It is no secret that the culture in Italy is vastly different from that of the United States. Eating dinner at 10 pm, paying to use the restroom or to have a glass of water, and the general lack of punctuality typical of Italians are just a few examples of trends Americans are surprised by. However, there are many subtle differences beneath the surface of Italian culture that can escape tourists. Because of my internship at Logge del Grano, a fresh produce market in the historical city center of Arezzo, Tuscany, I have the opportunity to experience the food and shopping culture as well as the more personal workings of Italian language, manners, and customs.
One of the most significant differences I have noticed since I started is the leisurely way in which Italians do everything. In America, I am accustomed to everyone rushing through stores, usually going through self check-out to avoid the cashiers and get out quicker. In Logge del Grano, shopping is a very personal experience. Customers are not allowed to take the produce off the shelves; rather, an employee walks through the store alongside them and takes the items the customer points out, weighing and bagging them, then placing them in the cart. Many of the customers are regulars and employees know them by name. One time, a tourist came through the store and tried to take her own items and go very quickly. After later hearing the frustrated and disapproving comments of my coworkers, I realized that this was impolite, and certainly frowned upon in Italian culture. Italians love to take their time and build rapport with the workers at stores they frequent.
Another difference that was surprising to me is how many businesses are accepting of customers bringing their pets inside. Many patrons of Logge del Grano carry their dogs inside or walk them in on a leash. I have even seen a man walk in with a monkey on his shoulders. I have yet to see a sign like those in America which say, “Service Dogs Only,” and many businesses set out a bowl of water for their customers’ dogs. Employees, myself included, often greet the animals as well as their owners.
Because of differences such as these, as well as the obvious language barrier, I am often afraid of breaking some implied rule of the culture. Besides this, I am not secure enough in my knowledge of Italian to try to speak it, so I tend to try to keep my distance and avoid speaking in Italian. However, in the future I am planning on forcing myself to be more assertive and take some risks. Although I know very little, I know that I will never learn more if I do not try. My supervisor at Logge del Grano told me that he wants one of my goals to be improving in my understanding of Italian, so hopefully soon I will learn more of the language as well as more cultural norms!
