As I am nearing the end of a beautiful six weeks in Florence, I am beyond enamored with Italian culture. From the stunning sunsets at the Ponte Vecchio to the view of the Duomo that never fails to take my breath away, this city has stolen my heart. While I’ve fallen in love with life in Florence, embracing Italian culture has not been without a few challenges.
The biggest adjustment has been to a much slower pace of life. After being raised in Boston and Northern VA and now attending university in Pittsburgh, it is safe to say I am firmly rooted in the fast-paced, East Coast mindset. I’m used to grabbing coffee to go, speed-walking from place to place, and prioritizing efficiency above all else. “How can I make the best use of my time?” is the question I was raised to live by. And, honestly, I enjoy it.
And then I came to Italy. In Florence, life certainly does not revolve around to-do lists; it flows with a relaxed and deliberately calm rhythm. Mornings begin with a stop at a local bar for a cappuccino, accompanied by a quick chat with the bartender. In the afternoon, local shops riposo, allowing people to enjoy lunch and rest. Every meal lasts for hours. Unlike the American tradition of being subtly rushed along by waiters so they can turn over tables, in Italy, we found ourselves asking multiple times for the check.
At first, this adjustment challenged me. I was impatient during long meals, frustrated by the slow-walking paces, and confused by the lack of urgency in everyday tasks. I was unable to escape the need for efficiency. Over time, I started to understand that the Italian slower-paced way of life is intentional, not inefficient. For Italians, time isn’t something to conquer or optimize, but rather something to enjoy and savor. This taught me a valuable lesson in being present. I began to enjoy the quiet, ordinary moments, and, in doing so, I realized how much of life I have let slip past in an attempt to “use my time well”. If you try to chase time, you’ll always feel one step behind. So, instead, Italians focus on the quality of moments rather than the quantity. When I leave Florence, I’ll carry with me not just the best of memories, but also a new appreciation for savoring life’s simple pleasures.
