When I hit my 30s, I hit the road. I quit my job in the US and flew straight to Florence, where I spent the next six months basking in the city’s sunlight and rich culture. It was a beautiful start to my gap year of travel, which I was treating myself to as I entered a new decade of life.
After Florence, I ventured to London, which was a bit of a culture shock. I’d always pictured London as this luxurious city filled with Royals and cheeky accents. However, living there was a new reality far from what I’d expected.
All in all, I wasn’t ready for the fast-paced life in London after living the slow life in Florence. The harsh contrast was something that made me wish I had never left Italy.
I felt welcome in Florence, and meeting people was easy
In Italy, I was spoiled by the welcoming nature of the Florentines I met. From the start, I was getting approached by locals in bars, overjoyed to speak with an American.
One day for lunch, I was sitting solo, and the waiter invited me for a ride on his Vespa during his break. He showed me the most beautiful outlooks of the city. It was one of the best spontaneous moments of my time there.
The generosity and excitement from strangers to show me their city is what made living there so special.
I even became part of an Italian family. After six hours of learning how to make pasta, my teacher invited me to meet his wonderful wife and son the following night at their home.
They made me feel so welcome, it was as if no barrier existed between us, despite their being Italian and my being American. I went to their home for many dinners throughout my time in Italy.
My experience in London was very different
After having such a positive experience in Italy, I was confident about going to another city to meet people. However, I was surprised to find the people I met a bit more reluctant than I had imagined.
When I went out for a night, I would sit at the bar and actively strike up a conversation with someone. Most of the time, the people I met didn’t want to be bothered, and I ended up talking to the bartender all night.
Upon my entering stores, it was common for associates to greet me with “You alright?” While this greeting may be natural for locals, the question always felt jarring to me, and I found myself keeping my guard up far more often than in Italy.
For most of the two months I spent in England, I felt alone due to the interactions I had when trying to make friends. To me, the city felt like a city of cliques, with groups of people from Uni or work that had no intention of expanding their circle. This feeling isn’t unique to London, but of bigger cities in general.
As an American, I felt welcome and seen in Italy. In England, I felt isolated and guarded.
Going from sun to consistent cloudy skies
Besides the culture shock, the March weather in England was also a harsh adjustment. After the first week, the lack of sun overshadowed my sparkly view of this bustling city.
I was used to the sunny days in Florence, where it was encouraged to take time to enjoy your morning cappuccino, followed by a two-hour Aperitivo, and finally a four-hour dinner that lasted well into the night.
London’s fast pace was also a shock. Being from Chicago, I thought I would also ease right into the Tube and large crowds. However, I had gotten so used to the lightness of Italy that I had a hard time adapting.
For example, it took me a month to understand the London layout and how vast it really was. I took countless trains going the wrong direction and waited for buses that never came.
By contrast, it only took me about two weeks to get my bearings in Florence. I hardly ever took public transportation and found its accessibility to be one of its best parts. I could easily walk three to five miles from one neighborhood to the next.
I could give it another try
This isn’t to say that there aren’t wonderful things about London. I was able to find a slower lifestyle, more akin to Florence, by the southern coast and in the Somerset countryside.
All in all, the contrast between Italian and English cultures was too drastic. I wasn’t able to adapt in a way that made me feel comfortable in London. In fact, I ended up going back to Italy for four months after my time in England.
However, that’s not to say that I wouldn’t enjoy England if I lived there at a different time. I am currently living in New York City and think the similarities would actually help me enjoy London the next time around. Both cities have a flourishing cultural scene and many unique neighborhoods worth exploring.
I did myself a disservice by trying to compare Italy and England while I was visiting. In reality, there is no comparison to Italy. In my experience, its slowness and warm embrace are truly unmatched.
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