My classmates and I decide to go to a neighboring town called Genzano for our first weekend in Ariccia. We scoured the various clothing stores in Genzano touching each item that we saw. There aren’t a lot of contemporary luxury stores or luxury stores of any kind for that matter in Aricca or Albano the next town over. Most of the stores in Alabano are stores that are priced fairly. As we strolled through Genzano a shop caught my eye with glamourous boots and bags, I knew it was pricey, but we didn’t go in the shop just yet. We continued our stroll through the affordable boutiques touching and trying on various items. After we finished our final walk through the corso, we decided to go back to the store that caught our attention. We walked into the expensive store and didn’t greet the sales associate. That was our first mistake, we continue to parade around the store gawking at the luxury items specifically merchandised on the display. I noticed the sales associate giving us a death glare as we picked over the items. I started to notice that everything we would touch the sales associate moved it back to its specific location, but I didn’t think anything of it. After parading around the store for 15 minutes we decided to leave dreaming over all the luxury pieces we saw. That following Monday we finally understood why we got those death glares, in Italian culture, it is accustomed to speaking to the sales associate when you walk in the shop and the most important rule is to always ask before touching an item on display. This interaction made me feel so disconnected with Italian culture becasue I thought touching items in the store was a normal practice to do anywhere. This interaction made me feel small and out of place even more so than I already was. From that moment on I never touched an item in store and without asking first.

At the time of this writing, tomorrow, October 1^st, 2021, will commemorate our first full month in Ariccia. I have only ever lived in Alabama and I have only ever resided with people of whom I am related. Tomorrow represents one full month of life across the world with six roommates, sharing bathrooms, pieces of ourselves, and shared experiences. Where I initially was hesitant of the culture shock, I now look forward to the discomfort, as I have learned to translate it instead to growing pains.  

These growing pains have been numerous, as almost nothing is what it initially seems. “Peperoni” on a pizza will result in bell peppers, ordering a “latte” at a coffee shop will mean a glass of warm milk, and a “frappe” is a milkshake almost never with coffee. The people here are kind, but in a different way from the South. Rather than the immediate hospitality of back home, the people of Ariccia display reservations at first, but then reveal themselves to be the most genuine, thoughtful people. I will make a point to never forget them.

Learning the Italian language has been a form of culture shock as well. With only my background in Spanish, my lack of Italian often leaves me frustrated. Ironically, locals will apologize repeatedly for not speaking perfect English; they only wish to be accommodating in their own spaces. The human condition of wanting to connect and empathize on a basic level gives me hope, and after an entire month of change and growth, I welcome the shock. I will cherish my remaining time with my thirteen-classmate support system and the wonderful people of this country.

“My 13-legged support system”

Maris Laney, Fall 2021

I think that some of the hardest things to come to terms with before studying abroad was leaving behind my friends, my family, and my life in Auburn. It is scary knowing I am spending an entire semester with women, who for the majority, I have had little to no interaction with prior to this trip.

I started to get nervous: Will they like me? Do I annoy them? Do they wish I wasn’t around as much? However, the more time I spend with everyone, the more these fears fade away. I feel as though in such a short amount of time I have grown so close with these women, and it feels like I have known them for years! They are some of the funniest, nicest, easy-going, and supportive girls I have met during my time at Auburn, and I could not have met them at a more perfect time.

As a rising senior, it is not the easiest to make new friends and I know many of the people here are in the same boat. We are comfortable with our friendships at home, and we have been a part of the same organizations for some time now. It is not as easy to branch out and meet new people, and I did not always want to put in extra effort. That is why there is a beauty in “forced friendships.” We are all living under the same roof and are each other’s support system in a new place. I honestly could not think of a more perfect place to get to know people better.

It is all so different than what I am used to, and I would not have it any other way. I see traits in these women that I wish to embody, and I am finding more of myself as I get to know them. I can honestly say I have never had a group of friends like this before and I am so thankful for our forced friendship!

Ciao for now,

Morgan McWilliams