While I was walking around Florence, I was able to visit all of the stores and interact with some local people. I also visited various companies for class, all of which greatly impacted my view of Italian culture. I read all about it in books and listened to it in lectures, but what really opened my eyes and developed my cultural knowledge was seeing firsthand how differently Italian people live and how their companies are run.
What stuck out to me the most was the emphasis on quality over quantity, from the tiny mushroom farm to the massive Ferrari company, every company we visited would not release a product they were not proud of. The winery we visited even had more resources to have a greater production size, but they refrained because it would impact the quality. This differs greatly from America’s view of mass production and disposability, which sometimes is at the expense of quality.
I also observed the appreciation Italian people had for the quality of their products, there are no huge box stores with massive servings pumped full of chemicals. The Italians took their time to shop daily, they chose products they loved, and made a meal that they enjoyed for hours in the company of their family. I really appreciated their dedication to enjoying time in every way, they don’t rush through the process to get to the endpoint, they do what they love and enjoy the process.
Reflecting on these experiences, I concluded that I greatly appreciate the differences in cultures, and how the different countries prioritize their values. There is no right or wrong way to live your life, but this deepened my appreciation for cultural differences and inspired me to step back and take an in-depth look at how I prioritize my day-to-day life.
