L'Italo-Americano

THURSDAY, APRIL 18, 2024 www.italoamericano.org 10 L'Italo-Americano LIFE PEOPLE REVIEWS ADVICE TRADITIONS I recently read an arti- c l e b y G e o r g i a K o n i d a r i o n t h e b l o g W o r l d W i d e Schooling about the biggest culture shocks Ameri- cans face in Europe, and it got me thinking about how these cultural differences play out in Italy. Needless to say, I wrote an article about it... Let's go through ten Euro- pean habits and things that Americans don't quite get, and see how they apply to an Italian context. Pay to pee: very common in Italy, too! In many European cities, the concept of paying to use public restrooms can catch Americans by surprise. This practice is quite common in Italy, especially in tourist- heavy areas and busy urban centers. Much like in the UK and other European coun- tries, many of the facilities in Italy are maintained for a small fee, which is typically collected through coin-oper- ated entry gates: this ensures that the restrooms are gener- ally clean and well-main - tained, though opinions vary on whether the cost is justi- fied by the cleanliness. So, when traveling in Italy, it's wise to keep some change handy for these situations, as f i n d i n g a f r e e p u b l i c restroom in places like Rome, Florence, or Venice can be quite a challenge! Buildings are very old, p e r h a p s m o r e s o i n I t a l y than anywhere else! I t a l y , j u s t l i k e m o s t o f Europe, is full of history, with buildings that date back cen- t u r i e s : w e a r e s o u s e d t o them that barely notice them a n y m o r e . I n f a c t , i t ' s n o t unusual for people to live in apartments within structures that are 400 to 500 years old. Often, though, the cost of liv- ing in such historical places c a n b e q u i t e s u b s t a n t i a l : renting or buying property in these areas reflects a premi- um, due in part to the desir- able location and the charm of living in a historical build- ing. Drying laundry outside: yes, it's a big thing in Italy, too! Drying laundry outdoors is often associated with Italy and with reason. The favor- able climate allows residents to dry their clothes under the sun for much of the year, a practice that gives linens the fresh, natural scent of the outdoors. This method not only saves on energy costs but also reduces the wear and tear on fabrics that can occur with machine drying. Even in the more temperate northern regions, it's com- mon to see rows of clothes f l u t t e r i n g i n t h e b r e e z e , hanging from balconies, or stretched across courtyards, a n d w h i l e m o s t I t a l i a n s today have a dryer, they still consider drying their laundry outside the way to go. No air-conditioning: not true anymore! Once upon a time, many I t a l i a n h o m e s a n d p u b l i c places lacked air condition- ing, as the country's moder- ate climate made it largely unnecessary. However, with rising global temperatures, this trend has shifted signifi- cantly: nowadays, air condi- tioning is increasingly com- m o n i n I t a l i a n h o m e s , particularly in urban areas where summer heat intensi- fies. It's also a standard fea- ture in new buildings, and m a n y p u b l i c s p a c e s h a v e been retrofitted to include it. The change certainly reflects a broader European trend, where older buildings are being adapted to accommo- date air conditioning due to increasing demand for com- fort in response to warmer temperatures. Europe is full of smokers, Italy... not so much anymore Italy has experienced a notable decline in smoking r a t e s , r e f l e c t i n g b r o a d e r changes across Europe: cur- rently, about 23% of adults smoke, down from 31% two decades ago. This reduction i s d u e t o s t r i n g e n t a n t i - smoking laws, including a ban on indoor smoking, and s h i f t i n g p u b l i c a t t i t u d e s toward health. All-day drinking: yes, in theory, but be careful when you order your spritz! In Italy, the concept of all- day drinking is less prevalent c o m p a r e d t o s o m e o t h e r European countries. While it's not unusual to enjoy a g l a s s o f w i n e w i t h l u n c h , drinking alcohol outside of mealtimes and traditional aperitivo hours is not widely accepted. The social norms around drinking are quite structured; for example, sip- p i n g a s p r i t z a t 1 0 i n t h e morning or 4 in the after- noon would be unusual and may draw curious looks. Strangers don't talk to you on public transport: t r u e , b u t i t d e p e n d s o n where you are In Italy, social interac- tions, particularly in public transport or on the streets, vary significantly between the North and the South. In the northern regions, people are generally more reserved and are unlikely to strike up a c o n v e r s a t i o n w i t h strangers without a specific reason. This contrasts with our South, where people are more open and sociable, and casual conversations with strangers are more common. So, as Americans, you may find the South a tad more like home, at least from this point of view! Italy loves its sparkling water I t a l y s h a r e s E u r o p e ' s fondness for sparkling water, with many Italians prefer- ring it over still tap water, even when the latter is per- fectly potable. This prefer- ence extends to naturally carbonated waters, sourced from springs where carbona- tion occurs underground, with brands like Ferrarelle a n d L e t e b e i n g p o p u l a r examples. Out of curiosity, I c a n t e l l y o u t h a t w a t e r becomes naturally carbonat- ed underground due to the presence of dissolved carbon dioxide gas; as rainwater seeps into the earth, it can absorb carbon dioxide from decomposing organic mater- ial, and when it then comes into contact with limestone o r o t h e r c a r b o n a t e - r i c h rocks, it dissolves the miner- als, forming carbonic acid. This process results in water that emerges at the surface as naturally carbonated, giv- ing it a distinctive sparkling texture and often a slightly mineralized taste. Ice is not as common in drinks: true! In Italy, the use of ice in drinks follows a distinct pat- tern that differs notably from American customs. Typical- ly, Italians only add ice to specific types of beverages, such as cocktails and aperi- tivi. For non-alcoholic drinks like water, it's uncommon to f i n d i c e i n c l u d e d u n l e s s specifically requested. This preference ensures that the drinks are enjoyed at a tem- perature that enhances their flavor without dilution. Food is slow in Europe, and Italy "created" the trend Italy really is the heart- land of "slow food," which champions the idea of quali- ty food enjoyed in good com- p a n y , w i t h o u t a n y h u r r y . But, mind, that's not to say every meal is a slow affair— Italians love their street food too, which is just as tradi- tional and flavorful, and per- fect for when you're on the go! CHIARA D'ALESSIO Culture shock, Italian style! Spritz is a traditional aperitivo. While there are no drinking time rules in Italy, we usually don't drink before aperitivo time, unless we are having a meal (Photo: Rosshelen/Dreamstime). Bottom left, the sheer age of our buildings sometimes comes as a surprise to tourists from across the ocean (Photo: ColorMaker/Shutterstock)

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