What I learned from Italy

As mentioned before, my first true eye-opening experience to traveling came in April of 2014, when I went on a weekly class trip to four Italian cities; Turin, Venice, Florence and Rome. Leading up to that trip, I hadn’t really given much thought about going to Italy in the first place. My friends and classmates were very enthusiastic about the whole opportunity but prior to that point, I didn’t really know if it would be worth it. After talking with some of my friends and my teacher, they convinced me that I should come along. While traveling to Italy was a life-changing experience overall for me, there were some things about Italy in general that I took away as well.

1. Speaking Italian- If you’re going to Italy, you NEED to try and speak some Italian. You don’t have to be an expert, but at least attempting to do so will make the experience that much sweeter because you’ll learn things easier, and you’ll be able to interact with the locals a lot better and more efficiently. They’ll also appreciate the fact that you’re trying to accommodate them as well.
2. If you’re in places like Venice and Rome, get ready for an insane amount of tourists which can lead to claustrophobia. If you’re one who doesn’t like crowds or lines, then I’d advise you to avoid places like St. Mark’s Square and the Roman Colosseum. Those places are packed with tourists and it can be overwhelming and annoying to try and maneuver yourself around.
3. Do NOT, try and go swimming in the waters of Venice. It is against the law and you’ll be slapped with a huge fine if you do this. A member of my group was dared to jump in and luckily he made it out without getting in trouble, but he ended up scraping his knee pretty good and was shivering because he had no towel.
4. Narrow streets- some streets in Italy are incredibly narrow with people and cars. Sometimes, drivers understandably grow impatient and irritated with so many people walking around and slowing them down. If that’s the case, try your best to use the sidewalks as much as you can if you’re able to. Or if you’re able to find another road, that’ll also be beneficial to you and the drivers.
5. Be sure to try lots of gelato, pizza and linguini! This cannot be stressed enough. This is probably the most important aspect of your trip. If you don’t try any of these cuisines, you’re not embracing Italy. Each of these foods are so incredibly delicious.
6. Be aware of pickpockets. Like many crowded, touristy locations around the world, you need to be cognizant of your surroundings. Places like St. Mark’s Square, are an ideal place for pickpockets to get you. In order to avoid them, observe the area and be aware of who and what is around you. If you have a backpack, put a lock on the zippers, believe me it’s not worth it to just toss your wallet and personal items in a backpack pocket. They can easily be unzipped and taken when you’re not looking.
7. Not a whole lot of breakfast options. When I was in Italy, I realized that breakfast wasn’t always available. For the most part, Italians will dine down on croissants and have some coffee, but nothing too extravagant. So just be aware of that.