Red-Handed with Lasagne

In Italy, food is a ritual: meals are a unique bonding experience, but they do come with unspoken rules. Jay learned this firsthand, and a well-meaning misstep ended up breaking the ice with his host family.

Why did you choose Italy, and Bologna in particular, when deciding where to study abroad?

I chose Italy for my study abroad because I wanted to be exposed to a European culture that was not English-speaking. My university offered an exchange program in Italy, and I immediately knew that was where I wanted to go: having grown up in a state with a strong Italian community, I had already been exposed to influences from Italian culture, art, language, and food, so when I learned that I had the option to study there, it was too good an opportunity to pass up. I ended up in Bologna because it was the city where my school offered the program, but after being there, I can now say that there is no other place I would recommend an international student to study.

What drew you to Dinehome while you were studying in Bologna?

When I was in Bologna, I was offered the chance to participate in the Dinehome project. I was nervous about whether to accept it or not, since I didn’t speak a word of Italian when I first arrived in Italy. Then I realized that it was easy for me, as an international student, to find ways to isolate myself from the real culture of the country and its people, something I thought I would regret. So I decided to take part in the program to meet and build relationships with people who would help me discover a different side of Italy that I wouldn’t find in a museum or a bar. Plus, who would say no to homemade Italian food?

What do you think is the best thing a student can gain from the Dinehome experience?

The best thing a student can get from the Dinehome program is the opportunity to meet and build a relationship with someone they wouldn’t otherwise know. There is something special about sharing a meal with someone and the way it connects you, no matter where you come from or what language you speak. This is something that Italians clearly understand well. By participating in the program, I was able to gain an experience that I will cherish for the rest of my life, and I learned more than I ever could have learned in a classroom.

Would you like to share the most embarrassing moment with us?

It’s not hard to remember the most embarrassing moment. During a dinner, my host mom served some delicious lasagna. Being the American that I am, I tried to eat as much as I could as quickly as possible. In an attempt to load my fork with more than it could hold, I took a piece of bread from the table and started piling lasagna on it. Immediately, my host mom stood up and began scolding me loudly in Italian. Not knowing what she was saying, I put everything down and raised my hands, so as to stop whatever I was doing wrong. When everyone finished laughing, they explained to me that you should never eat a pasta dish, especially lasagna, with bread. I never did it again.

What was the best dinner you had with your host family?

The best dinner with my host family was definitely when my parents came to visit me in Italy and were invited by my host family to dinner. It was wonderful to see the two families interacting, and my host family was extremely kind to my parents, who spoke even less Italian than I did. It will undoubtedly be one of the most beautiful memories of my entire life, as I know it will be for my parents too.