While studying in Italy, I have had many impactful experiences that have helped me grow and learn. One moment that stands out happened during a trip to Padua with CEA CAPA and other students. We started the day with a scheduled tour of a chapel, and afterward, we had a few hours to explore before catching our train back to Florence.
My friend and I decided to look online for something to do nearby. While searching, we came across a basketball court that had murals of Kobe Bryant. Curious, we decided to walk there. It took about 20 minutes, and when we arrived, there was one other person shooting around. The murals were incredible, something I never would have expected to find in a small park in Italy.
After looking around, we found a basketball and started taking a few shots. I was a little bit uncomfortable, since we were in an unfamiliar area. We didn’t have much time left so we planned to leave soon, but then more people started showing up. When there were about 6 people, one guy asked if we wanted to play a game, and we agreed. I wasn’t expecting this at all, and I was even wearing jeans, but I agreed because I thought it would be fun.
While I have played basketball thousands of times, what made this experience so meaningful was that none of them spoke English. We had to work around the language barrier entirely. At first, we didn’t even understand how they were keeping score. Normally, at home, we would play to 11 or 21, but they didn’t seem to be doing that. Here, they played to 35, which was much longer. Without really speaking, we were able to communicate through the game itself. We played, scored, and celebrated together, all sharing the same excitement and energy.
This experience had a lasting impact on me. In Florence, many people speak English, so there isn’t much pressure to use Italian. But in this situation, even the little Italian I knew didn’t help much when it came to basketball. Still, I realized that it didn’t matter. The game connected us in a way that language couldn’t. It showed me that shared passions can transcend cultural and language differences. I remember being uncomfortable when we go there, and now looking back on it, that seems silly. Because of this moment, I feel like I’ve grown more open and confident in unfamiliar situations.
