Roma

This weekend I had the opportunity to visit "The Eternal City". While going to the typical tourist spots and eating delicious food was enjoyable, the exposure to a new and fascinating culture was what I enjoyed most. I feel that this trip was an introspective cross-cultural experience that endowed me with a new sense of respect for foreign cultures. 

I speak almost no Italian, and it was a bit of a culture shock to suddenly arrive in the heart of Italy. At least in France I have been competent in the language, but this was not the case in Italy. I expected that the majority of the populace would also speak English, but this was not quite true. On several occasions I had great difficulty communicating with the locals, but that made it all the more rewarding when we succeeded. 

After arrival, I made an effort to learn the essentials of the language, but I wished that I had done more preparation in advance.  This trip has taught me that becoming competent in the language of a foreign country is essential if one is to be a respectful visitor.