Euro Alexa Jo

5 Tips For Navigating The Market in Florence

When I first got to Florence I really wanted to go to the market, but I was scared. I was also scared of the grocery store so safe to say I ate out a lot my first week here. I was so intimidated by the different way grocery shopping was run here and felt like everyone around me knew that I didn’t know what I was doing. Going on the market tour with SAI helped a lot, but I still wasn’t confident buying things on my own.

The first time I went to the market alone I circled the whole place and looked at all the wonderful food thinking, “I wish I knew how to buy that.” That’s something I’ve never had a problem with knowing how to do in the United States. I didn’t know how to order meat or cheese or how much of them, and I went and grabbed the produce myself which happens to be a huge no-no here. Ordering a chicken breast without its head and feet? That was out of the question for this time around.

Then I did a crazy thing… I asked.

Asking people for help is never easy but when you find yourself in a new culture that you need to be able to get around for a few months, these skills are helpful to acquire early on. For those of you who haven’t yet braved the market or just find it easier to get all your groceries in one place, I’m going to share the top five helpful tips to navigating the open-air market.

I go to Mercato Centrale because it is closest to my home, though I’m sure the manner of doing business is similar no matter which market you frequent.

1. Bring a bag

Bring your own canvas bag. We are in the business of saving the Earth here people!

2. Do a lap before buying anything (at least the first time you go)

This gives you a chance to see all that there is, which stands’ products look the best, and maybe even find something new to try! I’ve gone to different produce stands every time I go just because I like to spread the support and get to know more locals.

3. Order in Italian

At least give it your best shot. You don’t have to be fluent to learn a few simple phrases and even if you say it wrong, the effort you make to blend into Italian culture is important. Remember we are here to learn their way of life not to live our exact same American life in another country.

It also helps to translate your grocery list before going to the market so you can say what you’d like and read signs.

4. Get to know the locals who are selling you food

Ask their names, ask where they’re from, ask how long they’ve been doing this, and use manners. Every person has a story, you could be missing out on some really great ones by just getting your food and getting out. Asking them how they would prepare certain meats or vegetables you’re not familiar with is a good move too. If you introduce yourself and ask their name, they are likely to greet you the next time with a smile.

5. How to purchase certain foods:

Fruit/vegetables:

Once you approach the stand and have decided what you’d like, get their attention and ask for the produce you’d like and how much of it. They will weigh it and bag it for you and you pay them directly.

Meat:

If its sliced deli meat, a good amount would be 100 grams. With something like chicken breasts you can say how many servings you need and they’ll help you out.

Cheese:

A good amount for cheese would be 250 grams. They’re also likely to hold the knife where they’re going to cut for you to give the “ok.”

6. (Bonus) This may go without saying but this is not the type of market you barter at. They weigh your food and that’s the price you pay.

Remember: When asking for food, give it your best shot in Italian first. If you try and they look at you sideways, don’t fret! Simply say “Parla inglese?” and you can work together to figure out the transaction. If you really just can’t get it, it’s always okay to ask someone if they speak English. When that happens for me, I like to then ask how to say that in Italian so the next time I can do it correctly.

Good luck!

Ciao,

Alexa Jo

5 Emotions I Felt During My First Week Abroad

Ciao! I’m Alexa Jo and I’ll be a student voice here at the SAI office this semester. I’m excited to explore this new environment with each one of you and to seek out the things that will make Florence feel like home. As this is my first time in Europe I can’t wait to travel around and take every opportunity to see the world. I’m a double major in Psychology and Communications and I also do quite a bit of writing in my spare time (though I don’t think there will be much of that here!) Every week I’ll be conducting a list of my “Top 5’s of Florence” whether that be gelato, pizza, pasta, or hangout spots. I’ll share my experiences, mistakes, and lessons learned so you don’t have to waste any time and can get straight to the gems of Firenze.

This week I’ll be discussing 5 feelings I had my first week abroad. If you’ve been abroad, you’ve felt them, if you’re going abroad in the future, you’ll feel them. It’s pretty much inevitable that you’ll go through a rollercoaster of emotions but hang tight! If you can make it through the toughest parts in the beginning, you will get to the point where you question if you’ll ever go back home.

What have I done?

I am not afraid to say that my first night abroad I cried. And I don’t mean sniffles, I mean big tears. I laid in my new bed without my familiar blankets, pillows, and sheets, and stared at a ceiling in a new apartment full of people I had never met before and thought what in the world have I done. I remember texting my parents that night saying, “I want to come home.” Now, three weeks later, I’m enjoying it so much they can hardly get ahold of me! The beginning is a lot. Between new people, a new school, a new semester, a new apartment, a new language, and a new country, it’s a lot to take on at once. Fortunately, because study abroad students just get kind of thrown in there, the adjustment process is relatively quick.

I felt stupid.

The first night in Florence my roommates and I went out to dinner. We questioned everything. I’m not kidding, everything. We didn’t know how to order, how to read the menu, how tall to fill our wine glasses, how to get the check, how to pay the check, how to pronounce “Grazie”, and I think my favorite thing we questioned was how to eat the pizza. It sounds silly but it’s true! Pizza in Italy is served uncut and you get a whole pizza to yourself. We didn’t know if you were supposed to cut them into bites and eat it with a fork or cut triangles and eat it with your hands, and lastly, was it rude to ask for a box to take your leftovers home? I was so full, but I ate the whole pizza because I thought it would be rude to leave it but also to ask to take it with. Don’t be me, just ask for a box.

I felt lost.

Emotionally and physically. Was I happy or sad? Excited or scared? Left or right? I didn’t know. However, I figured it out! Nothing a little google maps couldn’t fix when I got lost and the repetition of walking around made all the streets recognizable over time. As far as figuring out emotions go, that’s just something you have to feel completely, talk through, journal about, and rest on.

I felt exhausted.

The first week I felt like I needed to do everything all at once and to constantly exert myself to the fullest. I’m really glad I did all that I did, but boy was I tired. The good thing is you walk and do so much during the day that it keeps you distracted and at the end of the night when you snuggle down, you sleep hard.

I felt excited!

The first week isn’t all bad, it was actually really good! With everything that’s scary also comes confidence boosts or opportunities to learn. I was scared because I didn’t know how to speak Italian or how to get food at the market, but I was so excited knowing that in a short time I would know how to get those fresh groceries and understand/speak bits and pieces of the beautiful language. Each small victory like ordering a croissant in a bakery without English or getting to class without directions or getting fresh produce at the market boosts confidence and helps you to focus on the bigger things in study abroad like how amazing it is that you get to live in Italy for four months.

The first week abroad is daunting. It’s a whirlwind of activities, emotions, new faces, and new places. When they say you grow through this experience, they aren’t kidding. I can’t wait to share more of my experience with the rest of you.

Ciao,

Alexa Jo

Introduction

Ciao! My name is Alexa Jo and I’m the SAI intern for Spring 2020. Throughout my semester here in Italy I will be exploring Florence and compiling lists of my Top 5’s. Food, dessert, quiet spots, lively spots, coffee, lessons learned, tips and tricks—you name it! I am born and raised Minnesotan and I go to Winona State University in beautiful southern Minnesota. Back home I study Psychology and Communications, but here I’ve found I’m learning the best lessons by living in a new culture. I’m usually a busy bee, running off from one thing to the next, but here I am trying to learn how to slow my pace, breathe the fresh air, and be where my feet are.