A study abroad student learns a new language to befriend her neighbor across the street.
By Haley McPhail, USAC Viterbo
The first time I opened the window to my apartment in Viterbo, Italy, I wasn’t greeted by the breeze, but by a pair of kind eyes across the alley. Rita. She was my neighbor.
At the time, I was pursuing a dual major in nutritional science and Spanish from the University of Nevada, Reno, and I had just finished a study abroad program in Costa Rica through the University Studies Abroad Consortium (USAC). My conversational Spanish abilities grew exponentially there, but I became increasingly curious about whether I could learn another language. I was drawn to the Italian language, so I began looking into another term overseas.
I found an immersive program in this medieval town, where I could take the required breadth of electives in Italian language as well as a core class in nutrition, along with other classes of my dreams, like Italian cuisine and drawing and painting in Italy.
I could tell this was going to be a good experience. Learning another language has always opened my eyes and my heart. Every word I speak, I learned from someone:
“In bocca al Lupo,” a way of saying “good luck” in the Lazio region in Italy.
“Con gusto,” the way Costa Ricans say, “You’re welcome.”
“Bpung mak,” the Thai slang word for slay, which is similar to “Stand tall” — what my parents always said to me.
All these words are traced with love and connection. Everywhere I went, I had the honor of befriending strangers with whom I could never have connected if it weren’t for learning additional languages.
I often started and ended each day by greeting Rita. On the first day we met, I knew very little Italian and often mixed it up with Spanish. But, I promised her that I would get better once my classes started.
Often while journaling in my room, I would always hear Rita talking to the people walking by in the street. She was always cheerful and seemed to have something special to say to everyone she met. I thought to myself, “I want to be a social butterfly like her!”
Slowly but surely, I learned more and more Italian thanks to my incredible Professoressa Morena and practicing with my Italian roommates and my language partner, Sara.
Sara became such a dear friend. We spent every day together for at least an hour, usually to walk around the city or meet up for either an aperitivo or a gelato. She was studying English and Spanish, so we would switch languages all the time. I eventually was able to communicate much more easily after a few weeks of class, practice with friends and in cafes or restaurants.
One evening, Rita didn’t seem to be her normal self as I saw her solemnly looking out of her window. I asked if she was alright, and she explained to me that she has been lonesome ever since her husband passed away. I told her, as best as I could in Italian, that I would be happy to keep her company if she ever needed a friend.
Dealing with a language barrier still, she called out to our other neighbor, Lucca, the owner of the bar below her apartment, who happened to speak Spanish. She knew that I spoke Spanish, so I was able to befriend Lucca and explain what I wanted to say to her so he could pass the message.
I ended up enjoying a glass of wine and pastry at Lucca’s bar while getting to know him and his partner Giorgio, thanks to Rita. It was such an exciting application of knowledge in my second and third languages that it allowed me to create connections.
The next week, I brought her flowers from the local market, and she invited me in for an espresso. We continued our friendship through to my last day in Italy. When that time came, we shared a goodbye espresso, and it was the most fluent conversation we ever had.
A year later, with my travel journal full to the brim with memories, I had the opportunity to send Rita a letter. My former roommate told me that Rita had received it and wants to write me a letter back. I can’t wait to read it when it arrives.
That was the moment I knew I achieved my goal: I can learn more languages and make new friends, like Rita, because of my growing language abilities.
Ci vediamo presto, Rita!
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