When thinking about the deep culture of Italy and Florence specifically, the first thing that comes to mind is the concept of time. In the United States, everyone is in a rush to get everywhere; the food is constantly taken to go, as are the coffee and drinks, and you rarely have the chance to enjoy the food you’re buying at a cafe or elsewhere, especially during the work week. Here, there is no sense of urgency. People meander down the streets and enjoy their coffee at the counter in a glass cup or mug with their pastry before they continue their stroll to work. People are forgiving if you are late, but at home it’s not like that. It is definitely interesting seeing the vast difference between United States cities like Boston and New York City compared to Florence. Another phrase/gesture I appreciate a lot about Italy is the phrase ‘prego’. It’s really a universal phrase that means ‘I pray to you,’ and you can use it to say so many things like you’re welcome, sit here, enjoy this, how can I help you, what would you like, and so much more. Another difference I notice is the personal space, for sure. There really isn’t any personal space here, which has definitely been an adjustment. The sidewalks are so small and the streets are too, you basically brush past everyone daily, and even on public transport, people don’t mind you being so close to them. In the United States, though, I feel it’s the total opposite and if you were to get too close to someone on a bus or walking, especially in NYC, you’re probably getting pushed away or something said to you.
Another thing I have noticed though, is that people aren’t as friendly or willing to help you here as they are in the U.S. For example, I was getting on a train and had questions about my ticket since my first train was canceled, but the train attendant dismissed my questions and just told me to get on the train, and that she didn’t know which one I was on. I think in the U.S. people are kind and willing to speak to each other and help each other out a little more, but here it seems more pushy and independent. Also, at the post office, the workers were very short with me and unkind when trying to find stamps to send postcards back to the States. It would not be that way at home. This is definitely challenging to adapt to! Being in a new country, learning the etiquette yourself, with a language barrier, by just experiencing things isn’t easy when people are unwilling to help.
On the other hand, the surface culture is definitely different here than in NYC or Boston. There is art at every corner that’s hundreds of years old and has so much history. Comparatively, it makes everything in the U.S. seem so modern and new, with no taste or cultural background, really. This is one thing I definitely appreciate about Florence is the beauty of it and the ability to understand and find history everywhere I go!
