Being in Florence, Italy, for the last month has been a transformative experience that I will never forget. Not only did I learn a great deal about conducting business in different parts of the world, but I also gained new insights into myself, including independence and adaptability. It was interesting to see how Italians treat business and to compare their habits with those of people in America. Before arriving in Florence, I had the stereotypical view of business, such as being punctual, formal attire, and a hierarchical system; however, I saw something very different. For example, Italians are very passionate about what they do, so they are much more expressive when talking about their business. Additionally, Italians prefer a more relaxed business setting, which causes them to be more relationship-driven and flexible. They want to do business with people they trust, so, in our class project, we had to set aside time to get to know the business we were consulting with. I have never had to put “building trust” in the agenda for a professional meeting, but in Italy, it is rare not to spend time building a bond with people you will be working closely with. Lastly, I noticed that flexibility is much more common in Italy than in the United States. In the U.S., punctuality is a sign of respect, whereas in Italy, people are more lenient and dates and times tend to be tentative.
While immersing myself in Italian culture and history, I also discovered things about myself that gave me a new perspective. This month has reshaped the way I see the world and the people around me. Being exposed to a completely different lifestyle made me step out of my comfort zone. It taught me both the values of independence and relationships. I had to try new things and make new friendships. I’ve also learned not to take life so seriously. I realized growth often comes with discomfort. It can be hard to navigate a new city or try to communicate in a foreign language; however, it is also so rewarding.
