Vogel #3
As our trip winds to a close, I'm not sure if I can fit everything I've learned in the past two weeks into one reflection. We have seen and done so many things that I never thought I'd be able to do in my lifetime. Being immersed in the culture in Grado has been a great experience. Visiting Venice (although it was amazing) helped me realize how special of a place Grado is. One of my biggest takeaways since I've written my last reflection is the difference in how Italians eat meals and drink. It might just be because we've seen mostly an older crowd, but it is very different from America. At home I eat much quicker than they do here. Although my family does often have family dinners where it's basically a social event, they typically never last more than 30 or 40 minutes before we're on to the next thing. The lifestyle here in Grado is much more relaxed. Many more people eat their meals outside and are at dinner for at least an hour or more.
Another thing I've noticed is that in Grado, people sit down and have a drink or two and aren't extremely loud or boisterous. At Fifty in town last night there was a DJ playing music and there were a few couples dancing but the rest were relaxing and socializing. Right when our group arrived, all of the Americans went to the dance floor and started dancing which is pretty typical for back home. We definitely got some strange looks from the locals, and I asked one woman what she thought about the Americans and she said "loud, but very fun". The music at the bar was pretty much all American too, and most of the Italians were singing along which I thought was interesting.
One word I would use to describe my experiences in Italy would be humbling. The amount of times I have sat back and just realized how surreal this trip was is too many to count. As I sit on my balcony in the hotel and write, I hope to come back to Grado and show my family just how lucky and fortunate I have been to see the things that I've seen. Thank you to Professor Seaman and his family, without them we all would've been completely lost. Ciao
Another thing I've noticed is that in Grado, people sit down and have a drink or two and aren't extremely loud or boisterous. At Fifty in town last night there was a DJ playing music and there were a few couples dancing but the rest were relaxing and socializing. Right when our group arrived, all of the Americans went to the dance floor and started dancing which is pretty typical for back home. We definitely got some strange looks from the locals, and I asked one woman what she thought about the Americans and she said "loud, but very fun". The music at the bar was pretty much all American too, and most of the Italians were singing along which I thought was interesting.
One word I would use to describe my experiences in Italy would be humbling. The amount of times I have sat back and just realized how surreal this trip was is too many to count. As I sit on my balcony in the hotel and write, I hope to come back to Grado and show my family just how lucky and fortunate I have been to see the things that I've seen. Thank you to Professor Seaman and his family, without them we all would've been completely lost. Ciao
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