I recently had the opportunity to go to Venice with my program. It was extremely beautiful, just how I had imagined it for so many years. Of course, I had to go on a gondola ride while I was there, it was pretty much a mandatory activity for me. Little did I know, it would be one of the most memorable 30 minutes of my entire time abroad.

Our gondolier, the person directing the gondola, was extremely kind and charismatic, keeping us very entertained on our ride. He told us a little about his experiences in Italian culture and was curious about ours as well. As we passed other gondoliers, he would tell us to say something to make them chuckle. He would laugh and joke with them as we passed by, and we could tell the community was very close-knit. It was extremely endearing, not to mention the gorgeous views as we passed through the narrow and wide streets of Venice.

This experience was impactful because not only was it memorable and something I had wanted to do for a very long time, but also because I really felt like I was a part of Italian culture. The gondolier talked to us like we went way back, and included us in the community shenanigans. The most important thing I took away from this was to be more open to participating in Italian culture. Sometimes I hesitate becasue I don’t want to mispronounce a word, or in fear that I will make anyone feel disrespected in any way. Now I can move more confidently through Italy, remaining mindful of the locals while behaving more like a temporary citizen rather than an outsider.

This is a lesson I can apply to many areas of my life, and one I plan to carry with me moving forward. It also made me think about how much of this experience came down to a chance encounter. I could have had a completely different gondolier, or even skipped the ride altogether, and missed out on something meaningful. It reminded me that some of the most impactful moments while traveling are often the ones you don’t see coming. Being in the right place at the right time allowed me to connect with someone and a culture in a way that was unexpected. It showed me the importance of embracing opportunities as they come and staying open to whatever could unfold.