Culture shock is a real thing

I never really understood the term “Culture shock”. I've only lived in DC and some of my vacations lasted for a couple weeks and I was with my family during that time. So I've never really felt what it was like to go through culture shock. Of course I didn't think I was gonna go through it here cause I just didn't think at all LOL.

My first day hit me like a truck. When I first got to school I didn't understand why all the students were running to their classes. So when I got to my classroom everyone was frantic to find a seat in the back. I tried sitting close to the back middle but then a classmate of mine was like “No” and said something in Italian. I just flashed a smile and found a seat close to the front on the side. I saw everyone greeting each other like you would when coming from summer break. But obviously I didn't know anyone so I just sat there and watched. Everyone was speaking Italian. Which makes sense because I’m in Italy, but I felt like I was just thrown into the deep end of the pool. A girl came to me and introduced herself and I just said “Sono Americana” (I am american). Not knowing that Europeans are obsessed with American culture, she was like “Wow”. After that people started to stare like I was an artifact in a museum.

When the bell rang and the teacher walked in, everyone stood up and said “Buongiorno!”. I looked up at everyone and the girl next to me looked at me and made a hand gesture that I should stand up as well. So I stood up and smiled. Then sat back down, I was so confused. When break started at 10, some kids left the class and some went to each other and started to talk. I was all alone. I think I stayed in my chair the whole day and barely spoke a word. That was until my English teacher came in and said “Today we have a student from a very special place”. Of course all eyes went to me because I'm sure everyone knew by then I was from the USA. Long story short, I had to introduce myself and the English teacher and I just had a conversation about me while the class listened. Honestly the first day was a blur, I just sat there. When I got home and ate lunch and went to my room I sobbed. Not only was it very different for me because not to brag I'm pretty popular in DC so I have a lot of friends. But here I have no friends at all. I also don't really know how to speak Italian. What was I thinking??? Coming here where everyone speaks a different language and I have nobody here that I know. When I say Culture shock hit me like a truck omg.