1. They adore own culture, food, architecture, art, fashion, history, language and everything else 'made in Italy'. It is definitely right to love your own county and be proud of it, but Italy seems to be on a distant Planet. They do probably know about different life outside of the border, but it doesn't infiltrate into their world. No matter what happens at Paris fashion week or how beautiful orthodox churches or buddhist temples are, Italian still deserve more attention. Even if they will decide to travel to Thailand, country with an amazing cuisine, tons of seafood and exotic fruits, one of the luggage will be filled up with Italian taralli, cookies and prosciutto.
2. If you decide to go shopping in the afternoon or get a coffee somewhere in the South of Italy, good luck. Dolce Vita is an actual phenomenon here. People go back home for lunch at 1 p.m. and maybe will return around 5. In smaller cities they might not return at all, as they live 'too' far.
Clothings shops are working half day on Mondays...yes, almost like museums and galleries that are closed on Mondays in the rest of the world.
Saturday is also half day FOR EVERYONE, by the way. On top of everything, on Sundays everything is closed.
What? 24/7? They don't have it, scusi.
3. If you complain about too long advertisement and too many trailers before the movie in the cinema, you haven't been in Italy. If you think that the movie will start at 22:20 (according to your ticket), in the best case scenario it will begin at 23:00.
What's more interesting are the breaks ... during the movie! Yes, like in an opera or a theater.
4. It always comes back to food, like in China.
Hai mangiato?
你吃了吗？
Probably these are the only languages, where 'Have you eaten?' is almost equivalent to 'How are you?'.
Questions I've been asked by my family and friends are usually related to what have I done, what have I seen, my plans and anything interested that has happened...
With Chinese or Italians you will discuss what you've eaten (name all dishes, per favore) , how was it and when you will eat later.
5. Family lunches last longer than a trip from Bari to Turin by car. If you expect to quickly eat your salad and risotto and continue with the day, it won't happen. Especially if it's some celebration and you are at the restaurant. It will start at 1 p.m. and at best will end around 9 p.m. You will be served not what you want, but what is prepared for this 'GALA LUNCH'. If you decide to eat the dish after you sneak out to the bathroom, you might not find it on the table. Food is being changed faster than you leave your work, when you see it's 6 p.m. on Friday.
To add on, there will be multiple music breaks with the music playing just TOO loud...but let's leave it for the next point.
So in Italy you loose at least 3 days: day you arrive, day you leave and the day of the longest lunch-dinner in your life.
6. Is music too loud in Italy or I'm too old? When you feel vibrations inside you chest and walls are pulsating, the answer is more than clear. Keep some ear plugs or a cotton in your pocket, when in Italy.
And this loudness is not only about music, but also about speaking (again coming back to China) and TV: why would you speak so loud, when the person is in front of you? And you are sitting next to the TV?
In line with multiple researches, 1 of 8 people in Italy suffers from hearing loss. Moreover, the number has recently increased among young people between 15 and 24 years (from 3% in 2012 to 4.2% in 2015) and in the age groups of the intermediate.
7. Italians also have a unique understanding of driving rules. It is 'normal' to drive 160 km/h without a seatbelt, but they won't drive in the 'passing line'. If they have passed someone from the left side, they will get back to the right.
8. They kiss the cross every time they pass a church or anything religious, even while driving. Nothing bad, just unusual.
9. When the dietologists of the entire world are searching for the right eating habits, like:
-many mini-meals
-breakfast should be protein-packed and the biggest meal, as it gives the energy for the whole day ahead and helps to maintain the weight
-eat breakfast like a king, linch like a prince, dinner like a pauper
-leave a gap of at least 30 mins between meal and fruits, as they might not be digested properly
Italians don't really care:
AM: espresso with cookies for breakfast
PM: 7 course menu for lunch, followed by nuts and fruits
... that's it
10. The strange habit of owning a bidet. Seriously, each home/apartment has it. And even hotels and some restaurants!
11. Coming back to' EVERYTHING IS CLOSED'.. if you want to eat something after 9 p.m., the only places opened will be pizzerias.
VIVA HEALTHY LIFE
Italians, you have a unique culture and a unique history, and yes, we might see you a little bit strange and too much, but that's why we like you!