There is so much to reflect on from this past semester but I think the main cultural difference would revolve around food. The grocery stores, markets, dining, cafes, and service differ culturally and took longer to get used to than other aspects. The food in Italy is offered more seasonally. This means a specific type of produce I would buy one month typically would be gone the next. At restaurants, tipping is not expected and a majority of the servers are older. This differs from the United States where most servers are teenagers and a significant percent tip is expected. Cafes in Italy are a place to socialize and there are cultural “rules” such as when it is appropriate to order cappuccinos, apertivi, and espresso. This is different from the United States where most people go to cafes to do work and order coffee with milk all day.
I have appreciated the abundance of fresh food markets where I get to see directly where my food is sourced from. At first I was shocked by how fast my produce was going bad but I then learned about the slow food movement and the benefits of eating seasonally. I really enjoyed learning to eat seasonally because it forced me to try and cook with new produce. I will try to continue this practice in the US and educate my family. Going to cafes was difficult at first because I would often want to order a cappuccino late in the afternoon but after learning they don’t because milk is bad for digestion, I tried to stick with their rule. I am still a little confused by the reasoning though because they continue to eat a lot of cheese late in the day. Also at certain times they would often ask us to put laptops away. I was used to going to cafes to do work so at first I would get annoyed but I then grew to really enjoy sitting and having a coffee without feeling the need to be productive. The lack of laptops out around me made it easier to socialize. I also liked always having a place to go to talk with friends in the morning to get coffees and in the afternoons to enjoy a spritz.
In my Italian food and culture class we learned a lot about the reasoning behind these cultural food differences. A majority of it had to do with the slow food movement, eating seasonally, and digestion. I think for Italians they just grow up learning and understanding the importance of these things. Italian culture also places less pressure on constant productivity, so slowing down and having a cappuccino, apertivo, or espresso while connecting with people is seen as a valuable and essential part of their day.
Analyzing an aspect as broad and universal as food shows how deeply cultures can differ but also how one culture isn’t necessarily better than another. I think food, restaurants, and service in both the US and Italy have their pros and cons you just have to keep an open mind and look at the differences with an empathetic point of view.
