Florentine Culture and Cuisine Compared to the US

My study abroad program in Florence, Italy was definitely an experience to remember. There were many experiences that stuck out to me due to how different everyday life was in Italy compared to the United States. What stood out to me about my academic program in Italy was how many field trips there were and how much of a hands-on experience there was. What stood out to me about the culture in Florence, Italy was the importance of slow food, family connectivity, and how much of an impact cuisine makes on Italian culture.
My academic program in Florence was much different compared to the classes I have taken at the University of Pittsburgh. At Pitt, most of my classes are lecture styled, along with homework to do after class. My food studies program in Florence was very different. Although we did have a few lectures, these lectures were more discussion based to get us thinking and ready for the field trips we would be going on. For the program in general, there were more field trips than lectures. This is much different than the classes I have experienced at Pitt because I have yet to go on a field trip for one of my classes. Some field trips we went to in Italy included two women entrepreneur restaurants, Orbetello to see a fish hatchery, Parmigiano Reggiano and balsamic vinegar organic farms in the Emilia Romana region, and my favorite, the wine tastings in the Chianti region. The field trips were all super beneficial to my knowledge base for becoming a dietitian. I was able to see some of the important foods to Italian culture and how they make up my Italian identity. The field trips that stood out to me the most were the cheese farm and the wineries. I loved learning about how the cheese and wine are made, and how difficult the processes really are. All and all, what stood out to me the most about my Food Studies program in Florence was how many hands-on experiences and field trips there were, and how beneficial they were to my knowledge base.
What stood out to me specifically about the culture in Florence, Italy, was the whole aspect of slow food, and how Italian identity and culture is shaped behind their cuisine. The Slow Food Movement in Italy focuses on the production and consumption of food in Italy. Everything is produced naturally, and it takes long periods of times to make the food. When it comes to consumption, Italians focus on the celebratory aspect of eating as a family and focus on being grateful for the people around them while they eat. The Slow Food Movement was created in response to the growth of fast-food restaurants. In Italy, although there are some, there are not many fast-food joints compared to the United States. This is because Italians like to focus on what is put into their foods, and they like to enjoy cooking and eating the food they prepare.
Another thing about the culture in Italy that surprised me was how much their identity is shaped behind their cuisine. I took food studies in Italy, so seeing how important food is to Italian culture was really amazing to see. We were able to go to some of the sustainable farms in the Chianti region, as well as Emilia Romana, and learn about how important specific foods and beverages are to Italian culture. For example, we went to a Parmigiano Reggiano farm in the Emilia Romana region, and learned about how important this cheese was to Italian identity. We also went to the Chianti region and learned more about how wine has shaped Italian culture and the history behind the production and consumption of wine. Italian culture values tradition and history, so many Italian’s continue to consume and cherish the foods and beverages their ancestors used to consume. All in all, the things that stood out to me the most about Italian culture was the whole aspect of slow food, and how much their culture was shaped around specific foods and beverages that make up their national cuisine.
In conclusion, my study abroad program allowed me to see a whole new culture and how different Italians live their lives compared to Americans. Seeing how much their culture was influenced by the Slow Food Movement and their cuisine in general was an amazing thing to see, and really showed why their obesity and health rates are much lower compared to the United States. It was also an amazing experience to have two classes in Italy that were more focused on field trips and hands-on experiences, rather than lectures and homework. Overall, Italy was an amazing experience, and I am so grateful I was able to try the Italian cuisine and learn about why it is so important to their overall heritage and culture.