Erin Byrnes

As I prepare to leave Sorrento, I can’t help but think about how much I’ve learned about the culture and history. Although I’m excited to go back home I’m going to miss the slow pace of this town. I’m going to miss walking everywhere and of course, the food. What I’m most excited for is telling my friends at home everything I’ve seen and learned in the last five weeks. 

Career Readiness

My studies have definitely enhanced my career readiness by reviving my creativity. I remember being nervous coming here, wondering what kind of videos I’ll be producing. The bright landscapes, expressive passion and friendly faces gave me a comfort I didn’t think I needed; especially with a phone on a tripod in my hand. When filming in the US, I often get nervous from the weird looks I get from bystanders. It almost distracts me from getting better shots. In Italy people don’t seem to care. It might be the amount of tourism they’ve been getting for the last six decades, or they don’t mind. Either way, that distraction was gone for the entirety of this trip.

 Going to Capri and being surrounded by all the natural beauty gave me such a burst of inspiration. We weren’t even there for an hour and I knew exactly how I was going to produce my video. I glanced down at my rainbow fan, stared out at the Tyrrhenian sea and was greeted by a wash of blue. Then it hit me- I want to capture all the colors of the rainbow in Capri. I went about the day looking for unique ways to show off Capri in this way. I was rewarded with a fun video packed with information not everyone knows about Capri.

The most fun video I filmed was my news package at a cooking class in Sorrento. Some would think that would be stressful because I’d be filming while learning how to cook all these dishes. I got plenty of perspective shots before we started, and set up my tripod at different angles while we made each course of food. I interviewed people before and after we ate so I could enjoy the meal I helped prepare. Working in a different country honestly gave me this feeling of “going off the grid” (even though I was still posting on social media). I didn’t have the distractions of my life in the US to keep me from getting my work done, and doing it well. I think that’s why I’ve produced my best work in Sorrento. I’m happy to have the portfolio I now have. 

Leadership

Studying in Sorrento has also given me leadership skills by the amount of things I did alone on a daily basis. As much as I loved hanging out with the other girls on this trip, I appreciated the times I sat down at a restaurant or coffee shop alone. This is something I’ve never done before because in the US you could get food to-go. Needless to say this was a new experience I’m going to take back to the US with me.

Being in a place I was vaguely familiar with also helped my navigational skills. I was able to lead others in terms of shortcuts that had shade and restaurant recommendations.

Grocery shopping for myself wasn’t a new concept, but home-cooked dinners were relatively new to me. I enjoy cooking but I didn’t cook as much as I wanted to in the states. It was a surprise to me when I cooked something and other people wanted to know what I made because it smelled so good. Even though it was usually some variation of chicken and vegetables. Since I’m living in a dorm with a kitchen on my floor; I’m excited to use that space to cook dinners for myself, or even my friends. I’m coming back to the US with a newfound confidence and ready to take initiative, even if it’s something as small as making food in a community kitchen. 

Cultural Differences

In terms of language barriers, I didn’t have as much trouble as I thought. I was able to explain most things that people who didn’t know as much English could understand. When I asked our chef from the cooking class if I could interview her, she was a little confused. I then asked if I could ask her some questions for my video, and she was more than happy to help. It definitely helped me think about how I speak and come across to others. 

In terms of culture, there is one thing I can’t wait to go back to, and that’s the LGBTQ community. There were pride decorations around Sant’ Anna when we arrived. However the longer I stayed the more traditional I realized it is in Southern Italy. The only LGBTQ couples I noticed were men. That made me miss the amount of pride across all genders I see in the US every day. Identifying as a queer woman, I really felt that homesickness. At certain points it took me back to when I was scared to talk to women in fear of being judged by others. I’m so used to expressing myself in the states, and I still did in Italy, but it felt different. I wouldn’t even mention it to locals. I’d walk around with my rainbow fan, hoping people walking by didn’t have an issue with it, and nobody did. That gave me some comfort, but I think I missed my other friends that are LGBTQ to give me that support. 

Coming Home

Overall, I’m coming back to the US a better person because of this experience. I can’t wait to show off my portfolio of videos capturing the beauty of the Amalfi Coast. I’m ready to test out my newfound independence in the states. I also can’t wait to see my friends, tell them all about my experience, and give them their souvenirs of course.