longer time than compared to the USA. For this reason, each meal is a treasured experience. This includes full-fledged meals such as breakfast, lunch, and dinner, but it should be further noted that this same concept applies to smaller instances such as a coffee break or snack break within the day. This “easy-going” structure creates a comfortable environment that is deeply rooted in the act of socializing. The USA, on the other hand, promotes a fast-paced lifestyle that is structured around the individual rather than the whole.
- At the start of my program, navigating the lax nature of the Italian lifestyle became quite difficult. Due to the flexible store hours of many storefronts, I could not rely on Google to guide me. This became a problem when there was a store I needed to visit, but I could not rely on Google to inform me of the accurate store hours. Due to the fact that the temperature in Rome would skyrocket between the months of August through September, having to walk through the heat to these storefronts only to find out that they were closed for the rest of the day or would open much later than anticipated was a drawback that I had to adapt to. Of course, after living in Rome for a few months, this issue no longer became a problem. As I adapted to the lifestyle, I understood and worked around the flexible store hours of the storefronts.
- Italy puts importance on the act of socializing. The need for coffee breaks and shortened work hours helps push the narrative of people coming together to socialize. Italians treasure this aspect of socialization, they understand the importance of strengthening the bond between family members and relatives. These connections are what Italy is founded on. To them, these concepts, which were difficult for me to understand upon starting my program, are important to the way of life there. This “easy-going” life should not be considered lazy, it is an insult to think this way. Instead, this lax nature of Italians should be cherished as it is inviting to those who are new to it. A long, hearty meal allows for relaxation, and a coffee break eases one’s tensed shoulders.
- This exercise allows me to be more open-minded to lifestyles that are different than my own. It teaches me to adapt to things that are out of my comfort zone and that are new without being hostile to change. Understanding a different culture than mine invites an overall growth of the mind. One that is impacted by the differences and falls in love with them. The world is not just whatever is in my bubble, it is so much more, and this exercise gives me the opportunity to understand what else there is.
