Now that I have been living in Florence for three full weeks, I wanted to reflect on the cultural differences that I have noticed so far. I left for Georgetown’s Villa le Balze from New York on August 31. Coming to Florence, I knew very little Italian, so I was really hoping I would be able to immerse myself fully in the language and culture. When we arrived in Florence after connecting through Frankfurt, we immediately noticed that all the airports had English translations accompanying either the German or Italian words. Seeing English right next to the native language at each airport really demonstrated to me how prevalent the English language is, even in the relatively small Florence airport.
For our first dinner, we all gathered together in the villa to eat. These meals have become a special part of our daily life already. At pranzo (lunch), the professors come together with the students to enjoy a full hour of eating and talking. We begin each meal with a moment of silence to appreciate the food that we have and the time that we are about to share. For me, this focus on shared mealtimes is one noticeable cultural difference. At Georgetown, I either eat with a few friends in Leo’s or grab lunch between classes, rather than taking the time to sit with both friends and professors. Part of that difference is a function of the villa itself and the living-learning community we are a part of, but I think part of it comes from the cultural focus on meals as a time to come together and share in food and conversation. When I walk around downtown Florence during mealtime, I am always struck by how many large groups of people are sitting and enjoying a meal together. The first time we went out to dinner, we sat around the table and talked for two hours. Unlike in the United States, where a waiter will bring by the check as soon as you have finished your meal, in Italy a group can sit and talk long after the meal has ended.
Another difference can be seen in how Italians communicate. They are much more physically warm in their greetings and interactions. Additionally, most Italians speak at least some English, if not fairly good English. When we go to a restaurant or a shop, even if we try to speak in Italian, most people will respond to us in English in order to ensure that the conversation is smooth. Thinking back on the time that I have spent in New York City, I am sure that at one point I passed by some Italians visiting the United States. However, I have never seen an American try to speak Italian to help out a tourist, as almost everyone does for us in Italy. From my experiences, it appears English is widely spoken around the globe. It is interesting to see how the power and influence of the English language translates abroad.
Although I am only a few weeks into my semester, I have already learned so much. As the semester continues, I will keep looking out for both cultural differences and similarities. During orientation, we learned that we should not compare Italy and the United States as better or worse, but instead observe and try to understand any differences without judgment. I will try to do so throughout the semester to gain a deeper understanding of this culture as well as of my own. I also hope that I bring some of these cultural differences home with me, such as the appreciation for shared mealtimes and a more global perspective. Ciao for now!
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