When I first moved to Italy, I made a lot of mistakes navigating a new culture with many nuances that took me time to learn. Sometimes I would use the wrong word or forget to grab a ticket when waiting in a queue, but eventually I mastered how to do daily tasks. Even so, some tasks still feel overwhelming, and some days are harder than others. Not everyone is patient and understanding when it comes to interacting with foreigners.
I still don’t fit in, but I have come to accept that. I may dress more Italian, drink more espresso, and understand the Italian language a lot better. However, my tall stature and blonde hair make me stick out in a crowd, and you can’t miss the sound of the constant English chatter coming from my children. I have realized that I feel best when I embrace both cultures, and I don’t bat an eye anymore if someone stares at me when they find out I am not from here.
Recently, I went to the grocery store, and I encountered an old man trying to weigh his bread. He was fumbling with the numbers and shaking his head. There were other people around, but many of them were in a hurry. I was shopping with my two-year-old son who is often unpredictable and is known for getting into mischief. Fortunately, he was sitting in his stroller taking in all the new sounds and smells at the grocery store. I approached the man and asked if he needed help. He replied, “Yes.” I knew everyone could hear my American accent as I showed him the number for his bread and explained where to type it. I couldn’t think of the word “weigh,” in Italian, but it didn’t matter. We weighed the bread together, and I helped him stick the ticket on his bread. He thanked me and smiled with satisfaction. It felt good to help someone else in a place where I am often the one being helped or making mistakes.
Sometimes I think people forget that learning a language cannot only help you with your personal goals of speaking more confidently, passing an exam, or day-to-day shopping, but it also gives you the tools to help others too, and it is definitely a gratifying feeling.