Submitted by Kinga Niewiadomski on the 2022 winter session program in Italy sponsored by the College of Health Sciences…
Ciao! I just completed my first official week in Italy and the differences in cultures definitely came as a shock! From breakfast to the healthcare system I had to quickly adapt to many different aspects of Italian culture. Everyone in my group had a rude awakening when we realized that breakfast only consists of coffee, fruit, and one croissant, a complete 180 from the typical breakfast we normally enjoy, however you realize that it is more than enough to get you through a six hour shift at the hospital.
Another huge difference is the universal healthcare offered in Italy. Wanting to have a career in the medical field, I am fortunate enough to shadow highly ranked doctors in a multitude of specializations. This week, I shadowed multiple doctors in general surgery and was able to view four different kinds of surgeries. While the surgeries were very impressive, I was even more shocked to learn that they are completely free to the patient! I was able to talk to a fifth year medical student and was able to compare and contrast our two healthcare systems. She was very surprised to hear that an average ambulance call costs around $1,000 dollars and I was surprised to hear that they only pay €15 euros (around $16 dollars) for one.
Outside of the hospital, I was also able to visit the fashion capital of Italy: Milan. Milan was absolutely breathtaking with its beautiful architecture and historic columns putting NYC’s sky scrappers to shame. I truly felt European when I and my Italy friend Ali Schaffer ordered two espressos at 3:00 pm in the heart of Milan and just people watched, before shopping in Milan during fashion week. Overall, this week has been so eye-opening in helping me realize the number of different customs and cultures outside of America and I can not wait for the following weeks!!
