Having the opportunity to return to the states midway through my first semester in Bologna proved to be a larger shock than I assumed.
Homecoming is a big event at most American Universities. Food, fun, and the celebration of tradition. Notably there’s the football game and the tailgate.
At my Alma Mater, Morehouse College, it’s no different. As the nations only all-male Historically Black College (HBCUs) Morehouse prides itself on producing “renaissance men” with a social conscience and a global perspective.
Atlanta, a cultural epicenter of American southern culture, provided a culture shock. From the moment I stepped off the plane everything was much more fast paced. All of a sudden usually indistinguishable banter of neighboring conversation became recognizable. No longer was there a need to decrypt vocabulary words learned in pre-term italian classes from a colorful strings of elongated rhythmic phrases. Along the roads orderly traffic conducted itself free from fearful pedestrians and bike riders. Suddenly the bustling city that I knew so well as an undergraduate became overwhelming.
Dinner with my friends consisted of overly flavored foods, high in sodium and dusted with spices I simply hadn’t been privy to in the past two months. Indulgence in American pizza only resulted in disillusion.
However, the excitement of the American football and Five Guys Burgers and Fries was soon eclipsed with worry about problem sets, whether I had my notes ready for my America and the World reading group, and language class assignments.
It was time to capitalize on my absolute gains while I was home. I decided to make an effort to divorce from my life at SAIS for the weekend. However, to my surprise I ran into a man with a SAIS hat on at the tailgate. I introduced myself to him and immediately he yelped a hardy “Via Belmeloro Undici”, class of 79. We spoke briefly exchanging business cards and he left me with a word of advice.
“No Matter how difficult your time at the Bologna Center may become, remember you are having a remarkable experience, don’t get overwhelmed with school work, but become overwhelmed with experiences and travel, because you’ll miss it all when you’re stuck in DC”
The SAIS-Morehouse grad had a great point. I enjoyed the rest of homecoming, an experience I hope to share with my non-American colleagues next year..
But most importantly, I realized that the largest shock of my return was the change in myself. In less than three months abroad I’d met the most dynamic people at BC, and embarked on an unparalled personal and academic journey. Since returning to SAIS, the pasta Bolognese tastes better, the gelato even sweeter, and though I find the program strenuous at times, I’ve learned so much. I look forward to bittersweet May where I will look back and marvel at the number of equations, theories, and historical facts I’ve learned since being here. As I write this, I can say that my late-summer campus switch from SAIS DC to Bologna was the best decision I could have made.
