My name is Mary Patton. I studied abroad this past May through the UA in Croatia & Italy : Intermediate Macroeconomics program.
During this experience, I tried diligently to immerse myself in the local culture. I highly recommend trying to go to popular destinations in the area you are visiting. I remember at my pre-departure orientation hearing the advice to eat at the popular street vendors, not the ones no one is eating at. I highly recommend connecting with people around you, asking their advice on where to eat and what to do. For instance, in Venice, we asked our gondolier for a dinner recommendation. He recommended a lovely place for dinner that was able to accommodate our larger group and was bustling with guests by the time we left.
My group happened to be in Rome during soccer season. We were able to catch the last regular season game of SS Lazio. We ate at a restaurant near our hotel, which was in a more quaint area of Rome, and then took an Uber to the stadium. Once we passed through the rigors of security, which requires your ticket to be assigned to your name and your birthdate to enter the stadium, we got to see how it compared to the stadiums back home. There were no French fries, funnel cakes, or ice cream. You could buy packs of Oreos, bagged popcorn (not freshly popped), and other refreshments.
The atmosphere in the stadium was incredible. Fans bring large flags to wave when their team plays well, and the stadium shakes when people celebrate. People wear scarves adorned with their team logo. We got to watch one player do his retirement lap (after 362 games!!) around the stadium and see the players’ kids come onto the field with their fathers.
I highly recommend embracing local entertainment, seeking it out, and taking part in an activity that you know people there enjoy. For instance, if you go to Sydney, Australia, where there is the large Opera house, see if you can catch a show. You will get to see how locals interact with a sacred space and what impact that industry has on the city.
