Family. It is a word that holds high significance for several people, including myself. My family means the world to me and this has been validated even more as I’ve spent my time here in Italy. My mother’s side of the family is Italian; thus, this value has been instilled in me since I was a little girl. Due to my upbringing that has encompassed various Italian traditions and values, I was already aware of the high emphasis Italians place on famiglia. However, it has been fascinating to immerse myself in the Italian culture and gain insight on how this value is exuded in this magnificent country.
I have been able to understand the ways in which family is accentuated in Italy based on discussions in class, direct observations, and an interview I conducted with our Italian instructor. Every morning in class we’ve had meaningful conversations that have not only stressed how business is successfully executed cross culturally, but also identifying diverse values and customs of various cultures. Since we’ve been studying in Italy, it’s only fitting that several of our discussions have compared Italian and American aspects of culture. In America, while many people value family; it is indicated differently than it is in Italy. For instance, a large majority of college-aged students graduate, find dream jobs and often move away from home. This isn’t typically the case in Italy. While Italian students temporarily go away to Universities, they’re more than likely move back home to help with their family’s business or to be near their family in general. Most of the restaurants I’ve dined at during my time in Italy have been family owned. The first night we arrived, we ate at a local restaurant called Trattoria da Emilia. This is a charming, traditional, family-owned restaurant in the nearby marina. While eating their delicious homestyle cuisine, it was rather apparent that everyone working there was related. The restaurant had a tight-knit, relaxed, and inviting atmosphere. The picture below was taken at a bar that is part of the same family business as Trattoria da Emilia. This demonstrates that many local businesses in Italy are interconnected and emphasize on keeping family close.
After class one day, I interviewed our group’s Italian instructor, Bianca Buoncuore. She is a very sweet, friendly, and intelligent woman who is that I enjoyed getting to know. Bianca has been an Italian instructor at Sant’Anna Institute Sorrento for over ten years.I learned that she was born and raised in a nearby village of Sorrento and that she went to college in Naples. I was very surprised at her response when I asked why she chose the field of education. She said she didn’t technically choose this field because she originally studied art and wanted to be an artist, but her University placed her in an internship at Sant’Anna. She said she wasn’t sure what to expect but absolutely fell in love with her job and accepted their offer and has been teaching at the institute for over a decade since. She said she loves teaching Italian just as much as she loves learning from her all of the international students that she encounters. I asked her what the main values of the locals (herself included) tend to be. She responded with family/relationships and food. I then asked if her family approves of her decision to work since its more traditional in Italy for women to take care of the home and family. She said yes; however, her family prefers her to remain close to home and this is in part why she accepted the job at Sant ’Anna Institute. She said she would never move away permanently from her family because they are her support system. It was interesting to listen to the Italian ways of life (specifically the value of family) come to life firsthand in my conversation with her.
During my time spent in Italy, I’ve discovered that many people stay in the same job for the majority of their life. This in part due to supply and demand of the primary fields of work in Italy such as transportation, hospitality, and tour guiding. The other reason is to remain close to family. For instance, Bernadette, our guide to Naples and the Amalfi coast has been a tour guide for over twenty years. She comes from a large family and has several children and grandchildren herself. Typically, most Americans would view leading groups to the same locations year after year as repetitive unless the for the sole purpose of financial security. However, similar to Bernadette, many Italians have extreme pride in what they do. Additionally, they appreciate that the world essentially travels to them while they get the luxury of remaining close to their families. I found this common outlook on careers in Italy to be intriguing.
As earlier mentioned, my family is my everything. This notion has become even more of a realization as I’ve spent the last few weeks in Italy. This is in part due to observing sweet, intimate moments between Italian families and learning about the ways they integrate the value of their relationships with one another into their everyday lives. Another piece of this realization attributes to a moment I had in Ravello atop Villa Rufolo. My breath was completely taken away as I gazed at the turquoise water, vibrant gardens, and stunning cliffs. I had never seen anything quite like this before. As I enjoyed this stunning view in utter amazement, a feeling of bitter sweetness suddenly came over me. As breathtaking and dreamlike as this view was, all I could think about was my family for a moment. I wanted them to be right by my side experiencing this with me. This was a very profound moment for me. Looking back at the entirety of my stay in Italy, it is overwhelming at how truly blessed I’ve been to experience this once in a lifetime trip. Regarding the profound moment I had at Villa Rufolo,it has truly put “La famiglia è la patria del cuore” into perspective. I was in one of the most beautiful places in the world yet felt like something was missing. Family truly is where the heart is. My plan is to return to Italy with my family in the near future to experience the beauty of this wonderful country with them.
I am extremely grateful for the amazing opportunity I’ve had to study abroad and immerse myself in the Italian culture. I have gained critical insight not only into cross-cultural business ethics, but in addition to the important aspects of life for Italians. I deeply admire the way that famigliais at the heart of the Italian way of life. This core value should certainly be considered for successful business interactions in Italy. Partaking in the course Managing Across Cultureshas emphasized the importance of a global mindset.
If Americans are to learn one lesson from Italians, it should be to slow down and seize the moment. Nothing quite compares to celebrating the simple pleasures in life with loved ones.
Until next time Italia, Grazie!
About the author:
My name is Courtney Schroeder and I am 23 years old. I am a Communication major at the University of Colorado at Denver. I enjoy fitness, ballet, traveling and time spent with loved ones. While I’m driven concerning my future aspirations, Italy has inspired me to remind myself that “life is a journey, not a race”.
Under the Sorrento Sun 