What are some of the cultural differences between Italy and America?

Question

I'm American and loved Italy....its a very beautiful country with charming people. What are some things you notice different.....small things and big things, like I noticed most restaurants to serve ice with their drinks and that religion seems more restricting and conservative than here in America.

Thank your for your answers!

Answer 1

The Little Differences:

In Italy, especially Rome, there are some crazy drivers, who you have to stare down before you cross the street.  Of course in America there are too, but you just run across the street before you get hit

Food is a serious matter in Italy where dinners typically runs three hours and is multi-coursed.  It's kinda nice, you can digest better and spend quality time with friends and family instead scarfing down a burger and running out the door

Alot of Italians know other languages including French, English and German while Americans... eh... not so much.  Arg I blame you elementary public school system *shakes fist* Of course, there are plenty of Americans that do know other languages or come from other countries, but as a whole it's not typically included in the curriculum until high school and by then it's way past the critical sensitive period of learning a new language

Italian men are allowed to be much more affectionate with each other than American men by hugging, kissing and making friendly dirty jokes

Superstitions are somewhat similar between the two but there is a big difference in behavior.  Our guide told us that Italians, especially men, when they see a black cat will for some reason, grab the crotch of their pants. haha.

Answer 2

HUGE DIFFERENCES!!

Italy has 3000 years of history: The Roman Empire, the Renaissance, Il Risorgimento, The Opera, the Fashion and the Cuisine.

Their religion is a guide to their lives, to improve theirselves.They don't like fast food.

Their cities are small also as their flats, but they have charming people.The Italian legacy is more friendlier than the American.

America: is focused only in Image and earnings, destructive competition and evasive parties.America has only 300 years of history and WARS. Shopping is a vice.

Answer 3

Gabrio that is not all true.....religion is not as great as you think, and mainly the older people attend church.....roman catholic is the predominant religion and many of the Italians I have talked to do not like it much. You are half right about the fast food....I've talked to some who hate it and some who love it (though, its mainly the younger ones that like fast food). Italians do have the legacy of being friendlier and more romantic though....but the southern U.S. also has the "friendly" legacy...ever heard of southern hospitality?

You say America is focused on only image...so is Italy. An Italian friend once told me that their world is nothing but a world of appearances and allot of people judge you by what you wear. Yes, the U.S. has had wars but it was all for the better of the people..can you blame them for that?

OK, back to the question I guess. Italians are very open, unlike the British and Americans tend to be.....kissing on the cheek is very common when greeting each other..

Answer 4

I have been all over Italy, and the common denominator to me is Family and Friends are taken VERY serious! :)

Also your word is worth a lot to, you better keep it! :)

Another important thing, it is pretty much disrespectful to turn down a drink or dinner offer, they get offended! :)

Answer 5

it's not true that in italy religion is more restricting than in USA, it's the contrary

ITALY is a country who defeated with Independence wars in XIX century the POPE, italy destroied the State of the Pope.

In usa instead, many people are puritan, there is the "Bible Belt", where there are christian integralists

In italy for example nudity isn't censored on TV or in andvertisings along streets

In italy we separate public life with private one

It's unthikable that here a politician could be processed pubblicly, if he betrays his wife (as clinton in USA),    we are interested only if he rules wisely our country.

an other difference is that we have a welfare state (school, health system, aids to old people are free), we pay more taxes,

we have also many socialist and communist parties

and it's not true that italian drivers are crazy, the problem, is that on our streets there are too vehicles (we are the first country in the world after Monaco Princedom with highest number of cars x inhabitant), drive code, in italy, is extremely strict

Answer 6

I worked in both Countries. In Italy efficiency comes from below (people), in US from above (companies, government, army, police). This means that 1)US companies look more efficient as a whole, but 2) sometimes (most of the time) efficiency is greatly improved by smart Italian individuals. As an example, if you get into a busy starbucks  while in a hurry, you'd better just go away because it'll take an eternity to get your order filled: that's because the work organization  is soooo rigid that make things right only when workload is below average. You can get into a VERY busy Italian "bar" or "coffee" at peak time, pay and get your hot nectar or anything else in less than a minute (if you do not mind being squeezed by other customers, that is). The "barista" willI fill your order in a blink of an eye. Italian "barista" is THE most efficient single worker on earth IMHO. And the same happens in other fields of course.