My time in Florence will be unforgettable. I have experienced so many new cultural aspects and have made many valuable connections. I want to start by saying my host family has been amazing. Our host mom is such a wonderful person and she has done so much for us. My roommate and I have had many thought provoking conversations with her that we will always remember. She is always willing to help us with anything we need and cares for us as if we were her own kids. Since she is a chef, we have been spoiled with countless restaurant worthy meals that we will never forget! I am so incredibly happy I was fortunate enough to live with this loving family for three months and I cannot wait to come back and visit them.
There are so many different cultural aspects I have experienced it is hard to mention them all. I believe there is immense value in experiencing a different culture than your own because it increases your perspective and leads to an open mind. One main difference that has resonated with me is the pace of life in Italy. Through wondering the streets, drinking coffee at different cafes, and taking classes, I have noticed just how slower life seems to be here. From what I have seen, Italians value work life balance and they know how to separate their work life from their personal life. This is important because without this separation there is high stress no end to your work!
Due to the language barrier, cultural differences, and misperceptions, I was in a lot of situations outside my comfort zone. Looking back, however, I think these interactions helped me grow on a personal level. I was pushed to learn how to communicate and listen effectively. Although I knew how to do this already, these situations quickly sharpened these skills. I feel an increase in my overall confidence because I have consistently put myself in uncomfortable situations and have come out strong on the other side. This will transfer over to both my academic and professional life because there will be many instances where I have to listen and effectively communicate. In my job, for example, I am going to be conversing with coworkers and managers and there will be a lot of information to interpret. Further, I will have to communicate in a clear and concise manner in order to get my point across efficiently. I feel that my increase in confidence as well as my strong communication skills will allow me to navigate professional situations easier. In addition, living in a completely new country for three months has led to open mindedness. I believe this will add to the Pitt Business community as it will allow me to approach various situations, problems, and tasks with a different perspective.