Over the summer before going abroad, I thought diligently about how I wanted to spend my time. I wanted to be an independent traveler seeking adventure. I was going to embrace the European lifestyle and completely cut ties with America for four months to see what this world had to offer beyond the country and global superpower I call home. In retrospect, I will say that I definitely kept that dream alive and have no regrets from my experience abroad; however, my time did not fully resemble my initial thoughts. Rather, I was sucked into a more authentic and slow-paced, local European lifestyle. I embraced a new way of thinking and living—a new normal.
As a Georgetown student, we learn all about international affairs, different cultures and ways of thought beyond our own. However, beyond vacations and short trips with the B.S. Business and Global Affairs (BGA) program, I have not had time to “try out” a new style of living. These 4 months in Florence filled that gap, and my engagement with faith was at the center of it all.
Crucifix on top of Seceda Ridge in the Dolomites (Italian Alps), quite far away from Georgetown's Hilltop campus
One of the biggest changes was the slow pace of life in Florence. Fresh out of the investment banking recruiting cycle and a packed summer, allowing myself to live this slow pace was hard, but at the end of the day I wanted to embrace whatever was thrown my way. The first week I went to Mass and was given a blessed pencil for students beginning the semester. This was my first engagement with religion abroad and it set the tone for my experience. I propped it behind my desk so every time I sat down in my room, did work, or worked on my journal, I saw it. Normally, these things fade out for me and turn into decorations, but this symbol was a motivator for me throughout the semester.
Back to the point about slow-paced life, I had to think a lot about what these changes meant in my life. There are millions of people who live like this, major countries and global players who simply live a different way and call it normal. This realization truly opened my eyes to the wonders of this world and the beauty of being present. Engaging with faith in Florence gave me the opportunity to see different aspects of this and opened my mind to ways of thought that allowed me to empathize and share my love with others.
A small Church on one of the trails in the Dolomites
Most of my memorable experiences engaging with religion came from conversations and academics while abroad. Being Italian-American myself, I expected a heavy Catholic influence, so I naturally explored that dimension first. I engaged with professors who taught the vitality of the Catholic faith in Italian history, where the mindset was that the papacy is the “Auctoritas” of the people, meaning all power and meaning derives from this higher power. These ideas present themselves in the beauty of Italian cities which rose during the Renaissance, including Florence. They are built around a Duomo or Cathedral which is the main Church of the city. The wealth accumulated during the Renaissance was funneled to the arts to express admiration for the Church, demonstrating the beauty of these structures and way of life. Now, it is a directional beacon, an understood relationship and an underlying motive in aspects of politics and culture. With this understanding from a “step back” perspective, I wanted to explore other dimensions and presences of religion. One great example arose from a discussion with a friend from the Georgetown Qatar campus at the Villa about her “normal” back home when it comes to Islam. We had many discussions about the similarities between Islam and Christianity and specifically different variations. She explained her family's ties to Sufism and different paths of devotion to which I related my own family’s heritage of Southern Italy and deep devotion to patron saints and figures like Padre Pio. Discussions like this shaped my experience and were all thanks to my faith in embracing the new normal of slowing down and living in the present. It also reflected a personal journey and relationship with God in that I was able to fully love and live a life in accordance with Jesus while in this present state of mind.
Further engagements with local communities like the Bengalis in the leather markets throughout Florence who collectively practice Islam around the city were inspiring, showing how though Italy is quite conservative with their policies in alignment with the Church and immigration laws, there is room for foreigners to practice religious freedom.
Pagan symbols on the roof of the Trulli houses in Alberobello, a city in the Southern region of Puglia
One of my favorite parts of the intersection of Italian culture/life and religion is the hospitality. Coming from a traditional Italian family, this was expected, however, being a traveler alone in Sicily greeted with a family of restaurant owners was beyond imaginable. I met Tuddi, the owner of one of the most traditional street grills in Catania, Sicily and had a 3 hour conversation about Sicilian culture and the humility of Southern Italy because of their strong devotion to family and the Church. Their small town but big heart mentality can be seen in every part of the country, and just about every street corner where God leads the way. Religion is central to this country and has been for a very long time. The home of the Catholic Church truly is a home for love and collective faith.
This new normal that I embraced abroad was fueled by religion. Not only with personal prayer and engagement with God, but simply with the engagement with Italian life. The communality of Florence and centrality in the religious structure and history which built the city and heightened the power of the nation still surges throughout every aspect of life. Returning to America, I hope to bring this internal sense of faith with me and share it amongst my own society.
Giuseppe Quatela (MSB’26, SFS’26) is an undergraduate student at Georgetown studying business and global affairs between the McDonough School of Business and Walsh School of Foreign Service. Academically, he has a strong interest in the multidimensional nature of business, discovering how culture, religion and political aspects impact business decisions and society’s functions. During fall 2024 he studied abroad in Florence at Georgetown’s Villa Le Balze and participating in the Doyle Global Dialogue cohort. He comes from a family of Italian immigrants where his Catholic faith is central to his life, community, and traditions. He wished to discover how these traditions trace back to Italian life and where they have shaped society. He hoped that learning about Italian life through his classes will complement his individual efforts to integrate himself into Florence, continue learning the language, and gain insights into how religion shapes this historic city.
