Walk on to any American college campus between the months of August and
November and you’re likely to see students out and about, sporting school
apparel, the sound of their amicable chatter punctuated by the whiz of a
Frisbee floating by. Drop by campus in early December, during finals week:
although the students, if you can find them, may be decked out in school
colors, it’s because they haven’t taken their sweatshirts off in the past 72
hours.
Despite suspicions to the contrary, a study
abroad experience does actually involve studying, and NYU’s finals week is fast
approaching, signaling the end of my Italian adventure. Yet, instead of cutting
off all social ties during this seven-day period, as is my custom, I have been
forced out of my self-imposed seclusion by the arrival of my parents.
Never having been to Italy, they have put me in charge of the itinerary
for a long weekend and I find myself lucky enough to have been given an
opportunity to reflect on the entirety of my Florentine experience. Where
should they go? What should they see? Most importantly, what advice might I
give them to guarantee that they appreciate Florence?
My first thought was that four days is too short of a time to get a feel
for the city. Fortunately, I can think of one custom in particular that truly
gives an accurate perception of Italian culture-aperitivo. I love the tradition of people coming together before
they embark on their respective nightly plans. They take the time to recount
daily events and to share a drink or to indulge in the freshly prepared buffet.
Unlike its closest American relative, the happy hour, aperitivo seems to be more about relaxing after a day at work than
about taking advantage of the drink specials. People come to unwind, to catch
up with friends, to fervently discuss contentious issues and to simply enjoy
living life in the moment.
What I hope my parents will experience is what I’ve come to realize are
among my most memorable Florentine moments: random encounters with locals.
Conversations conducted in broken Italian have stimulated my appreciation for
Italy and Italian culture. At Santa Maria Novella last weekend, an older man
approached my friends and me as we stared at the frescos, offering to explain
the history and architecture of the church and surrounding piazza. Wanting so
much to overcome the communication barrier, he suggested we read Alessandro
Manzoni, whose beautiful Italian would surely help us better understand the
language. A priest at the Duomo who was so excited to have American students in
his congregation that he gave us the honor of taking up the collection. An
older proprietor at a bar near campus tenderly creates perfect sandwiches for
each customer. And my downstairs neighbor has taken us out to experience the
local nightlife which, contrary to popular belief, does not end at 2am.
All of these people epitomize Italian culture
for me and this is the Florence that I have come to know. People are patient and passionate. They
value their culture and their customs. They honor their traditions but are
willing to incorporate change into their lives. And, clearly, they don’t all
have a negative perception of the temporary student residents.
So, for now, arrivederci Firenze e
grazie per tutto!
