Playful Differences & Similarities of Italian vs. American Life

Twenty-four years. I simply can’t believe I’ve been living in Venice for twenty-four years!

January 31, 1987 was a warm, sun drenched day in Los Angeles when I kissed my family and friends goodbye at the Los Angeles International airport. I had all I needed with me: a one-way ticket, a few treasured belongings boxed and stored in the cargo hold of a PanAm jet, my wedding dress wrapped in a garment bag and held high above my head, and the man of my dreams by my side. I was leaving my world behind and was headed for the unknown.

We landed the next day on a fog covered winter morning in the city by the lagoon; two bone-chilling weeks would pass before the sun I left in Southern California finally came to our aid and turned the gray Venetian sky blue. It was a grim introduction for a young woman who was used to spending her workweek in a high-rise Beverly Hills office and her weekends sitting by the pool. But it was my new world and my new lifestyle, and it turned out to be the best choice I’ve ever made. Thank goodness my wonderful, patient partner never tired of me asking the question: Why? You see everything was different and being new to all this, and the nothing is impossible analytical type, I’m sure there were times when I drove my future husband crazy.

While tripping over the language (for the longest time I avoided using a spoon because it was too hard to pronounce cucchiaio…way too many vowels) I was prepared to pull everything I saw wrong with Italian bureaucracy into shape. Just give me six months I said, and I’ll have this place organized. How arrogant of me to think my way would be better! That’s not to say there isn’t a lot that could be done differently here, even the Italians will tell you that, but it took me a few years to realize there is a reason why countries, cultures and people see and do things differently, and that what works for one may not be right for another. And there are so many, many things I would never want to see change.

I have been asked countless times in the last twenty-four years by both Italian and American friends: Where do you like living the best, and what are the differences between your two countries?  I honestly love them both. How lucky am I to have two fabulous countries to call home?  I’ve made a short, playful list to give you an idea of the differences and similarities I’ve come across in the last two decades; differences that are now the norm for me. I’m sure there are many more, so feel free to add some of your own!

Italy                                                                                 

Coffee is not sold in paper cups                              

It is considered uncivil to set a lunch or dinner table without a table cloth               

Most Italians take a long vacation in August                                              

Beer with pizza and sandwiches; Wine with everything else; Milk is never served with meals                             

The majority of couples decide to only have one child

Grandparents take the place of daycare                                           

Soccer is the number one sport and has an 11 month season                                                           

Public transportation is used by all                                     

Consumers often seem to have fewer rights than the service providers                                                   

Old buildings are cherished and restored                             

You bag your own groceries and pay for the bags                                        

Slow-food is a way of life                                                    

Everyone drives as if they’re in a Ferrari                                         

People don’t really care what you do for a living                 

Baseball makes no sense to Italians                                    

It is acceptable to leave work in the morning to pick up your family’s daily supply of fresh baked bread

In larger cities people walk more than they drive

Pets are welcome in most restaurants                                                                     

Public schools are considered better than private                 

No one is without good healthcare

Meetings are scheduled to schedule meetings

Similarities between U.S.A. & Italy                                          

                                                           

Women love shoes and handbags made in Italy

Most women work outside the home

Everyone loves gelato and pizza!    

Pets are like family members

Basketball fans love the Lakers (this would be more Italy/L.A.)

SUVs are popular

Most don’t trust politicians

Everyone has a cellphone, or two

Glee!                     

People dislike call centers

Most high school grads go on to college     

Bruschette, risotto and pasta!

Gyms, yoga and wellness centers

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Italians love the U.S./Americans love Italy!