Adjusting to life in Italy has definitely been a culture shock for me. One thing I have found myself adjusting to is the way people walk down the street. At Pitt, especially being in a city school, I am used to quick, focused walking. Here in Italy I have noticed that people like to take their time much more and walk slower.

Initially, this tested my patience and made me frustrated, but as time has passed, I have learned to appreciate the ability to take it slow and live in the moment. In the classroom, I am doing well adjusting to classes, and I think my professors do a good job of translating concepts in a way that American students can understand.

When interacting with locals, the biggest barrier has definitely been language. Over time I have found myself getting better and better at using Italian phrases, but there are still some times where I have to find alternate methods to communicate with people.