(Mild) Culture Shock in Rome and Venice

For me, the biggest culture shock in Italy has been the way the Italians treat meals, particularly dinner. When dining out, you can expect your meal to last at least twice as long as it would be in an American restaurant. Dinner in Italy is designed to be multiple courses, eaten at a leisurely pace. We would find ourselves growing impatient with how long everything took. It is also customary to ask for the check- they don’t bring it to your table. This can also delay the dining process as it can often be rather difficult to get the attention of the waitstaff. However, meals are always worth the wait- the food is always freshly prepared and delicious!

Surroundings-wise, culture shock didn’t hit me as much as I had anticipated. Italy is so very different from America, but I think that is what makes it easier to adjust. The surroundings can be shocking at first, but you get such a sense of awe and appreciation that you end up enjoying it more than experiencing such culture shock. Though in Rome it was quite strange to see ancient ruins next to busy roads full of traffic and new buildings and bus stops! Venice itself was obviously a little bit of an adjustment- there is nowhere else in the world like this city. It was strange at first to get used to walking or taking boats everywhere, and seeing no cars anywhere besides the bus station. But, after a couple days, you will be familiar with nearly all of Venice and feel like a local!