By: Jessica Sherman and Jaclyn Koman

 

Becoming a study abroad student in Italy came with feelings of excitement, but the initial culture shock should not be overlooked. Living in Florence has taught us that food isn’t just about eating, it’s about community. More specifically, immersing ourselves into a local experience and catching on to the habits and customs that make this place feel more comfortable day after day. 

Once we finally understood how to properly eat like a local, we were able to feel more connected to the place we’re living in. Grocery shopping in a store like Conad, which once felt like a maze, now feels like the perfect gateway to gain a sense of belonging in this place we can now call home. Scanning the seasonal produce, reading the simple ingredients, it all just feels right. 

Back in our apartment kitchen, cooking together became less about following our traditional recipes we would make at home, and more about experimenting with the ingredients and new food combinations we have never heard of before. This process became less of a chore, and more of a special activity we can bond over. Sitting down at the table with a home cooked meal and getting to cherish our food truly showed us how much sharing a meal can bring people together.

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Written by Jessica Sherman and Jaclyn Koman