Submitted by Nicole Boylan on the 2018 summer session program in Italy and Spain sponsored by the School of Public Policy and Administration…
It has only been three days that I have been in Volterra, Italy, and I feel that I am really picking up on the cultural differences between Americans and Italians. One of the most notable aspects is how Italians view and appreciate taking their time. When I sit down for a meal either in the dining room or at a restaurant in town, it is expected that I take my time to eat and enjoy my food and enjoy spending time with my friends. It is also interesting how meeting times are sometimes just general time frames, and there is never a rush to do something or be somewhere by an exact time. It is refreshing as I am used to such a fast paced and rigid schedule, while in Italy, I am really taking time to learn about and appreciate my surroundings.