Is This Real Life? Italy so Far! – Sami Dhuca

I honestly didn’t know what to expect when I signed up for this global business program, but getting off that plane and seeing Rome the first few days felt like entering a completely different world, which it is. Everything here, from the streets to the buildings to the way people interact, contains so much history and knowledge and feels so different compared to the U.S., and I’ve already learned so much just by observing. Our lectures and company visits have opened my eyes to how much culture plays a role in business. One of the biggest things I’ve noticed is how Italian businesses are often family-owned and really built on trust and long-term relationships. That’s pretty different from the U.S., where everything feels more fast-paced and transaction-based. Here, people seem to take their time, prioritize tradition, and focus on building something that lasts, not just making quick profits. Visiting places like St. Peter’s Basilica in person has been nothing but unimaginable. The architecture, the history, the atmosphere, it’s all so much more powerful than I imagined. It’s almost like everything from the walls to the ceilings to the paintings are all trying to tell you a story. You can tell how deeply rooted religion and tradition are in the culture here, and it honestly made me stop and realize how much of daily life in Italy is shaped by the past. That’s not something I think about often back home. We also visited the Roman Colosseum, and standing inside made me feel tiny. I can’t emphasize enough about how much history this country holds, and how that history still influences the way people think and work today. I feel like Americans are always looking forward, while Italians really embrace where they came from. Even in business, that mindset shows up in how people build companies, work together, and make decisions. I’m hoping to gain more than just business knowledge from this trip. I want to get better at understanding different perspectives, adapting to new environments, and learning how culture shapes behavior. I didn’t expect to be this moved this early in the trip, but I’m excited to keep learning more and just soaking it all in.