What do Italians think of Americans?

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bcptm

...My experience as an American who has traveled throughout Italy several times is that they treat you the way you treat them. If you are a bigoted, ignorant "Ugly American" type, you won't like them, just as they won't like you (with reason).

But if you are the least bit courteous and respectful of them and their country, they will treat you like royalty. I have never met kinder or more congenial people than the Italians, whether in the cities or the countryside.

Language is no barrier in Italy. Most Italians speak English and those that don't will bend over backwards trying to communicate with you. If you are lost, they not only give you clear directions, but often insist upon taking you to where you are going. And heaven forbid you sincerely comment on how wonderful the food tastes because you will meet the entire family and have more food on your plate than you can shake a stick at.

Italy and the Italian people are delightful.

Oh by the way. Tex...please don't go to Italy or any other place outside of the U.S. You are the kind of "tourist" that gives Americans a bad name. Please, stay home in your shack, clean your gun and do your sister as usual.

pierluisa

I really don't understand some of the answers here...being Italian, I feel the need to address this. First of all, some of us are fully bilingual or even tri-lingual, a lot more than you would expect (the majority of people with a University degree) and certainly more than in the States. As for our opinion on Americans. Most Italians are in love with the States and its culture. We love your music, your movies, your TV shows. A trip to the states is the dream of every Italian teen-ager. What we really hate about you, but this of course only applies to SOME Americans, is the fact that when you travel, you think you are a superior nation, you are very arrogant, and do not realize that you are very ignorant about the rest of the world.
I repeat, this only applies to SOME Americans. I personally know many that are not like this at all.

Danica F

they think you are arrogant,they have very closed viewpoints of life. they rip the americans off at all the shops and charge you more for everything in the shops when they hear you speak english.otherwise beautiful country, do a crash course and show them.

Jesters Deadd

depends what we did this month.. we can be heros or the next nazi country looking for world domination... i used to live there for a while... it was ridiculus... i was there during 9/11... i got to see it at the extreme...

sarah

Well, I'm Italian..and I love America!!Two years ago I went to California and it was a dream!I'd like to live in America but I know it's very difficult...Anyway....I don't understand why American people don't like Italians....Why?

joellyn a

My friend from Italy said that she never met as many "Italians" as she did in the United States. This is because if any American has just a twinge of Italian heritage, they have to tell you that they're Italian, especially if they happen to have an Italian last name.

lowrider

From what I've heard they don't like us very well! I don't know why!

serez100

I agree with Pierluisa and, being Italian, I'd like to study or work in the States. There are a lot of different cultures in America, everyone has different origins, but this is what makes Americans so fascinating.

samanthajanecaroline

Italians take there religion , food and art straight. If you show respect in these areas you'll go far. They love an effort to speak their language, even though many speak great English. It's not just Americans they get sick of, it's tourists in general. The businesses love their patronage but the people who live in these areas get a bit fed up of them. I've always loved Italy and it's people but I do speak Italian and I'm not a tourist as such as go there to study particular art works. I find the Florentines beautiful people in general and the Venetians are strange but helpful. Romans are just great fun and a little mad!! I am generalizing here.

micho

think they are the best

lucyfer

A special tanks to BCPTM and MARY MARGRET B from an italian people. People like you are always appreciated in all cauntries of the world!

Mary Margret B

egads. Maybe you should stay home. Just as in all of life, you get what you give. Italy is a very gracious place; if you like food, art and are not arrogant or rude, it will show you in an instant, what a pig stye America is. Ask questions, say hello, take the train. And I implore you to prove to our European friends that we are more than George Bush. P.S. many Italians speak Eng. and the Euro certainly helps.

tex

Who cares? They are not open minded and tolerent. They just like Italian things and won't even get bi-lingual.

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