Six
months ago I decided to make an exchange program to Italy. About the
country I knew a lot of thing like that it’s stunning with it’s
cultural sights and characteristics but one more thing that almost
everyone knows about Italy is stereotypes. Stereotypes tell a story.
As past of culture, they open up passionate dialogues.
Are
the Italians really the way they are portrayed? – It’s really
interesting to know.
When
it comes to the talking they do it wit gestures – Italians really
like to use their hands to communicate just about averything.
Let’s
start from the most common stereotype I have ever heard – that
Italians are lazy and they like wasting time for nothing. It’s 2
months I've been living here and I can only see how my colleges are
busy during their worktime. They never use the social networks, they
don’t have time for it. But to be mentioned – I live in Alto
Adige, which is North side of the country and maybe that is the
reason, but I’m not sure. The thing is that I see how hardworking
they are here.
Moreover,
I have heard that they like to be late – this is the one more
opinion that I don’t share. Here everything happens on time.
Next
stereotype which I know is about coffee – that Italians never like
the coffee which is not done by Italian and I see It’s true. They
have special kind of technics to make perfect coffee.
Like
coffee, fashion is wildly popular in Italy. As I can see Italians
like to wear high-quality fabrics. Individualism is also valued here
and men are not afraid to wear bright colors.
Last
but not least, the stereotype that Italians can’t live without
pasta – I would say that it’s true and while I’m here neither I
can live without pasta – I can eat almost everyday and not get
bored. In fact, Italians consume the most pasta in the world,
averaging 60 pounds a year for every man, woman, and child in the country.
Thus, Italian stereotypes are partly true, but there is often more to the story. How to get the full picture? Maybe you should live there and as I am here for ten more months, I have a lot of time to see and evaluate more.
Ana Makharashvili
Bolzano, italy
