Megan Hanlon, Global Business Institute: Florence Spring 2024
A large part of studying abroad is food. The irreplaceable experience of trying another culture’s food is my favorite part of travel. In exploring new restaurants and shops, you meet new people and have meaningful connections through food. Even with language barriers, you are able to begin to understand another’s culture in the preparation, serving, and indulgence in food.
Food is a bridge between people. With barriers due to region, language, ethnicity, and other aspects of identity, enjoying food allows mutual understanding. While abroad, I went to many restaurants where little English was spoken. Regardless, I was able to enjoy another’s food and try something new. You don’t necessarily have to speak the same language or come from the same place, as food is a unifying force and can provide a shared experience. I had three other roommates which makes a lot of activities more fun and social! Our favorite time is dinner, where we all cook and then eat at the table together. It’s the perfect time to share how our days went and what we experienced!
During study abroad, I typically cooked Monday to Friday, then ate at restaurants on the weekend. This allowed me to budget, while also getting to experience local cuisines. I was able to go to many of the markets in Florence. My Italian professor helped me on two different occasions to meet local Italian vendors. I was able to practice my Italian, meet new people, and learn about the process of creating/growing/cooking their food. My professor’s favorite local cheese vendor joked with me about practicing my Italian as I tried his homemade burrata. His family run business had a rich history and trying his food had a clear importance to both of us. Italy is known to have great appreciation for food and the culture surrounding it. Quality is much more important than quantity, with rich flavors and unique products. I tried various truffle flavors, fresh olive oils, cheeses, and wine. Wine was often intentionally paired with specific foods, which I learned when traveling to local vineyards. Vineyards shared a history of craft that has spanned hundreds of years, with food being intertwined with family and heritage.
Food was the “window to the soul” at many points in my experience. Food largely represented the cities I visited. In Italy, I traveled to the Chianti region. We stayed at an Airbnb, which was a family’s home in the region. Throughout our experience, we were able to meet the family and understand the importance of food in their lives. While sitting outside during breakfast, two young men entered the backyard, covered in dirt and wearing outdoor clothing. Their three dogs trotted next to them. The young men were two sons in the family that had just come back from morning truffle hunting. They came over to show the truffles they had collected, and even gave my mother, a huge truffle fanatic, her very own to bring home. Later in the day, I was sitting doing work in the afternoon sun. The mother had noticed me outside, and spoke very little English. She came outside with homemade Tiramisu, that was one of the best I had ever had. Later, her son told me that she had made the Tiramisu by hand that day. The family throughout our stay gave us many homemade food items crafted from the land and ingredients found in their village and family. Their uncle owned the vineyard next door, and the parents owned the local food store. In other cities I was able to explore the different cuisines. From the tapas in Barcelona, Spain to Raclettes in Paris, France. Studying abroad showed how food is a window into others’ way of life, values, and culture.
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