One of my teachers recently said something that surprised me: Before 9/11, abroad students were eager to integrate into Italian life completely. But after it happened, she saw them become more withdrawn and less willing to lose themselves in the culture.

Her prime example was how travel habits during Fall Break have changed. Before, students would do all of the traveling on their own. Now, a convenient service called Bus2alps takes care of travel, hostels, tours, etc. This ultimately limits how much each person needs to directly interact with the places they’re visiting.

I found this especially surprising given how prominently it applies to me. Half of my trips have been arranged through Bus2alps — including my Fall Break — and the other half are organized through the school. So, I asked myself: Do I have this same fear of integration?

When I first heard my teacher’s claim, my mind threw all kinds of arguments back at her. I preferred others to arrange my travel since I often get lost when I handle it myself. Others know more about the places I’m visiting, so I trust them to know what to see. Services like Bus2alps simplify everything, sparing me hours of stress and planning.

The idea of me being afraid to integrate was ridiculous. But after some honest self-reflection, I realized, at least on some level, she was right.

My first worry about going abroad was being robbed anywhere and by anyone, not just by people targeting tourist areas. I assumed somewhere other than America was less safe, even though I now know that to be the opposite in some cases.

In my first month here, I felt almost terrified to speak Italian to someone who might not know English. I worried I might make a mistake and unintentionally offend someone. Through time, naturally, this delusion grew smaller. Now talking to native speakers feels almost completely natural.

All of these fears were much more subtle than I expected, but they were there, and my teacher was right. However, looking closer, I also think she was partially wrong because the worries didn’t last. These fears were shattered after experiencing enough of Italy. And they’re likely to never resurface.

The fears first dissipated at an event organized through the school called the Dragon Boat Race. My classmates and I spent two nights practicing rowing with a team of Italian doctors, and then competed with them in several races that Saturday. We were the only English-speakers there, yet were fully a part of the action and integrated into the celebration. Looking back, it’s been my favorite activity during my entire time abroad.

It was different because it wasn’t any kind of tourist activity. There were no means to distance ourselves from the culture, and we were forced into its foreign aspects. It was a real event for real Italians, and I was part of it. It’s what broke down the barrier between cultures.

I can’t know for sure how many other abroad students feel the same way, but I know there are some with the same misplaced fears. There is something more we can do about it, though.

Not taking part in more events like this will likely be my biggest regret while in Florence, and hopefully future students can avoid this.

People should take advantage of events like the boat race, where we experience Italy with the Italians instead of keeping a slight distance from them. It’s not just for better experiences, but also to make us better people by getting rid of these subtle fears of the unfamiliar.

Max Antonucci is a junior newspaper and online journalism major. His column appears every Tuesday in Pulp. Visit his website at www.MaxwellAntonucci.com, find him on Twitter at @DigitalMaxToday or email him at meantonu@syr.edu.

Published on November 11, 2013 at 11:27 pm