Hello Americans, you like Italy?

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DoH

I just came back from northern Italy - Dolomite's area. Found the people to be very nice and the area beautiful. The only thing that bugged us was the limited time that businesses are open. Closing from 12:00 to 15:30 for retail stores in a tourist area didn't lend itself to our buying souvenirs.

Ya'll are crazy drivers though. Not like the Swiss, Austrians or Germans.

rick m

FORZA PALERMO!!! viva l'italia bellissima!! Apparte berlusconi!!! AHIME!!!!! AHINOI!!!

Angel

Yes i like Italy
it's a beutiful country...........

tolinrome

Most people I think have the typical stereotype of Italy, pasta, pizza and scooters. While it is that, there is much much unseen! Alot of people that "love" Italy have only been there on vacation. It's another thing when you live there, like everywhere else. I've lived in Italy for 5 years and married an Italian. And I know many, many British and American expatriates who have a love hate relationship with Italy, like I did. The two cultures are extremely polar.
Italy is a great country for a long vacation but to live there aint for the faint hearted. Believe me, read some posts on the internet about expats living in Italy, you'll see. I've know many Americans and British and Australian people who have moved to Italy and when they are there for over a month or two they are ready to go back because of the difference in culture.

I recently just moved back to America and I love the experience that I had there and I learned a new language and a new way to think and a new way to view things that I viewed differently in my culture. I made alot of great friends and respect their culture and it was a beautiful experience, good and bad... It took a long time to understand their culture and to see how they reason on things and why they do things the way they do.
In a sense the things I loved about Italy were the things I hated....I'll explain.
Waiting on the train platform for the 8:00am train that comes at 9:10am (hate) 1 hour 10 minutes late for work not my fault (love)
The culture is very relaxed and they take their time and everything is "no big deal" which I like and it can work in your favor, but it doesnt work in your favor when youre waiting in line at the post office for two hours to get something stamped because behind the counter they have 15 employees, 12 are on a cafe break, one is talking to a customer about how his wife made the pasta the night before and the other two are working in slow motion.

Anyway, Italy is a beautiful country and I would move there again, the people (southern especially) are hospitable and the food is good. If the unemployment wasnt so high cause I loved the 6 weeks per year vacation and the 25 sick days per year and 15 holidays and free medical care!!!

PS: This will give you insight into your culture: One day I went to the train station like any other day and waited for the train into Rome. As I stood alone on the platform by myself I was wondering why everyone was on the other side of the platform going the other direction. It was Monday and was the correct time. How could I be wrong I was thinking. Well, the train never comes. So I go to the information desk and ask why the train to Rome didnt come yet, it's 20 minutes late (typical). The attendant tells me that the train to Rome did come. I said it didnt cause Ive been waiting for it etc as usual..
Then she told me that the train to Rome now on the opposite track from today onward. I said to her "then why does the sign "to Rome" still stay on my side of the platform, and why were their no indications or announcements saying this?"
She said "we just told the people word of mouth".
Ciao!!!

SueP

Oh, there are many of us who just adore all the stuff that is MORE than 150 years old! I love crumbling old ruins and the textures of buildings that have been standing for more than a couple of hundred years.

And, yeah, Italy is gorgeous! I spent about two weeks there when I was in college, traveling the trains. I'm planning a trip back for a bit more depth!

Trade places?

megan6o6

fo shooo, white boy

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