September, 2012
Luca Marty is a J-1 trainee from Italy at a travel agency in Bethesda, Maryland,near Washington, DC,where he is learning how to create customized trip plans that often combine visits to centers of culture and the arts, such as Rome and Florence, with a relaxed experience in the Italian countryside in places like Tuscany and Umbria.
Luca says “In much of the Italian countryside, life still has a slow rhythm, traditional festivals are still celebrated and traditional values are still upheld.”
His favorite part of the J-1 training program experience is the opportunity to learn, especially from his supervisor, the most experienced person in the agency. “He advises the travelers with passion on what to do, where to go, what to see,” Luca says. He enjoys working on a small team of about 6 people. “All of my colleagues have very good qualities,” Luca reveals.
One of the curiosities about American culture that stands out to Luca is the tradition of celebrating a baby shower before the baby is born. “In Italy,” Luca e lains “We don’t celebrate until after the baby is born, because we don’t know yet if everything will be ok.” But Luca says he can understand why Americans shower the mother with gifts before the baby’s birth. “It gives the mother a chance to prepare and get everything in order before the baby arrives.”
Luca enjoys living in the DC area. “There are so many things to discover!” Since he has arrived here, he has eaten Southern, Mexican and Korean and other foods. He avoids Italian restaurants because he wants to try something new. “You can meet people from all over the world in DC!” he adds. “It’s an international city.”
Luca leaves us with some advice for J-1 trainees and interns: “Come here, have a positive attitude and be friendly. That’s the most important thing. Everything else takes care of itself. You will meet interesting people, see interesting places and learn about American culture. Don’t be shy to try everything!”