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Blog Post #5: Comfort Culture

Over my almost five weeks here in Italy, although I certainly have noticed some cultural differences, I wouldn’t say any of them have been particularly drastic or uncomfortable. However, I have found that Italy seems to have a culture that is generally more relaxed and casual than what I have experienced in the U.S. in New York. Strangers are friendlier in general and also the culture seems to be more at ease. For instance, there is a strong emphasis on not being too stressed, particularly when it comes to academics. Instead, the focus seems to be primarily on quality and experience. The family I stayed with really encouraged me to balance experience with comfort. One small example of this prioritization of quality over quantity is that in Italy schools generally do not have a word count for assignments but instead allow the student to determine how much to write. This is very different from the US, where there is almost always a minimum number of words required.


Ultimately, I really enjoyed the more relaxed culture of Italy compared to the intensity of the US (and New York in particular) because the focus is on quality of experience rather than extreme productivity. Thus, one of the cultural dimensions I found surprising was the indulgence statistic which states that the US is far higher in indulgence (at 68) than Italy (30), which I would not say was my experience. This metric seems to argue that Italy has a culture of restraint and pessimism which lacks an emphasis on leisure time. The Italy I experienced, however, was one of long dinners and being late to everything (the Priest even started mass late both times I went to the nearby parish). I will say, though, that I agree with the statistic that Italy is overall less individualistic than the US. One can see this especially with the contrada system in Siena where there is a strong sense of community and dependence on one another. In the US, at least where I am from, this strong social fabric and tradition are not present in the same way and instead vary family to family.

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This or That: Analyzing Siena using Hofstede’s D6 Model

After spending five weeks in Siena, the strong sense of unity that exists within the city is unlike anything I have ever seen before. Utilizing Hofstede’s D6 model for national culture, I would characterize Siena as embodying a stronger sense of “collectivism” rather than “individualism.” Their collectivist mentality is vividly demonstrated in Siena’s contrada system. The territory of Siena is divided into 17 contradas. Each contrada is a tight-knit community possessing its own unique identity, including having its own representative colors, mascot, and shared values. Moreover, members of their respective community exhibit unwavering loyalty and support their own contrada with much pride. Siena’s strong sense of “collectivism” wildly contrasts my personal preference toward “individualism”. Unlike the Senese people, I would not say that I feel that same sense of hometown pride. While I undoubtedly love my hometown, I find myself differing in values and personality traits from those in my hometown. Consequently, having nurtured my own distinct personality and values, I have never felt a strong sense of devotion to my hometown nor an inherent desire to remain there indefinitely.

Nonetheless, despite the differences between my sense of “individualism” and a Senese’s sense of “collectivism”, I wholeheartedly appreciated witnessing Siena’s profound sense of unity firsthand. From this moment onward, Siena will forever serve as a vivid example of a tightly bonded and unified community. My aspiration is to one day discover a community where I can demonstrate the same level of loyalty and commitment as the Senese people demonstrate toward Siena.

In addition, I also believe that Senese people align more closely with the “nurturance” aspect, as opposed to “achievement,” of Hofstede’s D6 national cultural model. Meaning, from my observations over the course of these five weeks, Senese people prioritize the quality of what life brings, rather than the quantity of what life brings. One simple, yet meaningful, example of this value can be seen in their approach to dining. Many Italians, including the Senese, devote an extensive time at the dinner table, even after they finish their meal, in order to savor moments with family and friends. My fellow Notre Dame peers, who resided with host families during the program, would spend three or more hours each night enjoying dinner and socializing with their host families. Italians truly savor not only the meal, but the time they have together with loved ones. However, this emphasis of “nurturance” that I observed in Siena heavily contrasts the  “achievement” mindset that I am used to in the United States, especially at Notre Dame. It is clear that I, have been primarily prioritizing the “achievement” aspect and have not adequately prioritized my own quality of life. As a college student, having to juggle academics, extracurriculars, a job, and all other commitments, I am always go-go-go. My schedule is constantly overflowing, and because of this, whenever I do have free time, it is hard for me to sit down and truly appreciate those free moments. Rather, I am almost always buzzing to do something else. Regrettably, I tend to prioritize the quantity of events in my life rather than the overall quality, aligning myself more with the “achievement” side of the cultural model.

However, I am aware that this go-go-go schedule leaves me little room for relaxation and prioritizing the quality of life, and it has often resulted in burnout, feelings of loneliness, and overall discontentment. As a result, over these past five weeks, removing myself from that busy environment and immersing myself into Italy’s “La Dolce Vita” was an enlightening experience. Focusing more on the quality of my life, rather than the sheer quantity of activities, has contributed significantly to my overall enjoyment and happiness during this program. Moving forward, I aspire to utilize this transformative five-week experience as a springboard to align myself less with the “achievement” side and embrace more of the “nurturance” aspect, particularly throughout the upcoming fall semester. I truly believe that placing greater importance on the quality of my life will aid in avoiding those negative feelings that come with constantly having a busy schedule.

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Analyzing Cultural Dimensions

I am not really a big fan of the country comparison tool or cultural dimensions in general. I think it overcomplicated my understanding of culture. I feel that during my time in Germany I was trying to get a holistic view of the culture, but by breaking it down into different categories and tendencies I actually feel a bit more confused. I also felt that the country comparison tool made such blatant and generalized statements as if they were fact, when in reality I encountered much different perspectives throughout my travels.

For instance, the indulgence category when comparing the United States and Germany. The US scored a 68 and Germany 40, so relatively opposite ends of the spectrum. Germany was described as a restrained culture that does not put much emphasis on leisure time and that does not indulge in their desires. I found quite the opposite though. I would say they had a much higher work life balance and were very good about leaving work at work and going home to enjoy family time. Whereas I feel that in the US it is often the case that we bring work home and work strenuous hours. Not saying that one is better than the other, but objectively disagreeing with the analysis made by the tool. However, I also did spend the majority of my time in southwest Germany, which could be vastly different from the likes of Berlin. Overall, I understand what the tool is trying to accomplish, but think it is very difficult to categorize and score and entire nation.

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Post 2: New Kid in Town

**This week’s blog post details my first couple of days in Gleann Cholm Cille, which is why I selected “New Kid in Town” by the Eagles for my title.

As I write this post, I can hear sheep bleating outside my window and the soft rush of the Atlantic, which is only a short distance from the bed and breakfast that has become my home. One flight and three bus rides later, this week I finally made it to Gleann Cholm Cille in rural Donegal, where Oideas Gael (the Irish language school) is located. Tá mé anseo, agus tá sceitimíní orm! Not only have I become acquainted with people of all ages and from all walks of life, but I have found a community and space where I believe I can grow as an Irish speaker. From encountering fellow hikers in the Irish hills, to greeting fellow students during class tea breaks, I have fully thrown myself into the language and am excited to learn more!

My time in Gleann Cholm Cille has also shed light on aspects of Irish culture I had not previously understood. In particular, I am still getting used to the incredible hospitality of my host family and the Irish language school, which bar me from helping with the dishes and doing my own laundry (the only option is a laundry service for a small fee). When I learned of these policies, I initially felt uncomfortable, as I am accustomed to completing these tasks on my own. My perspective was likely molded by my upbringing in a suburb south of Chicago, during which my parents emphasized the importance of accountability and “cleaning up your own messes,” as it were. The idea of someone else washing my dirty plates or clothes does not sit well with me, but these feelings have prompted me to reflect more deeply on my place in Gleann Cholm Cille. Ultimately, I am a guest here, residing in a small town where the economy relies on the likes of visitors like myself. Instead of balking at the hospitality and generosity of my hosts, I must acknowledge and respect them as expressions of culture, community identity, and livelihood. In metaphorical terms, I am a scuba diver that has come across a beautiful underwater community (i.e. Oideas Gael), where each vibrant fish and coral (i.e. person and policy) plays an indispensable role in its success. As a temporary visitor, it is not my place to impose my beliefs on this community, to tell the fish how to swim or which reefs to inhabit. Rather, I am here to learn, an eager student in this school of fish, and so I must open my eyes to the beauty and adapt to the rhythm of this new place.

This introduction to Gleann Cholm Cille has taught me the importance of accepting help, acknowledging differences, and building community with new friends and classmates. So far, in this community, we have studied grammatical aspects of the language, learned to sing traditional songs in Irish, and seized many a tea break to learn about each other (as Gaeilge, ar ndóigh). Go raibh maith agaibh, agus slán go fóill. Scríobhfaidh mé arís an tseachtain seo chugainn!