My initial impressions of this experience were not what I had expected. This program was clearly crafted to create an equally educational and fun experience for us students. I have enjoyed having the time to learn about the different places and cultures we have seen. When first arriving in Rome, my initial impression was that the city was a lot more urban than I expected. My expectations of Rome, and Italy as a country were that they were small towns with gravel roads and a lot of old rustic looking buildings. This was very far-fetched, and I am not sure why I thought this. The roads and buildings were so well kept and were obviously built in recent years. I think this first realization made me take a step back with my current assumptions and open my eyes to a new environment. This first realization allowed me to realize that I hope to gain a new approach when seeing something new for the first time. Allowing preconceived thoughts about a culture or city can ruin the experience of seeing it for what it really is. I want to see as many different attributes of each culture. Being able to fully immerse yourself in another country is a once in a lifetime experience, and I am trying to use this opportunity as a growing point in my life. Some main differences I have noticed between Italy and America are how people interact. I know coming from Texas may skew my opinion, but the people here take a lot longer to “warm up” to random people. There are not as many smiles across the street, or random hellos. However, I believe their connections once trust is gained, are so much stronger than in America. As we went on different company visits, the more we interacted with the owners/employees the more comfortable and open they became. Once trust is built, friendships and relationships are treated more like family. I hope to notice more cultural aspects the longer I am here.
