Over spring break, I explored Southern Italy with friends from Pitt! We went to Palermo and Catania in Sicily, followed by Pompeii, Naples, and the Amalfi Coast. In Sicily, we saw the Tyrrhenian Sea, ate a lot of seafood, shopped at local markets, and visited the churches in the area. In Naples, we ate “wallet pizza” (which was incredible) and visited the main Cathedral.
From Naples, we took a day trip to the Pompeii, an ancient Roman city that was buried under ash after Mount Vesuvius erupted in 79 AD. The ash preserved the city until it was discovered in 1599, so visiting Pompeii allowed us to see how the Romans once lived! Our final destination was Vietri sul Mare on the Amalfi Coast, which translates to “glass on the sea” because the town is known for its ceramics and pottery. Our trip was beautiful, and we learned a lot about Southern Italy’s rich history and culture.
During this trip, we had to navigate a couple of cross-cultural situations. In the South, English is not as commonly spoken in the North. Fortunately, we each have been taking Italian for some time now, and we were able to order our food in Italian. We were even able to have a couple of conversations in Italian with some locals, although we did not understand everything. While this was challenging, it was an invaluable opportunity to practice our Italian, immerse ourselves in the local culture, and explore areas off the typical tourist path.
These interactions with locals reshaped my identity and opened my mind. Before coming to Italy, I was unaware of the rich history and culture here, and I had not appreciated the diverse perspectives and ways of life of others.
I have also noticed myself developing personally. Living and traveling abroad has fostered my self-confidence and my decisiveness. I have become more comfortable in unfamiliar places and circumstances because I have the skills and self-assurance to navigate these situations. When I first arrived in Italy, I felt an outsider intruding on the local culture. However, as my Italian proficiency and understanding of their culture grew, I began to converse more with locals and feel more self-confident.
Specifically, I have honed some soft skills like cross-cultural communication, navigation, and planning ahead, and I am developing into a global citizen equipped to thrive in diverse settings. Additionally, I am learning hard skills in my classes, such as international finance (imports and exports, exchange rates), international economics (country of origin effect, Hofstede’s dimensions), and more.
With just over a month left in Florence, I am filled with a mix of sadness and gratitude. This experience has been the best time of my life, and I will cherish every moment of it.
