Nguyen Thi Loan was born in 1998 in Ha Tinh, Vietnam. She married Italian doctoral student Damiano Dondini, who was born in 1993 in Florence, in December 2025.

When Loan visited her husband’s family in Italy, she saw her parents‑in‑law hug and kiss each other in front of their children. She also saw their friends hug and kiss as a simple greeting.

Loan noticed that many Italian daughters‑in‑law call their parents‑in‑law by first name, not “Mom” or “Dad”. Her own in‑laws understood her culture and let her call them “Mom” and “Dad”, and they even offered help for her to go back to school.

She also learned that some of Damiano’s young friends think love can be flexible. They stay friends after a break‑up and some live together and have children without getting married.

Loan’s story shows how everyday customs can feel very different for a Vietnamese person in Italy. Knowing these differences can make cultural change easier for anyone moving abroad.