So, I've been back in the United States for over a week. And it's been a rather busy week. I've moved back into Boston, then moved right back out to my home town of Honeoye Falls, NY. In this time I've noticed some striking differences between US and Italian cultures, but ultimately, I think there is more similar than different.
 |
| White Oak Barrel in Mt. Vesuvius volcanic cave |
We all know the Italian stereotypes. The food, wine, and life lovers who eat long meals and work short hours. But I've learned Italians are an incredibly hard working people. In every city we went to there were shops for food, coffee, or knick-knacks on every street. On top of that there were several people peddling posters, whirly gigs which could be flung up into the air with a rubber band, and laser pointers. The Italians I met on the vineyard on Mt. Vesuvius were very kind and also a very hard working family. They were able to cater a group of twenty-eight for a couple of hours, while we were all running a little late for the next event. That is on top of running the farm, the fermenting and aging products, and the bottling and sale of their product. I've also learned that there is a long and strong history of family business in Italy. The Ducati factory that we visited was all the product of the business founded by three brothers. And several businesses are owned and managed by one to three people.
 |
| Geocentric Model at Galileo Museum |
It seems to me that events that reinforce a stereotype stick in your mind longer, while events that work against that stereotype are ignored. While I was in Italy there were a couple of rail strikes, and several shops closed for lunch, or earlier hours than we would be used to in the United States. Added to this is the fact that youth unemployment is roughly 37 percent, down from the mid-forties in 2014, but still higher than it has been historically, which was about 27 percent unemployment according to tradingeconomist.com . But on the whole I would say Italians are no more lazy then Americans, who pride themselves on their "protestant work ethic". And through my time in Italy I was able to see a strong commitment to the advancement of both science and the arts.
One area where Italian culture diverges from US is food. In the US I think food is best characterized as a necessity. Food in America is cheap, filling, and made more tasty through artificial flavors. Of course there are exceptions, everywhere in the US has regional dishes. Back home in Rochester there is famous dish called the "Garbage Plate" which consists of macaroni salad, potatoes, hamburger meat, and hot sauce. This dish is treated with far less reverence than most foods in Italian cuisine. In Italy there are cheeses whose methods are still made in the traditional style, dating back to the middle ages. Italy has such a strong history with meats, cheeses, and wine that its government protects the naming rights of these products, and the existence of such geological branding is a source of constant consternation when negotiating trade deals. Italy's attitude toward food is so strong that its a matter of international importance.
 |
| A McDonald's in Venice |
Italy's food culture seems to be changing pretty quickly though. I'm not going to make a value judgement on these changes, but with an increase in tourism, and the reach of international corporations, more efficient food choices are available on Italian streets. I ate at a McDonald's in Venice, and Milan is acquiring a Starbucks in the coming year. New experimental wines, like the "super tuscans" perform successfully in markets even though they break with traditional wine making methods.
 |
| Milan business district |
Italian culture as a whole is experiencing a deep change too. I noticed several people of African descent in the streets of Italy, and cities like Milan, which hosted the World Expo in 2015 have started looking to the future, and it is apparent in its architecture. Much like the large American cities, Milan is building large glass skyscrapers. And more and more Italians are learning to speak English fluently. Several signs are written in both English and Italian, some in just English. Italy, like a lot of the rest of the world is undergoing an Americanization. Much like how cities in France and Spain were strongly influenced by Rome, the difference being that the United States never conquered Italy through force.
But now I'm back in the United States. I'm sitting at the home I grew up in, in upstate New York. And soon enough I will move across the country to Silicon Valley, California. I wonder what, if anything in America should be more like Italy. More relaxed alcohol laws would top some of my friends lists. But I think the top of my list would be a greater appreciation for rail transport. I deeply envy the ability for Italians to move between the major cities faster than highway speeds without needing to go through an airport. If I could change a second thing I'd want the food culture in America to change. I'd like more focus on quality than quantity and efficiency. Americans are on the move, people in the US are more likely to move far away for school or for work, and there is less opportunity to create regional dishes. It is hard, if not impossible. But part of the reason why Italy was so interesting was because of its diversity from city to city. All while it was able to stay under the flag of Italy, and not look out of place.
While I'm sad to leave Italy, I believe I'll always feel more at home in the United States, the Garbage Plate and all.
 |
| The infamous Garbage Plate |
No comments:
Post a Comment