It’s crazy how two weeks can change the perception of the world around you. The last 16 days in Siena have been just enough to give me a real sense of comfort, and for the first time in years, I feel a part of a culture I’m immersed in. Between making friends with the local workers, learning and getting involved with the Palio (a bi-annual horse race held in the heart of Siena,) and finally overcoming culture shock as a whole, this trip is the most rewarding one I’ve ever been on.
Usually I’m not very susceptible to culture shifts, but the combination of living here with no one I knew prior, and having a more independent mindset as a newfound college student, forced me to see my surroundings more vigilantly than I have in the past. I felt really vulnerable at times, as in Europe, no one is there to hold your hand. Cars will roll right up next to you with no warnings, restaurants barely have closing times because of how relaxed they are, and everyone minds their own business on the streets. If you don’t manage your time and surroundings intently, you're bound to be in bad water. What makes all that worth it, is that every restaurant, pop up shop, or bar we go to is loaded with some of the nicest people I’ve encountered. If it’s a one time endeavor they treat you like their best guest, and if you make a return they’ll treat you like your best friend. The Siena hospitality has been crucial to my adjustment here, since without it I’d still feel like an imposter in this town that’s already vastly different from my norm.
Zooming in on my personal mission, seeing how acceptable it is to be Jewish here, I have nothing but good to say. Siena is extremely safe for Jews, with no public slander of any portion of the middle east, creating a haven for all sides involved in the conflict. I’ve continued to be open about my religious identity, and I’ve realized people here have a sort of disconnect from the modern world, in the sense that they don’t let conflict from today’s time cause problems in Siena. Sienese citizens here are some of the most accepting I’ve ever seen and been around, and since that one incident in Florence, I haven’t seen any hatred towards Israelis or Palestinians. It’s nice to know there’s places abroad that treat individuals based on themself, instead of blacklisting people for identities they align with.
My biggest question right now is how much of my newfound life here will come back home with me. I wonder how hospitable the USA will feel to me when I get home. I wonder what the conflict in the Middle East will look like when I get home. I wonder what my relationships with the people I hold dear here will look like when we have to leave Italy. Hopefully, in all those departments I’m satisfied, but for now all I can do is stay present and try to cultivate a life where I stay connected with the parts of Italy I love, and bring those back home. Per Ora, Alla Prossima, e Arrivederci - Luke.
Luke Friedman, Diverse Ducks Ambassador
Advancing Your Academic Success: Pre-Freshman Studies In Siena