Surprisingly, packing for a semester abroad has not exactly been a top priority as I wait for January 24th to roll around. Instead I have been panicking about what to expect as I am emersed in Italy's culture. Considering I don't know a single Italian word, the language barrier alone ought to be a laughable struggle to overcome. Besides learning a new language I am also anticipating I will have to learn an abundance of new social norms. Through my Google research efforts, I have discovered a variety of differences in social behaviors between our culture and Europe's culture. First off, I found that our country's idea of personal space is much different from that of Europe's. Where American's tend to exploit the "don't touch me" attitude as they interact with each other, apparently Italians represent the opposite end of the spectrum and are extremely comfortable with a hands on approach as they communicate. Learning a different culture's socializing norms should allow for plenty of awkward moments and confusion to come.
Beyond the differences in communication styles, and much more importantly, the biggest challenge I will face over the next four months will be enduring a life without peanut butter. Despite my constant denial, it's true, there is "no such thing" as peanut butter in Italy. How these people survive without PB& J's or Reese's peanut butter cups is beyond me, and is a tragedy I am not yet willing to accept. Anyways, besides leaving behind some of my favorite Jiff enriched snacks, I am eager to start a life in Europe filled with new friends, new places, and lots of studying (that last one is for you, Mom and Dad).
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