There have been a fair share of cultural challenges while I have been studying in Florence. Now that I am halfway through the program, most of these “challenges” have already become normal and are things I do not really think twice about.
When I first arrived, the difference in the streets and the way people move in them was striking. The sidewalks are the roads and the roads are the sidwalks in a lot of places. People also tend to walk much slower than I am used to, and with the small sidewalks, it is often necessary to walk in the street to proceed. People are in far less of a rush here than at home. It took a bit of time to figure out the streets and directions, as it is not a typical rectangular city pattern with blocks, but I got there with patience. Also people tend to be much more touchy, charasmatic, and in your face because personal space is viewed differently. There are endless little other culture shocks I probably could have told you about earlier in the program, but I am starting to forget what is normal to me back home versus here. With time and really just trying to understand and educate myself of the difference’s between American and Italian culture, I have been able to assimilate.
Something that has stayed prevalent, though, is the commonality of pickpocketing. Many people I know have been affected, including two of my roommates. In order to adapt to this, I keep nothing in my back pockets, keep my purse always zipped, and purchased a phone leash. This has probably been the most difficult thing to adjust to, but I now feel confident and prepared to keep my belongings safe while traversing the streets.
In the classroom, professors tend to let us run more “free” in terms of assignments. They give less direction than I am used to because they expect greatness from us already. It allows us to go even beyond what they had imagined, especially for projects. I do not mind this because sometimes very constricting directions do not allow the work to be the best it can be.
Navigating cross-cultural situations has come pretty easily to me, I would say, especially because I am taking cross-cultural psychology. One of the topics we really get to dive into is Italian and American values, and I use that knowledge when interacting with locals and other program participants. I think it is of upmost importance to remain culturally sensitive, especially when Florence is welcoming me in as a “temporary Florentine.”
Overall, this experience has reshaped the way I see culture, teaching me that true growth comes from adapting, observing, and embracing difference.