Cultural Differences....

I had been waiting to put off this post till the very end, but something very interesting inspired me.....

Outside across the street from my apartment is a community center with two soccer fields. Today as I was looking out my window I saw a ton of children running around and playing on the fields. There is no playground or toys or anything for them to play with. I noticed that every child had a smile on their face. Some kids had found a bouncy ball and made up a game using it, and other kids were playing a little game of soccer. The joy that was on these kids faces was so inspiring.

In America, children need something to occupy them. Especially technology.

Technology here isn't a big factor. I have noticed that I myself have paid more with cash than with a card here because no one uses debit or credit cards here. The Internet is not something they need to have. I feel like it is a luxury in a way. You walk everywhere. When I was walking home the other day I was paying attention to the cars parked a long my street, and not one of them was an automatic.

Last night when we went to dinner, we were treated like princesses. My roommate had been to this restaurant before and knew a couple of the waiters. We got our meal and we waited around a while, but while we waited they gave us a little bottle of free wine, a glass of Limoncello (which is a sweet lemon liquor, usually for an after dinner drink that you just sip on), and a drink at the bar when we left. I also took into account that Americans really do rush their meals. We waited around for a while after we had asked for the check three times, but that made me realize that we need to start enjoying the company we have and the time that we are given. Italians like to sit and just enjoy the food and the company around them.

At lunch time the other day, I walked to a cafe around the corner from my school to do some homework and have a panino while I was on break. I had an hour and a half. I sat down and ordered only expecting to be there for about 30 minutes. I was getting frustrated because when I was finished they didn't come over to ask if I wanted the check or anything. I now realize that you need to ask them. In America, people are so rushed. At restaurants they want to get you out of there as quickly as possible so that they can have the next customers come in and sit down.

For dinner, people tend to eat really late here. Sometimes we will go to dinner and they will start closing and right when we walk up they will tell us they are still open just to have the business. I have never seen that in America. It is hard here because you never know the hours of their businesses. From the hours of 1-3 a lot of businesses are closed for lunch and before and after those hours restaurants or cafes are not really busy because no one eats at that time.

In my Italian class yesterday, we got to have a conversation with two students from the University of Florence. I found out that they do not like to really go out to "clubs" or "bars". They like to spend time with their friends at a pub or a cafe. The perception of "getting wasted" to them is all an American thing. In Italy no one drinks to get drunk, they drink with a meal or with company and know when to stop. For how many times I have been out I have never seen an Italian drunk.

It's also really funny to hear American music all over the place. It is probably a couple of months older, but it is everywhere. They love American music. Which is great for us because we get to hear it in the bars and clubs when we go out.

I've noticed as well that because Florence is very touristy, every business you go to they will try and speak English to help you out. I feel terrible because they should not have to accommodate to us, we should be accommodating to them because this is their country not ours. I love the culture here and the language is beautiful, I did not come here to be a part of an "Italian-American" experience.

I will say that this city reminds me of the quieter parts of New York City. When it is calm it is calm, but there is always a restaurant or bakery or even your favorite store around the corner. People coming out of all different corners, from their houses. Gelaterias are how Starbucks is in the United States, they are literally on every corner.

Italians take a lot of pride in their food and culture, that is why it is so rich.

I am happy to say that I enjoy the differences. I think going back to the States may be a little difficult in the sense that the food will be so different to me, the people, and the lifestyle. I want to be able to take all these cultural differences and apply them to my own life.

I will be sharing more because I still have a few months to go, and I'm sure I will be experiences more of these cultural differences....

Ciao!

Chelsea Lynn