I wanted to build connections with what I had learned. When I arrived in Italy, this process began right away! Even while walking around on my first day, I recognized buildings by name! Looking at the architecture and recognizing the historical period in which the buildings had been constructed felt like a matching game. When I visited museums, I got to see pieces of art I had loved reading about. Going to the store, I had fun speaking with the deli people and the cashiers. I easily made friends with Italian people my age because they were interested in America and I was interested in their country, too. Speaking Italian made communication with strangers easy and exciting. However, a lot of people speak English in Europe, and it is definitely not necessary to learn the language of the country you visit. Local people do usually express excitement when you are invested in their culture on a deep level. This means moving past exploring stereotypes about the country. Curiosity needs to be balanced with a sense of awareness and respect!
By the end of my study abroad, I realized that I had learned the most in the moments when I acted as a leader. I was able to be a leader because of my cultural knowledge. This meant I could help my friends travel, get directions, talk with people and more easily navigate the city. I felt responsible to assist my friends when they asked for help and in turn, I learned to be confident in myself and felt capable when others relied on me. I was also able to practice my social skills, which are challenged by talking to people who might not come from the same place as you. I loved talking to Roman people young and old, about their life in the city.
