Monday, January 5, 2009

I leave tomorrow and I have barely started packing! It seems that I don't really get excited for trips, or even really believe I'm going until I'm there, but the thought of sharing my trip with everyone else is starting to make me excited.

I feel like I should talk a little bit about the trip I'm about to run off to. I am half-Italian and am very fortunate to have traveled to Italy several times with my family. I believe that this is an opportunity for me to visit Italy on my own terms, without relying on my family’s personal travel agent and translator (my mom). I also feel that it is important to learn another language and want to continue working on the four years of Italian I took in high school, which I have not had time to pursue at Pitt. More than anything else, I don’t want my college experience to be defined by what college I go to or what major(s) I’m studying and look forward to pushing myself in a new discipline that is unrelated to my current studies. To be honest, though, I have to say that I am very nervous to take classes in Italian, especially because it’s been a few years since I’ve taken a class…

Anyways, this is my first time blogging so forgive me. I am notorious for writing journal entries that are too detailed and am also really bad at sharing stories from trips so I think this will be the best way to do this with all of you. I also have Skype and would love to chat that way (my username is araka26). I can’t promise how often I’ll be on because I doubt my apartment will have internet access. Also, please don’t try to send me anything because I can be charged up to $100 in customs fees.

Tomorrow I am looking forward to a very long day (LaGuardia – Boston – Heathrow – Rome – Perugia) but for now, I’d like to leave you with some of Arcadia’s amusing notes on cultural differences I’ll encounter with those crazy Italians:
· “In all respects, things in Italy will rarely happen exactly the way you might expect. For practical matters (standing in line, filling out forms, registering or waiting for various things), many things take longer in Italy or require extra steps that would be considered superfluous in the US. Realize that you must be flexible and patient in order to get the most out of your study abroad experience. You might find that things in Italy are not as easily accomplished as they are at home, but you’ll likely discover the beauty in these minor inconveniences and even grow accustomed to them.”
· “American students want to keep the lights on in the apartment when they are home and the heat on all day. Italians generally want to keep the lights off – even when home – to minimize their bills, and heat the house only a few hours a day.”
· “American students tend to shower every day, but rarely keep their apartments super clean (dishes, laundry, trash, etc.). Italian students may not shower every day, but meticulously clean their apartments every day and after each meal.”
· “American students tend to invite friends over, entertain, listen to loud music and drink often. Italian students usually like a quiet apartment, drink very little and want to study while at home.”

***If anything, I hope this blog will help you fall in love with Italy (if you aren’t already).

Con tantissimo affetto,
Kara

2 comments:

  1. I hope to accomplish two things with this post:

    1) First post!
    2) After reading Arcadia's description of Italian culture, I'm convinced that you're actually a closet Italian student, i.e. "American students tend to invite friends over, entertain, listen to loud music and drink often. Italian students usually like a quiet apartment, drink very little and want to study while at home.”

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  2. Hey Kara, this sounds so cool! Have an awesome time. Signor Russo would be so proud :o)

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