Culture Shocks as an American Living in Italy | Italian Culture Shocks

After living in Italy for over 2 years, here are some of the culture shocks I've experienced as an American living in Italy. By now, I'm accustomed to a lot of them, but there still are some that shock me. I love living in Italy, and it's important to remember that every place is different, it doesn't mean these things are good or bad, just interesting to note the differences.

Please remember that these are based on my own experiences. Things may be different in various parts of Italy, and I’m not generalizing and saying that all of Italy is this way. I love living here, I’m not criticizing the customs of Italy. This video just shares interesting differences I’ve noticed. So ridiculous unoriginal comments telling me to go back to where I came from are unnecessary, thanks!

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[salindrab]

A/C is not a common thing to have in the whole of Europe not only in Italy, and we Europenas (I am German) are not used to the constant blow of cold air especially when directed to the face. I for example am getting always sick with a cold when cold air blows into my face and makes my nose and forehead getting cold. It happened to me in the US where in the hotels they have the A/C installed high on the wall opposite of the bed so it blows directly in ones face while sleeping. Made me sick more than once. But it happens also on long train rides in Germany when the A/C is on full blast in the compartments that I catch a cold. That is why I always carry a scarf with me even in summer to cover my neck and face from the A/C blasts, esp. when I am in the US and on train rides. Guess our bodies are just not used to constant artifiacial cold blasts and artificially cooled down rooms.

[janegarval]

I pray that Italy and Europe don’t get more influence by the United States 🙏🏻 please Italy don’t change your beautiful human culture

[antoniotorcoli]

What you call and feel as staring for us is just looking at people. We are doing it among ourselves, not only with tourists. There is absolutly no bad intention. We look, at animals, at buildings, at trees, at landscapes, at monuments. We do not make exceptions for people of any kind, gender or age. It is quite common to have friendly conversations with perfect strangers btw. The concept of privacy is quite different. In Italy it is common for instance that a random lady starts caressing and complimenting your child, giving him/her some candies whitout asking for your permission. It is also common for men to "argue" about politics or football with people they will never meet again. I know it looks odd since I am living abroad since 35 years and I had to adapt. But when I am in Rome, I behave like Roman.

[DG-mbus]

When I was in Italy I was surprised that the condo I stayed in had no screens. When asked about that the answer was that screens block the air. I had never thought about that .. I checked and sure enough screens block over 40 % of air flow. When I returned home I removed screens, from windows in my bedroom. ( we don't have many bugs in my area). Now I sleep comfortably without screens without a/c. We have sea breezes later in day.

[marikamarika]

Purtroppo per noi italiani nelle grandi città e nei grandi centri commerciali è stata introdotta questa orribile regola del "sempre aperto" proprio dall'America. Noi potevamo vivere benissimo con gli orari spezzati, come avevamo fatto da sempre. Oltretutto i piccoli negozi sono a gestione familiare, è impensabile che una coppia possa lavorare per 12 ore di seguito senza fermarsi mai. Eravamo tutti meno stressati quando ovunque si chiudeva alle 12:30/13 per riaprire alle 15:30/16

[LeftToWrite]

Regarding the food in Italy: I was in Italy for about 6 months over a few years and I noticed my diabetes was easier to control because the food had fewer carbs. I was doing about 1/3 less of one insulin and about 40% less of the other. This, in spite of indulging myself in pizza feeding-frenzies multiple nights a week.

[thomasalbrecht]

What the US call “having a meal” would qualify as “filling up” in any country that has a decent food culture.

[dagliocchibui]

As an Italian, reading comments of other Italians who say people stare out of curiosity or denying they do ... I think its invisible for us cause we are so used to it. It took me living abroad to notice how people do not care at all about what people look like outside of Italy. Its like you becomw invisible. Here in Italy, we love people watching but we also love judging other people's clothes and appearances, which is embarrassing for me but also probably the reason people say we are so elegant, I guess. No one would go out in pjs here. No chance.

[ifigeniaplatanopoulou]

In Greece also we are looking at whatever the surrounding envorinment includes, people, animals, buildings, cars . trees the sea etc, not staring!

[alessandrarastelli]

A/C, screens and dryers are not common on rented apartments. The reason is simple: the landlord can easily find renters even without these things. For him to add these would be a useless cost.
However many people in Italy use screens; I couldn't live without them! I suggest you to buy some removable ones, unless you think to stay only for a limited amount of time.
For dryers and A/C the reason is the huge cost of electricity. However their number in Italy is steadily growing because new models consume less energy.
I have both, but I try to use them in a moderate way. I use dryers only in the winter when it rains or it is foggy, so that it would be useless to hang out the laundry and I turn on A/C only when it is umbearably hot (around 40° C). We use A/C machines which can also heat and so I use it a little also in autumn, before turning on central heating. For the same reason (the cost) when we turn on A/C we don't set temperatures like 20°C, but temperatures more natural, around 25 o 26° C.
20° is the temperature that we keep in the winter (the heating is generally based on gas, and gas is extremely expensive too) and we stay at home with a jumper. It would be ridiculous to set 20° C in the summer and staying at home wearing a jumper while outside is hot as hell.

[soniapetricca]

Colpo d’aria is a real thing! Cold blast of air against a muscle can cause it to seize. Been there. Looking forward to relocating to Italy!

[rosangelameschi]

The only time I have been to the US I remember going around with a sweater even though we were in Georgia and it was August because of the shock my thermic system had every time I was entering somewhere. The difference in temperature with the outside was so high I was feeling cold. At night going back to the hotel the first thing I did every night was turning off the A/C. I very comfortably slept every night without it. The second thing that blew my mind was the size of food portions and that the majority of restaurants were chains and not like here in Italy where they are mostly family owned businesses. I felt as the variety I am used to in Italy was not achievable there. Here with the exception of the fast food chains, every restaurant has an identity and there are differences so it's a pleasure choosing one instead of another. I hope I sounded polite in my expression, if not please excuse my poor language.

[notionpollution]

Don’t know if it’s still true but my biggest culture shock in Italy was the fact that a group of Italian friends and I had a 4 course meal with 3 or 4 bottles of really good wine in a restaurant in Puglia and the bill came out to like $25/ person. Where I’m from wit would’ve easily been over $100/person.
When I went to northern Italy as a late teen, as an American I was shocked that I was constantly under-dressed. Italians always looked amazing even in casual attire. I looked like a street urchin.

[boytiti]

Culture shock I encounter in the US was going grocery shopping, which takes three times as long as it does in Italy. Most things are locked, so you have to ask staff to access them, which is really unpleasant.

[irenemacginley]

I'm a Brit living in northern Italy for many many years. Never experienced However, I'm really happy about the system of taking a number in most shops now as there is no danger of anyone "skipping the queue". I really have to say that really annoyed me. I remember being in a bank many years ago and the client who should have been behind me was actually standing right next to me....!!!! I did put him in his place as I found it very disrespectful. Even banks/pharmacies have had to put lines on the floor to separate one customer from the next...😮

[giuliantoneIIi]

Regarding the in person/online services, I'm Italian and I move frequently and i have never had to go to an office to do anything. Like changing contracts, bills, wifi, whatever. I've always done those online or with a phone call. I get that maybe for you not being a citisen some things may be more difficult, but look more into it, because you're definitely the one complicating your life this way

[lynnfox]

Dryers are expensive to run and not environmentally friendly. Far better to dry clothes by sun and wind, or your apartment heating if it is cold. Screens would reduce the air circulation, which you need with no AC.

[ClaudioCappelli-ipej]

Usiamo poco l'aria condizionata, mangiamo pasta a pranzo ma difficilmente a cena, abbiamo più ferie all'anno, i nostri alimenti non sono geneticamente modificati, viviamo in media cinque anni in più che negli USA!

[littlemouse]

I'm italian and in my experience people don't stare at other people unless they are rude or too loud. I live in center Italy and we do a lot of things on line like phone or internet contracts or utilities contract and we receive the bills via e-mail or through the postal service.

[WN-ffqb]

A short note for those visiting Italy. When entering a bar or small store, do NOT say ciao as a greeting. A simple buongiorno will be more appreciated and correct. If you know the barista well, then ciao is acceptable. The "Stranger in a Strange Land" feeling takes more than a few years to dissipate!