The European Palette of Cultures

The American student living in Italy sits in a England theater watching a musical about France.  Let the intercultural games begin!

Never, ever, in all of my life, would I ever have thought that four cultures could be so drastically different.  Each is as different as the paints on a color palette and I love all of them.   Having known America my entire life and living in Italy for the past month, I have been comparing two different cultures.  But now, just coming back from my spring break in London and Paris however, I add two  new colors to my culture palette. 

First stop is London, England!  I am pretty excited walking through the airport because everything is in English.  Really though, it is fantastic to have that feeling that everyone can understand what I say.  That can be taken way too much for granted.  Well, with that one major culture obstacle out of the way, it is now time to take on another culture factor, food.  Before attending a performance of Les Miserables, (so yes, that scene above actually happened), My friend and I found a nice little pub that we went into. First task is to ask the waitress if we have to pay for a glass of water.  Allow me to preface this by saying that I have been in Italy where water is not free, so I don't know what England does.  The waitress laughs at me.  Why would anyone pay for water?  That's like having to pay for rain! I get really excited.  The comfortable and relaxed atmosphere reminds me of America.  No more strange customs or strange languages.  Even still though, walking throughout London, all the people seem so relaxed around the city.  Everyone is willing to help one another out, making room for each other at pubs, pointing out the right direction for the metro, and giving any helpful tips for the wandering tourist.  Furthermore, I didn't feel out of place at all in the city.  Well, Yes, I was obviously American and I was not the only tourist in the city, but the city did not seem like there was a difference between tourist and regular person.  Walking along St. James' park to the Buckingham Palace, people were relaxed, taking walks, lying in the flower beds, everyone was going about like it is a normal day in a normal city of London.  It reminds me of the color of a clear blue sky.  Certainly not pale, but not dark either.  Just a bright relaxed blue.  London acts like its a normal city, and it is.  The American traveler could not be happier to find this place ready to relax and enjoy everything London has to offer.    

From London to Paris!  A deep maroon represents France here.  Deep, rich in culture, and ready to stamp you with its royal seal wherever you walk.  And large.  You can't miss anything in Paris, just as you can't miss a nice deep maroon color.  Just take the first morning I was in Paris. I had the fantastic chance of visiting Sacre Coeur, one of the largest basilicas in Paris and one of my favorite.  Beforehand though, My friend and I stop in a cafe for breakfast.  For some reason, the waitress seemed pretty annoyed with us when we were first ordering.  I can only hope I didn't offend her in some way when my friend begins speaking in French to order.  As if the sea suddenly turned still, the waitress immediately adopted a sweeter tone in her voice.  My only conclusion could be that she was pleased that an American was speaking French pretty well.  Eating my croissant, I realized how passionate these people are about their language.  They seem to be so proud of it that they want everyone to at least try and speak it.  Which is very cool.  The croissant was delicious, and after leaving the nice waitress behind, the climb begins up to the top of what seems like a mountain which holds Sacre Coeur.  If the French were passionate about their language, then they are more passionate about their landmarks and their religion.  Almost the first thing I notice when I walk in is that Eucharistic Adoration is going on.  Wait, what?  All of these visitors, all of these tourists come in to see the architecture and the artwork, it can easily be turned into any other tourist attraction like the Eiffel Tower per say.  How has this remained such a holy and sacred place with so many loud and curious tourists?  Well somehow they manage to do what I see is nearly impossibe, and it is inspiring.  The French take pride in their faith enough to go to the length of having Perpetual Adoration in a major landmark.  That is awesome and it encourages my very own faith.  Thank you Paris, for showing me what it really means to be passionate.  How different from London but how I love both in so different of ways!

Of course, I have to come back to Rome eventually, but when I do, I get to take all of Paris and London with me.  It is one thing to sit in a classroom and talk about the differences between cultures and what not, but in a classroom, all you hear and all you see is words.  It takes actual traveling and experience to see a culture's true colors and not only see them, but live them. 

Okay, one more country and I promise I'm done.  Back in Italy, I discover Jen's Amazing Postcard Scavanger Hunt Find #6!  The postcard shows the Cupula Duomo Nuovo in Brescia, Italy.  Complete with lampposts and a sunrise, the photograph looks a whole lot like the postcard.  It must be the actual thing!  

YOU HAVE BEEN FOOLED!   This is actually NOT the Cupula Duomo Nuovo in Brescia.  I unfortunately will not be able to go to Brescia, Italy, because of time and distance.  So this is a look-a-like from the city of Rome.  The church is S. Maria Maggiore, and one of the major churches in the city.  Beloved, and often visited by the Pope himself, it is even more glorious on the inside than the outside.  So, yeah, I would have LOVED to go to Brescia, but I only have three months.  Besides, I think I made up for it by taking this awesome picture at this incredible church.  Yes?