Life in Italy, Initial Reflection (1 month In)

Welcome to my first blog post! I am excited to take you all with me on my 9-month journey in Matera, Italy. 1 month ago, I arrived to this picturesque and historic city located in the Southern region of Basilicata. I was immediately infatuated with the beautiful "sassi"--the old, stone settlements scattered throughout the central area of Matera. It's hard to believe that the sassi were completely abandoned 50 years ago. (For more information on the history of Matera and the mandatory evacuation of its inhabitants in the 1950s, please see this article: https://www.smithsonianmag.com/travel/mater-went-from-ancient-civilization-slum-hidden-gem-180949445/). Throughout these old settlements are restaurants, museums, and bed & breakfasts. My first view of the entire sassi was during sunset, and in that moment I knew that I was in a special place.

I've spent the last month adjusting to life abroad. While there have been many exciting and fun moments, it hasn't always been an easy journey. I speak Italian well, but navigating the bureaucratic processes as a foreigner and a non-native Italian speaker has been challenging. It can be overwhelming in certain situations (i.e., applying for the permit to stay, or "permesso di soggiorno"). At the same time, there is a certain satisfaction that I feel after successfully completing a bureaucratic task in the Italian language. Aside from the Italian bureaucracy, life in Italy is quite different than the United States, and it's especially different than life in Northern Italy. People seem to live a slower and more relaxed life down in the South compared to the North (at least in my personal experience and from what I learned in conversations with Italian friends). I'm learning to enjoy this different pace of life, and I'm sure that I will appreciate it by the end of my time in Matera.

The highlight of my journey in Matera so far has been the compassion that I've received from so many people in the community. Everyone has been extremely welcoming to me and are always willing to help when I need it. For example, the Vice President at my school took me on a grand tour of Matera upon my arrival, and she helped me buy a bus pass in order to travel back and forth between work and home. There's a certain type of hospitality here in Southern Italy that's quite special, and I appreciate the people that have welcomed a young American into their community. Additionally, I've befriended many locals in Matera as well as some study abroad students, so I finally found a community of people here in the city.

In future posts, I will talk more about my work as an English Teaching Assistant, my daily life in Matera, and my travels throughout Italy. This is quite the transformative time in my life, and I'm looking forward to taking you all through my journey of growth in Italy.

A dopo (see you later),

Jake