I am officially 4 weeks into my program and I can not believe how fast the time has gone. At the start I was unsure how a city with as many streets and alleys as Florence could ever feel familiar but I can now say that it does. In these past weeks I have been able to really immerse myself in Italian culture and understand how it can be both different and similar to my life in the United States. 

Coming to Florence, as well as being a guest in any unfamiliar city, I easily feel like an outsider, as if everyone can easily spot that I am the one that does not belong. But through my experiences here I have felt quite the opposite. Even with the very little Italian I speak, every person I have interacted with has always greeted me with a smile and been eager to help me. When it comes to Florentine culture, there are a few things that have stood out to me.

The hospitality in Florence is something I greatly appreciate and would like to integrate when I am back home. This hospitality is not only reflected in the friendliness of strangers but also in the way people go about their day. Back home when I go out for lunch or dinner it often feels like the priority is to eat and get out of the restaurant as fast as possible. What I have noticed here is that no matter what it is you are coming to a restaurant or cafe for, the most important thing is that you take your time. People often linger to drink their coffee or eat their croissant, whereas I would often just ask to get it to go. Dinners can take hours and even when you have finished your meal the waiter will never ask you to get up so the next guests can take your seat. Some people may see this as bad service as the waiters will not often check in with you but I greatly appreciate the emphasis it brings to why people go out to eat. It is not only a time to enjoy delicious pasta or pizza but also a time to sit down with friends and family and enjoy each other’s company. When I am back home I will make sure to take time for the little joys in life and appreciate good company.

I have not encountered many challenging aspects of the culture here. However, I did have to get used to the Italian time perception and punctuality. I am a very punctual person and tend to be quite early or on time so it was a bit of a shock when I showed up to one of my first meetings and had to wait twenty minutes for it to actually start. Now that I have been here a couple of weeks I know that on time usually means a couple minutes late which is nice when I want a bit of extra sleep! 

As I continue to learn about the Florentine culture through my classes, museums, and interactions with locals I have become even more grateful to have this opportunity. Being here has broadened my perspective in so many ways. In my classes I have learned about topics I have never known about before and have gotten to know my classmates and hear their perspectives. I have had the privilege of going on tours of cities like Siena and Pisa with incredible tour guides who told stories I would have never discovered. Lastly, Florence has some of the most impressive art collections in the world that I have been able to visit. My time in Florence so far has been amazing and I can not wait to see what these last weeks hold.