When I got to Florence, the culture shock was definitely more than I expected. Although now I feel very adjusted and comfortable here, at first there were definitely some challenges and things I had not expected to be different that were. I would say there wasn’t one specific thing that made it hard to assimilate, but more small things you had to adjust to that you wouldn’t even have to think twice about at home. For example, while grocery shopping was something I never considered particularly difficult in the US, the first time I grocery shopped here I was completely overwhelmed. Although I obviously knew in Italy they spoke Italian, I didn’t realize how that could make it difficult in a scenario such as this one, where you can’t understand what the food you’re buying really is. This made for a very overwhelming first grocery store experience, filled with google translate and feeling like you were in everyone’s way, but as time has gone on, I’ve come to really enjoy going to the grocery store here and trying the different foods it has to offer. I think in general with these small changes, while difficult and overwhelming at first, once I incorporate them into my daily life, they seem a lot less out of the ordinary. For example, I am much more adept now at walking on the street and moving into the road to make way for people instead of expecting them to move out of mine.
In the classroom, I have experienced much more ambiguity and instructions within my work to be completed than in the US. I think at Pitt I am so used to so much structure within my courses and syllabus, that the more ambiguous assignments and study guides have definitely been a challenge. Especially with midterms coming up, It has been crucial that I be proactive about my studying and what I study, since there are less guidelines on what exactly will be on my exams. Additionally, because I am taking a lot of the same classes as friends, it has been nice to get second opinions on directions of assignments and how things should be done, that way I can see if we interpreted the directions the same. Overall, more ambiguity in school has been a small challenge, but I have found ways to combat it.
Outside of the classroom, I think I have been adjusting very well. Since this isn’t really my first time being on my own, I didn’t really face many challenges in regards to that, seeing as I am used to living on my own and being farther from my family even at Pitt. Additionally, navigating Florence has proved to be pretty easy, especially since I now feel like I have a sense of direction. I know how to get to my classroom buildings, grocery store, favorite cafe, and favorite study spot from my apartment, so I feel as though getting that lay of the land has made Florence feel very homey and more comfortable.
Overall, while their definitely was a period of adjustment, I am now feeling very comfortable in Florence and have adapted to most of the cultural differences with ease.
