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It’s not everyday that you get a grant to travel overseas and immerse yourself completely in another culture. Although it is very hard to organize and honestly pretty stressful to execute, it has the possibility to be one of the most important things you do in your life. I found this out on my trip to Italy this summer.
Living with a host family was probably the best decision I made beforehand. Every night I would be eating the freshest food and having amazing conversations all in Italian every single night. I probably looked forward to dinner more than anything else during the day which sounds weird but it was just that good. I learned so much about Italian culture from those conversations which is insane to me. Only five weeks!
Another thing that was amazing was being able to appreciate the ancient nature of Italy. As a kid, it’s hard to grasp how long one thousand years is but as a young adult it enhances the experience so much more. I wasn’t just looking at an old church. I was looking at an old church that had been built by Romans or one that had taken 500 years to build. Truly eye opening in that respect.
My main takeaway about Italian culture is the feeling of togetherness that is so important for them. Dinner and lunch are always eaten as a family. Mom and dad come home from work and the kids sometimes even come home from school just to be together. You stay near where you live for university and huge family gatherings are commonplace and almost seen as necessary. There is an important idea of hospitality that dates back to the ancient Greeks that makes everyone welcoming. Italians are quick to crack a joke but then will work tirelessly to help you, completely going out of their way to do so. I really wish this feeling of unity could become commonplace in the United States as well.
Overall, an amazing and eye opening experience. I cannot wait to go back.