By Jimena Bali Orona Flores, University of Connecticut | ISI Florence Spring 2026

Every student in the ISI program is assigned an Italian teacher, but their role goes far beyond teaching Italian. They become your daily point of connection. They will ask you about your favorite gelateria, your weekend plans, and your progress adjusting to life abroad. My Italian teacher, Tatiana, offered meaningful insights into how Italians live, with sustainability standing out as one of the most impactful for study abroad students.

A Shift in Perspective

I remember early in my program how she shared a perspective that shaped my entire experience. “The difference between Italy and the United States is less about who cares, and more about how it is expressed.”

In the United States, sustainability is often visible and explicitly stated. It is labeled, marketed, and promoted. In Italy, it is quieter; it has become a practice. It shows up in transportation, gastronomy habits, and cultural emphasis on longevity.

This mindset is deeply rooted in history, particularly in the years following World War II, when scarcity required people to be resourceful. For many Italian families, including Tatiana’s, those values were passed down through generations. Lessons like “turn off the light when you leave a room” or “finish your food” weren’t framed as environmental actions; they were simply about showing respect and being responsible

The Reality of Italian Daily Life

As a study abroad student, you experience this mindset almost immediately. During orientation, you are told that if it’s cold, you layer up rather than changing the temperature. This is because heating is regulated nationally, with limits on when it can be turned on and how long it can operate. You quickly learn that using too many appliances at once can cause your electricity to shut off. Laundry, cooking, showering, and even using a hairdryer have to be balanced carefully.

Food habits switch too; you are informed that groceries don’t last as long. So you shop more and buy less. Dryers are a luxury good; you most likely won’t get one, and air drying will become a normal part of life. At first, none of these behaviors feels like practicing sustainable habits; they just feel different.

Common Sense over Labels

In Italy, sustainability is not presented as an extra effort; it is built into the structure of daily life. Smaller kitchens and refrigerators encourage mindful consumption, reinforcing these patterns. My Italian teacher chooses seasonal products not because they have an eco-conscious label but because they taste better. Hence, she will purchase artichokes in the spring and tomatoes in the summer because it is “common sense”.

Embracing the “Inconvenience”

At first, this way of living might seem inconvenient and even frustrating for American students. I remember that during orientation, a group of boys approached a staff member to express concerns about their small living space. Many Americans struggle with the daily limitations and slower way of life. From having compact kitchens to walking everywhere, life feels less convenient or efficient than in the United States.

This is what makes studying abroad such a valuable experience. Students are pushed out of their comfort zone, discovering new versions of themselves. It challenges them to rethink their definition of sustainability and reshape their mindset through Italian culture.

A Lasting Cultural Lesson

You learn to plan differently, buy differently, and move differently. As Tatiana explained, students begin to see that sustainability is not only about activism or innovation, but also about design and habit. She also noted that study abroad students bring valuable strengths, such as a strong awareness of global environmental issues, though this stems from a context of convenience.

One key lesson Tatiana shares with every study abroad student is this: sustainability is not just an initiative, it is a lifestyle rooted in culture, community, and daily choices.

For any student in the ISI program or about to begin their journey, one of the most valuable pieces of advice I can offer is to sit down and truly listen to your Italian teacher. Some of these conversations and perspectives might stay with you long after the program ends.