L'Italo-Americano

sciousness and even some of the customs you'll encounter daily. W h a t a r e , i n y o u r opinion, the worst habits tourists show when visit- ing Italy, and how do you tackle them in the book? I've always felt that any- one with a passport and the courage to travel abroad is on the right path. But in the age of social media posts, where it's easy to get pulled into a bucket-list mentality, there a r e o p p o r t u n i t i e s f o r improvement. For example, v i s i t o r s m a y b e o v e r l y focused on checking attrac- tions and activities off their list, like the Colosseum, the Cinque Terre, the Leaning Tower of Pisa, a gondola ride, etc. There can be the tenden- cy to bounce around from one major tourist destination to the next without learning about or engaging with the p l a c e . I t a l y h a s s o m u c h m o r e t o o f f e r . C r e a t i n g a relationship with one or two l o c a t i o n s a n d i m m e r s i n g yourself in the richness of the local culture can be the most rewarding and magical part of your trip. You'll learn new ways of doing things, per- haps even a new approach to l i f e . T h e r e a r e s e e m i n g l y endless off-the-beaten-path d e s t i n a t i o n s . W h i l e f e w tourists venture there, they are overflowing with amazing Instead of advice on visit- ing specific cities and tourist sites, readers learn principles that blend cultural knowl- edge, context, and savvy trav- el practices. While Italy can be extremely diverse in some r e s p e c t s , i t s c u s t o m s a r e often similar across regions, so the great part is that once you learn the rules of the g a m e , y o u c a n p l a y a n y - where. It also includes some essential words and phrases I've found especially helpful in navigating the culture. Having this in your tool kit will equip you with a baseline to artfully enter the land- scape and experience the country on a deeper level. Learning to approach travel with a how-to mindset may also benefit you beyond Italy. As an informed traveler, you c a n e x p e d i t e t h e c u l t u r a l adjustment period, be more confident, save money, and help ensure your safety. That knowledge helps you make smarter use of your time. E m b r a c i n g c u l t u r a l l y m i n d f u l t r a v e l i n g c o m e s down to mindset. You need to understand how Italians think and act and what is behind their thoughts and actions. Italy's history, immi- gration, the Catholic Church, the role of the family, and how time is valued are just a few of the issues that create the collective Italian con- history, food, and traditions. Another suggestion is that travelers reflect on their own cultures. Visiting somewhere new is an opportunity to step back and reflect on the cus- toms, traditions, and accept- ed practices in your country that might not make sense to someone else. Our personal cultural norms aren't a uni- versal way to approach situa- tions. What advantages can we expect from traveling mindfully, in terms of personal experiences? A meaningful trip begins with experiencing and partic- ipating in the culture. When you're in tune with the cul- ture of a place, everything changes. If you think about the region where you live, chances are, you can go into a n y s t o r e , r e s t a u r a n t , o r business with confidence. You instinctively understand the expectations in day-to- d a y i n t e r a c t i o n s . L o c a l s know how to identify excel- lent regional food, when the best times are to run errands, and how to avoid dicey situa- tions. They are comfortable in their environment, don't stick out, are less likely to get taken advantage of, and typi- cally make personal connec- tions easily. My best days in Italy have always been when I h a d a m e a n i n g f u l , f u n , inspirational, or unexpected interaction with someone I met. It's very fulfilling, and I walk away having discovered something new. Italians are incredibly social and rela- t i o n s h i p - o r i e n t e d . W h e n y o u ' r e a c u l t u r a l l y a w a r e traveler, you find that most I t a l i a n s a r e i n h e r e n t l y friendly and want to connect with you. But, if you aren't culturally attuned or only g r a v i t a t e t o w a r d m a j o r tourist attractions, you will likely miss out on wonderful opportunities. Last but not least, of course: tell us when your book is coming out and where we can find it! A Guide to Italy: Cultural Insights and Tips to Maxi- mize Your Trip, is available on Amazon now, and will be a v a i l a b l e t h r o u g h o t h e r retailers later this month. Visit patricktunnophd.com o r italianfieldsmedia.com to find out more. earnestly to talk to their new family but were completely ill-prepared. They had ques- tion after question for me, like: "How do you say I'm a vegetarian? Why is he peel- ing the skin off that pear? Do I have to drink all this wine? I can't eat anymore; do I have to?" It was one of those light bulb moments where I asked myself, how can peo- p l e g o a n y w h e r e a b r o a d without a baseline under- standing of the culture? I decided my mission would b e t o d i s t i l l e v e r y t h i n g I knew in the most simple and fun way possible so others could have life-changing cul- tural experiences abroad. There was another moti- vating factor—I view travel as more than visiting a place. I've found that the real value of traveling is connecting with the culture, history, and people. I wanted to provide the tools to open up aspects o f I t a l y t h a t m a y n o t b e immediately accessible to travelers, especially those traveling for short periods. Connecting with Italians and learning about the culture creates moments that can inspire you for a lifetime. What can we readers expect to learn from " A Guide to Italy," and what habits should we change t o e m b r a c e c u l t u r a l l y mindful traveling? THURSDAY, JULY 27, 2023 www.italoamericano.org 18 L'Italo-Americano P atrick Tunno is not your average t r a v e l w r i t e r : growing up under the influence of his immigrant grandparents' customs and traditions, he was introduced to authentic Italian culture at a young age. His first trip to Italy, at t h e a g e o f t w e l v e , w a s a transformative experience that sparked a lifelong pas- sion for the country and its people. His journey took him f r o m m e m o r i z i n g I t a l i a n phrases on cassette tapes to e a r n i n g a n M B A f r o m Milan's prestigious SDA Boc- c o n i U n i v e r s i t y . T o d a y , P a t r i c k i s a p r o f e s s o r a t Pennsylvania State Universi- ty, where he develops study- abroad programs that pro- mote cultural immersion, language learning, and per- sonal growth. I n h i s l a t e s t e n d e a v o r , Patrick penned a book to g u i d e t r a v e l e r s t o w a r d a m o r e c u l t u r a l l y m i n d f u l a p p r o a c h t o e x p l o r i n g Italy. A G u i d e t o I t a l y : C u l t u r a l I n s i g h t s a n d Tips to Maximize Your T r i p , b r i n g s t o g e t h e r Patrick's extensive knowl- edge and personal experi- ences in Italy, offering read- ers a unique perspective on how to truly connect with the country's culture, history, and people. In his interview with L'I- talo-Americano, Tunno shares his inspiration for the book, his thoughts on the i m p o r t a n c e o f c u l t u r a l l y mindful traveling, and some o f t h e w o r s t h a b i t s h e ' s observed among tourists in I t a l y . H e a l s o p r o v i d e s a sneak peek into what readers can expect from his book and h o w i t c a n e n h a n c e t h e i r travel experiences. "A Guide to Italy" is about culturally mindful t r a v e l i n g , w h i c h i s i n c r e d i b l y i m p o r t a n t nowadays: what's been y o u r i n s p i r a t i o n a n d motivation to embark on the project? I remember the first time I took students abroad as a p r o f e s s o r . I w a s s i t t i n g a r o u n d a d i n n e r t a b l e a t an agriturismo with three college students and their host family. They smiled, laughed, and tried to com- municate with each other. I served the dual role of cultur- al ambassador and transla- tor. The students—three girls a r o u n d n i n e t e e n — t r i e d FRANCESCA BEZZONE Mindful ways to discover Italy: a chat with Patrick Tunno Patrick with his students in Italy and, right, a young Patrick with family friends Olindo and Amelia (Photos courtesy of Patrick Tunno) LIFE PEOPLE REVIEWS ADVICE TRADITIONS

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