From America to Italy: Adjusting to the Italian Lifestyle
Written by Kaden June 6, 2016
I've ate pizza literally every day I've been here, but I'm not going to complain...
The water bottles are typically 1 liter, I wish they were like this at home!
Public transportation in Venice included a water bus, a great way to get to see the city!
After three weeks I have adjusted to life in Italy and there were definitely some adjustments that had to be made. The first change you will notice is the major difference in time culture between America in Italy. In America, everything is fast-paced, everyone is busy, and everything runs efficiently. This is not a priority in Italy. Italians tend to lead a very chill and laid-back lifestyle. All businesses are typically closed on Wednesdays as well as the weekends. Italian businesses also have riposo hour, where the shops will close for a few hours in the afternoon for the owners and employees to take a nap or a break. This will take some getting used to, especially because we as Americans have come to expect everything to happen as quickly as possible. Sit down, relax, and enjoy the chillness of Italy!
To help you enjoy the chillness, eat the Italian food! Italians eat three meals a day just like in America, but there are differences. For breakfast, pastries are typically eaten, as opposed to a hot American breakfast of toast, eggs, sausage, etc. Dinner time is also later in the day when compared to America. There are also differences in the types of food. Everywhere you go, there is pizza and pasta. There are also choices of panini sandwiches, soups, and the occasional hamburger, but typically its pizza and pasta. Come prepared to eat lots of carbs and you’ll be set to eat like an Italian!
One adjustment that I have found to be the hardest is adjusting to the fact that several things that are free in America are not free here. One of the big ones is the lack of water fountains. Luckily, bottled water in Italy is twice the size of what it is in America, and only half of the cost. Another are public restrooms. In cities and at train stations in Italy, public restrooms typically charge between 1 and 2 Euros to use them, so only use them if it’s an emergency. Your best bet is to use the restroom at a restaurant that you are eating at. Most restaurants also offer free wireless internet, which is a necessity while traveling in Italy. Proper planning on your part can help you avoid these minor inconveniences.
Using public transportation in Italy also took some getting used to. Italians typically use buses and trains to get from one city to another in order to help the environment and because it is cheaper than owning your own car. One of the main things you have to pay attention to when using public transportation is making sure you validate your ticket! Unlike in America, where you buy a ticket for a specific bus or train, in Italy your ticket works for a certain number of hours after you validate it. Instead of showing your ticket every time you get on a bus or train, you only show your ticket if you are randomly asked for it by a conductor. Bus and train tickets are much cheaper in Italy than in America, so don’t try to abuse the system by not validating your ticket. Fines can be more than ten times the initial cost of your ticket. Public transportation is a cheap and easy way for you to get to explore Italy.
Blogger: Kaden, Kansas State University
