Whether you are about to go abroad to Italy or whether you have already studied or traveled there here are some fun cultural observations I've made, none of which are meant to be critical or harsh, but rather light hearted and might even make you laugh since all cultures and countries have their own quirks.
Here is a start and if you think of other ones to add it'd be fun to see what they are!
Myths:
If you're not feeling good it's extremely probable that you have a fever... febbre.
When you're sick the best thing you can do is wear a scarf.... even wear it to bed, and if you start to feel a sore throat to come on- throw on a scarf!
Remove the root of garlic cloves in order to prevent indigestion and bad breath
Putting a Spoon upside down in an opened bottle of wine/champagne will keep it good and fresh for later on
Food/Grocery Store:
You MUST weigh your fruits and vegetable at the little scale near the produce section before putting it in your basket and waiting in the check out line, you'll just be sent right back.
You must wear the thin plastic gloves stationed right next to the scale in order to pick out your fruits and vegetables
Eggs are not refrigerated
Almost all milk is UHT and therefore not refrigerated until opened
You pay a few cents at the grocery store for your bags
Pasta is weighed out 100 grams per person, or measured in the plate for each person before hand
You can't find brown sugar , use cane sugar instead
Household:
There are no dryers, all clothes are hung dry either outside or in the winter on a rack
No screens on the windows
No carpet- so bring slippers!
Windows are opened daily, even in the winter, to allow for air flow and circulation
Heat is very expensive in Italy, so it's kept on at a minimum, so bring lots of layers!
Restaurant/Shops/Cafes/Post Office:
Cash is always preferred over credit
Exact change is always highly appreciated, otherwise you might be hassled for it
Don't drink out of the bottle/can, always pour your drink into a glass
The waiter doesn't come to you with the check, you must go up and pay when you're done
Old people tend to have the mentality that they don't need to wait in line and can budge
Bills are paid at the post office
Must take a number, according to your service needed at the Post Office
Most places close on Sundays and sometimes Thursday afternoons
Other:
Italians dress for the month, not the weather, so if it's 70 degrees in February, you still wear your down winter jacket
When it snows take an umbrella
Don't wear flip-flops
Make sure to stamp your train ticket before getting on the train!
Don't put your feet up on the seats in trains... you'll easy get scolded
There is no such thing as moderate politics, you're either a communist or a fascist
There is no such thing as moderate politics, you're either a communist or a fascist
