The great communication scholar Marshall McLuhan said: “I’m sure that one animal discovered water and it wasn’t a fish”. I have never before in my life gone out of the United States; even to Puerto Rico. Being in this situation, there are many things that I have never noticed or  have taken for granted. This is why you see a pattern in my blogs in which I compare experiences in the U.S. to experiences in Italy.

The first thing I have taken for granted is language. I  never realized how important and valuable it is to be able to communicate to another person with the use of words. You noticed that in two of my blogs I’ve discussed this. In my first blog I described what a relief it was for me to know that the person attending the gelato store spoke Spanish. In my fifth blog I noted how the use of gestures helped me to convey a message.

The second thing that I have taken for granted is my familiarity with certain types of packaging. I no longer take this for granted. This includes my perception of certain actual products which has changed during my stay in Italy. Now I can say that I enjoy drinking wine.

After this experience in Italy I  have a clearer definition of who I am and the things that identify me as a person. Some of these things have to do with the way I eat and at what times I eat.  For example, I would say that I really miss Puerto Rican breakfast. Here in Italy, breakfast is very different. I’ve also also paid attention to the way that I am used to approaching a person. Usually we, as Americans,  like to keep our distance when it comes to meeting new people or people with whom we’ve been working  but with whom you are not very familiar. For example, the other day the interpreter  from my group gave me a nice hug, which, by the way, I really liked. But it is something that I am not really used to. She is really nice.

I can finally say that seeing the culture from other place, one sees more our own.