For my step signature project, I spent approximately six weeks in the small southern town of Italy called Lecce. While in Lecce I took classes to learn about the Italian language and culture. Throughout my time in Italy I was able to travel within the country and see all of the different cultural aspects each region of Italy had to offer.
For the duration of my study abroad trip I had the opportunity to live with a family which truly enhanced my experience. I got a much closer look at the Italian culture and I was able to form lifelong relationships with everyone in the family. This close connection allowed me to see the differences between American culture and Italian culture but also the similarities. I gained a lot of appreciation for the Italian culture and the large importance they place on tradition and family. Being with a family I could see and partake in family routines such as Sunday dinners with grandparents and weekly family dinners. Throughout the six weeks I spent in Italy, I was surprised to see that every night we ate dinner as a family, no matter how late we had to wait which was sometimes as late as 10:30 pm. Before dinner each night Giorgia, a nine-year-old girl in the family who I have become very close with, and I would set the table. This simple routine became something that I truly admired about the family and about most families in Italy, sitting down and eating dinner together each night was expected while many families in America, mine included, don’t always make time to eat together. Often growing up sports practices and other activities would get in the way of scheduled dinner.
The Italian culture is much more relaxed than what I am used to in American culture. Each day, all the stores in Lecce close from 12 until approximately 4 pm and most people head home to eat lunch with their family, another example of the importance placed on family. Seeing how the “siesta” works in person gave me perspective about how the American culture views and idolizes being busy while the Italian culture places much more importance on spending time enjoying life with family than working. The lives of many people I met in Italy were much more simple than the lives many of us in America live. For two weeks during the month of August, when temperatures reach the highest of the year, everyone in the south of Italy takes a break from working and spends most of their time at the beach where they can relieve themselves from the heat.
This amazing experience truly allowed me to grow and change as a person. It has given me drive to experience more in life and to work hard so I can continue to travel. Thanks to the homestay experience I now have people who I care about and who I know will welcome me with open arms if I am ever given the opportunity to return to the beautiful town of Lecce. With this experience I have decided I want to try and earn an internship abroad next summer so I can have another amazing and life changing opportunity in another country.