Ciao tutti!
Welcome back to another Bella and Italy Chronicles blog post! I can officially say that we are at the halfway mark of my study abroad experience, and I am extremely sad to be at this point. The skills I’ve learned here and the people I’ve met have made this journey unforgettable, and I’m so grateful that I still have two months left in Florence.
Through my internship here in Italy, and honestly in everyday life, I have learned a lot of transferable or soft skills. This comes from interacting with people who are different from those you’re used to dealing with in the United States. Even though I come from an Italian-American household, there are still many cultural differences on a day-to-day basis when interacting with Italian people that you don’t encounter with Americans. One of the biggest things is communication. Learning how to communicate effectively with people who speak a different language has been an invaluable skill. It requires understanding that not everything you say will be communicated as easily as you’d like, and being able to adapt when necessary. This adaptability is a soft skill I am grateful to have developed here and will bring back to the United States.
Another important soft skill I’ve gained here is cultural intelligence. In my opinion, cultural intelligence means having the mental fortitude to understand the differences and cultural nuances of the places you’re in, and being able to adjust your style of communication and work to fit in with those norms. This thoughtfulness is a necessary soft skill across all facets of life, whether it’s in work, school, or just traveling in general. Being able to understand that every place is different, and taking the time to be observant and absorb the cultural nuances, is crucial. From a business perspective, it can help you negotiate better or work more effectively with international clients because you’ll be able to do business in a way that respects their needs and cultural norms.
A tactical or hard skill I’ve developed from this experience is the ability to write very detailed yet brief summaries. This skill comes from my internship, where I’ve been working on a project that involves summarizing law cases and briefs. I’ve had to write concise summaries packed with important information, with no fluff, and make sure they’re easy enough to be translated into another language without losing meaning. Being analytical and precise has been a hard skill I’ve developed here, and it will serve me well, especially considering that I aspire to be a lawyer. Learning to pick out key details and be concise is a valuable skill for my future career.
At Pitt Business, there are three paths of distinction, and one of them is known as “Business and Societal Impact.” I think my experience here fits that description. Inside and outside the classroom, I have had the opportunity to interact with people and influence their perceptions of Americans. This might sound surprising, but just as we have certain ideas about what visiting Italy or Japan might be like, Italians have their own perceptions of Americans. Through my interactions, I was able to change the “single story” that some Italians had of Americans. I wasn’t the typical American girl they expected because I have a deep love of Italian culture and speak the language. This allowed me to change some of their negative stereotypes. Being able to change someone’s perspective is an important skill, and in business, this can be invaluable. Clients you work with may not always be the easiest, but being able to communicate effectively and alter their perception can lead to successful outcomes. This is why my experience has resonated with the “Business and Societal Impact” distinction—changing perceptions in a positive way can make a huge impact on how people interact.
Living here also means navigating cross-cultural situations, which isn’t always easy. I’ve traveled to places like Germany and Malta, each with its own cultural landscape, but the greatest piece of advice I’ve learned is to be observant. Don’t be afraid to remain quiet at first; be a situational learner. Observe how local people act, eat, walk, and interact. Even in just a short 30-minute period of observation, you can learn a lot about a different culture. However, the greatest thing I’ve learned here is more about myself. Coming to Italy was no accident; I wanted to connect with my heritage. Since being here, I feel like a piece of myself that was missing has been unlocked. In the U.S., I always felt a little different, and being here has validated that. By speaking Italian and engaging with locals, I’ve discovered that I truly am Italian-American, with a strong emphasis on the Italian part. This experience has given me more confidence and strength in my identity and character because it’s been an opportunity to reflect and understand myself better.
Lastly, the participants in this program, not just the local Italians, have taught me so much about myself. We all come from different universities across the U.S. and have taken a leap to be here, but it’s the nuances and the various aspirations of each person that make the experience enriching. It helps me to step back and avoid the “comparison game,” where you measure yourself against what others are doing. Here, with so many people coming together, each with different goals yet a common willingness to learn, it’s amazing to see how diverse perspectives can converge in the same place.
All in all, Italy has been a life-changing experience. It has been the experience I’ve wanted for so long, and I didn’t realize how much I needed it until I arrived. It has taught me so much about myself and given me skills that I will carry with me throughout my life, career, and wherever I go.
Fino alla prossima volta,
Bella