Culture Observations

ITALY
Italy is charming. When I think of Italy I remember winding alleyways of quaint little buildings that are aged by the passing of time. Every so often there’s the surprise of bursting into something ancient, something wonderful…the Coliseum, Trevi Fountain, The Duomo, Realto Bridge. They all just pop out of nowhere, taking you to a distant world in the past. Italy is hot and sweltering, but full of delightful gelatos at least once a day. A musician is always playing somewhere in the background and the language of the natives is like music in and of itself. Italy is foreign…tiny cars, strange food, a different language…but not uncomfortable. I loved immersing myself into their culture and their language. The people are helpful and I felt like communication was easy, although we speak with different words. Everywhere you go is different. Rome is filthy, infested with gypsies, and covered in graffiti. Yet, it is full of history and has its pockets of glory. Florence is small, gorgeous, abounding in street markets, and full of black guys trying to sell their knock-offs. Venice is just magical…breathtaking, romantic, and free of cars. All of Italy is full of beauty, art, and grace.

FRANCE
France is not a friendly place. Trying to speak is awkward and unnatural. No one tries to help you as you struggle to ask for something, and being an American is something you try to hide. I do not miss the smells of that city…body odor, urine, cigarettes, and a million other foul things.
It has the architecture of Disneyland but in somber colors. Everything is grey with an accent of green from trees lining the streets. It is full of modern designs that are intriguing and inspiring and completely different than anything you’ve ever seen. Fine art, famous art, modern art, crazy art…Paris has more art than you can even try to absorb. France was a blur to me, huge, everything oversized, and way too much to do.

ENGLAND
England is fantastic, brilliant, and similar to home. The accents are to die for and even the plainest person can become so intriguing once they start to talk. The English keep to themselves but if addressed they’ll open up like a treasure box. I fell in love with everyone I met here. They really are quite charming, and they love Americans almost as much as we love them. England is a lot more like home and it’s easy to feel comfortable and accepted there. There is variety wherever you go. The buildings vary, the food varies, the people vary, and yet there is still a unifying voice that screams “this is English”. There are so many different things to do, and so many of them are free. Everything cost money in Italy and France, but England has tons of museums that are simply free of charge, and a million different activities for every kind of person. England for me was full of incredible talent, indescribable countrysides, and rich traditions. Everyone there has a strong pride for their country. They’re not afraid of being different…driving on the wrong side of the road, and their own currency when all of Europe around them is on the Euro. They’re proud of who they are and I think they have a right to be.