I’ve never really experienced culture shock before. And if I have, I have never stayed anywhere long enough to have to think about it or approach it. I didn’t realize it, but if I were to be honest with myself, I have gone through the stages this time and am definitely learning how to deal with it. It is only natural that when you apply everything you “know” to be true about the world to the environment around you, and you fail, how could you not be left feeling a bit lost?
Before I left for Italy obviously I was expecting some differences, most positive. I thought about the passionate people, the rich history, the delicious food, and much of this I found. When I arrived here there were Gelato shops on every corner and beautiful buildings/views that we just don’t have in the states.
But it only takes a couple of frustrating situations to get you to hate these differences. The washer is too small, there aren’t any dryers and the cloths are left feeling starchy and gooey after air drying, all of the food is different than Americanized Italian food, and different in a bad way, water is expensive, you don’t know your way around, the coffee is too strong, internet is hard to find, the market is filled with wheels of cheese you can’t begin to sort through, there is no cheddar anywhere, there is no ranch, the meat section includes pig’s feet, lamb skin, bunny-the whole bunny, brains, swordfish, and the bacon is nothing like my fix requires, the school buildings are all over and there is no campus, you have to buy each book for your classes at a different place, Anyway you get the point.
You start to cling to American culture. I caught myself more than once eating a plate of bland spaghetti that was 10 euros reciting, “America takes all the food of the world, adds sugar and salt, and makes it so much better!” This isn’t like me. I feel normally I openly accepted new cultures. Well I had been living here a little over a week with these feelings and I thought about the 40 or so days I still had here. That’s when I realized applying my way of looking at the world through American eyes was not going to fly. I needed to adjust or my time here was going to seriously become a problem. I needed to take on an Italian perspective if I wanted to enjoy this experience. First I started by finding a couple links to home. I found a beautiful park not far from my apartment with grass, a pond with a fountain in the middle, and a big brick wall/fort that runs across one side of it. It has ping pong, foosball, a cute little bar and a stage where they play music. Here I decided I would clear my head and go for a run every day. I found bagels and cream cheese! Then I started to find all of the things here that I will miss when I return home.
At many laid back, higher class bars they have something called Aperitivo. You come in, buy a drink and get to eat different tasty appetizers until your heart is content. I think this is a neat pastime to relax and get to try new things. Also I found the food is bland here because it is meant to be paired with wine. I started taking a sip of table wine (which is cheaper than water by the way! At home a glass of wine is like 9 dollars) with every bite of food and realized they do magnify each other. I will miss how all of the wine here is good and you do not have to pay much for quality. At first walking everywhere was frustrating but now I think I’ll have a hard time returning home. It is so convenient to be able to walk anywhere you need to go and to have so many different little places to eat on every street. It sucks actually that at home people drive everywhere and things are so spaced out. It’s a waste of gas and people aren’t getting any exercise.
Anyway this has been my personal journey here; learning how to not apply my beliefs about the world to other people’s lifestyles. There are many things I’m enjoying here, and although missing things from home will never go away, it is important to appreciate the new way of life here and embrace it.
Love, Care
By the way, Swordfish is magnificent!
Will write about Rome soon!! It was amazing!
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