Aspects of my identity (likely acquired from the "American way")
I hope to bring to Italy are my open mind and freedom of expression.
A worry of mine was the fact that I naturally speak as fast
as a hummingbird’s heartbeat. We’re talkin’ so fast that native English
speakers sometimes struggle to keep up. While I can bear in mind this trait and
try to slow down, it can be hard to change. In class, I learned that my
personality leans more towards being high-context, which I find fitting and may
be able to use to my advantage. Although I often stray off topic, I tend to be
observant of body language and vibes during interactions. This awareness
usually helps the flow of social connections.
Reading up on common Italian personality traits, some
sources say that they are super sociable and sometimes keep chatting with people
who know zero Italian. (Relatable, I enjoy a good bonding session too. Facciamo pace!) I
underestimated how much I enjoy spontaneous adventures and new people, and had
convinced myself that those were the biggest obstacles I’d face.
Still, I’ve come to realize challenges that remain after the
context inventory made me consider how much one’s background plays into
conversation. Despite where I am, I always take into consideration others’
differing backgrounds/perspective when meeting people. However, I rely on humor
for the majority of my interactions, and my eccentricity and outlandishness may
translate as offensive or inappropriate. This can hopefully be remedied and
prevented through cultural research. Advice that I’m thinking of taking is to
befriend an Italian before my trip and learn through them. (Maybe a pen-pal, or
anyone interested on social media.)
No comments:
Post a Comment