Submitted by Cortney Dudley on the 2019 summer session program in Italy sponsored by the School of Nursing…
Upon my arrival to Italy, I had no idea what to expect. I tried to do as much research as possible to prepare for the program, but nothing could have prepared me for the unbelievable experiences I’ve had thus far. Staying in a tourist city such as Florence has not only allowed me to experience Italian culture, but to also meet people from all around the world. During our excursion on the third day, we went to a cooking class on a beautiful estate and here is where I realized the beauty of the diversity and cultures in the city of Florence. In the class, we learned how to cook three delicious and traditional Italian dishes from scratch which was very rewarding. During the meal, I met a girl who was around my age from Australia and we had a great conversation. She was staying in Italy for a couple of months and working at the estate where she was an assistant to the cook. I learned so much about her life in Australia and the differences and similarities of our lives growing up. After leaving the estate, I was grateful to be experiencing not only centuries of Tuscan culture through food, but modern Australian culture through conversation. I know when I return back to Delaware, I will be open to more food and conversations that will open up doors of other cultures!
