Once I moved to Italy I began noticing all the amazing things about the Italian culture. I was instantly in love with the country for a multitude of reasons. It wasn’t long before realizing the people and their way of life was more intentional, more profound, and more enjoyable.
Italian Food
Food in Italy has encouraged me to be more intentional with my diet and the things I put into my body with the concept of the food process in mind. Italians take great pride in the way food is produced, processed, purchased, and plated.
Most importantly, eating foods without preservates, I have seen a change in the way I feel. The bread I eat doesn’t cause my stomach to cramp, the cheese doesn’t make me bloated, the herbs are all fresh and grown locally. The overall benefit I find is I am tired less, less bloated, I feel less inflamation throughout my body, I have little to no headaches, I have more energy, my skin and hair are shinier with more volume, my mind is sharper and less foggy, and I am happier with less aggitation. Once I started notcing a difference in my body, mind, and emotions, I knew I was onto something grand.
Flavor & Freshness
Italy, like other European countries, have a ban on genetically modified organisims (GMOs). This means it is not acceptable to modify a growing or existing organism. Most American food brands and companies allow GMOs in order to change or tweak the food in some way.
Where I can tell the biggest difference, is in the flavor and shelf life of the food. For instance, in Italy, the fruit, vegetables, herbs and plants all have an enhanced taste compared to the same foods in the US. Every tomato is juicer with bursts from the inside. An apricot is sweeter with a soft bite. Cheese is more fresh, more moist, less dry and less brittle. Any product I had eaten in the US no longer held a match to the Italian foods I experience now. I can taste each bite and the many layers, textures, and composition unlike ever before. Each bite is more inticing as I enjoy the food in each present moment.
Naturally Grown
In my town there are 2 farmers markets a week. A large one on Tuesdays and a smaller one on Fridays. I’ve started to go to both to get my weekly flowers and fruit, veggies, meats and cheese; all superior in flavor and color. I always prefer to support local farmers rather than large food corporations.
You will find more often than not that most gardens have herbs, fruit or veggies. During my first year in Italy I became interested in gardening. We have beautiful wisteria on both of our balconies, hydrangea plants, and large trees. I bought basil, rosemary and parsley from the farmers market and replanted for them to continue their growth. Grown from seeds are my tomato plants and peppers.
This has allowed to be include fresh herbs and spices into all my meals and drinks, all day long.
Seasonal Foods
As I walked through these famers markets and occasional grocery stores, I was surprised when I couldn’t find certain foods available. I discovered that Italians only produce and sell foods catered to the season. This sucked at first because I am a dire lover of brussel sprouts and for the first 9 months of living in Italy, I couldn’t get my hands on any!
They rotate through foods as they are sold and served only in the prime, best time of year to eat them (hence my point on the most flavor). I learned to appreciate this as even the restaurants rotate their menus with the season and with the best foods dependant on that time of year. I knew lots of restaurants in America that rotated their menus on a winter and summer calendar but it was far from this type of rotation. In Italy, lots of restaurants rotate their foods continuously. And not just by substituting a few plates on the menu, they completely change their menus.
The Sizes
Everything in Italy is much smaller than America, or Texas for that matter. These are some of my favorites:
The Refrigerator
Our one-door fridge has 4 small shelves and one container. It is the size of what some Americans would call a mini fridge mostly used for soft drinks or extra water bottles that they’d stow in the garage.
What this means for us, is that we buy smaller portions and we have little to no leftovers. The food stays fresh enough to be cooked or eaten with 3-4 days anyways so we constantly buy just enough food for a few days at a time. There is no need to overbuy or buy in bulk.
One, because of the limited storage space and two, because it is simply not needed. Long were the days that we would go to Costco or Sams to get dozens of toilet paper and meat to freeze. We have 2 freezer bins and they don’t hold much other than ice cream and ice bags lol.
Buying for the week or even for a few days has taught me we don’t need to live above our means. It has allowed me to purge everything unneeded or stop myself from buying something I didn’t really love.
The Laundry
Our flat is more modern than a typical Italian apartment, as it was just renovated the year we moved in. So, we have a small laundry room. By that I mean small closet with shelving. We are lucky to have both a laundry machine and a dryer. However, the units are so much smaller than the ones back home.
You can do maybe 3 or 4 complete outfits- meaning top and bottom, in one wash. Or, if you have a duet set like us in our master bedroom, you would wash the pillow cases, sheet, and duvet all seperately for a total of 3 loads on the bedding alone haha. If you were hoping to do all your laundry in one large, massive go, this was not the setup for you. I do laundry at least 3 to 4 times a week.
I did buy the outdoor drying rack and clothespins because I like to hang my delicates, silk, and linen to dry anyways.
The Rooms
The bedrooms are smaller by nature compared to the main areas of the house like the living room, eating area, or sometimes kitchen. I am convinced it’s because of Italian’s love for hosting and entertaining. Our room layout is the bed, two nightstands, a dresser and the closet. There isn’t room for much else as people don’t spend a lot of time in the bedroom.
That reminds me. When I say closet, I mean a large armoire. We were told having another room with a door attached for the closet would increase the Italian property tax on the house because it counts as an additional room…
Regardless, we bought a beautiful armoire with LED lighting and cushioned drawers. It’s my second favorite thing in the house. (You should see our couch!)
Italy Lifestyle
The Italian lifestyle feels much slower compared to America. People take their time everywhere they go. From strolling along the street, to shopping, and spending time together, you won’t find people in a hurry or stressing. They are very relaxed and only do what they want to do. I love that.
Language
While learning the Italian language through my teacher and our Italian friends, I fell in love with the way things are said. Not just in the sound, although it is beautiful, but in the way it is spoken literally.
For instance, in America we say “I am 24 years old.” In Italy we say “I have 24 years”. (By literal translation/meaning)
Another example, in America we say “I am sad”. In Italy we say “I have sadness”.
I thought this was the coolest when I realized the difference. For me, I love that “I am” is substituted for “I have”. Because who you are a person, isn’t the role you have, the labels you give yourself, or the temporary feelings you feel. I have 24 years, but I am not just 24. I have sadness right now, but I am not sad forever.
For me, it was important to separate the two once I noticed the difference. Plus, I have been actively practicing removing the labels and roles from my life so this was fun.
Dogs go everywhere
If you own a dog, it comes with you everywhere. Dogs are welcome in nearly every coffee shop, restaurant, retail store, etc. It helps that dogs are on leashes and are relatively small but they can literally go anywhere. So if you’re a dog lover, you will find many dogs throughout the city.
Care for family and elders
One thing I love about the Italian culture which is similar to the Japanese culture during my time there, is their love and care for family and their elders. Family is very important, as are friends. It is totally normal for elders to move back in with the family as they are taken care of. The same thing goes for children. It is very common for adults to live at home in and through their 30s. Italy housing is very expensive and most adults live with their parents so they can save as much as possible. It’s a normal theme that I see often.
Walking
I love that you can walk everywhere! Anything you need is in close proximity from you. I walk to the post office, bank, lake, market, to the nearby grocery store, cafe, to all my lunches or aperitif (happy hour). You can get anywhere within 20 minutes from where we live. It’s also easier to walk because the drivers in Italy are super impatient and drive so crazy! It gives me major anxiety to drive in Italy lol so I don’t.
It’s also nice to walk because after a large meal you can walk off a full stomach. And if you need more convincing than that, it is so romantic to walk through the Italian cities after a happy hour or dinner with your person. And the number of friends you can run into on your way to or from somewhere is also so fun! I’m an extrovert so I feed off seeing people and talking to others about their day or where they are headed.
Work to Live, not Live to Work
There is a huge emphasis places on living for the day and in the present moment. My time here so far has only enhanced my present moment practice.
Closing of stores for lunch
This can be both a pro/con depending how you look at it. For me, I have only fallen hopeless to the fact the banks, post office, grocery stores, pharmacies, and most retail stores all close around 12:00pm – 3:30pm for lunch. HAHA I can’t tell you how many times I have walked to the store and forgotten they close at the time I go. Good for the employees, bad if you need to run a bid day errand.
This is why it’s best to get your errands done in the morning before lunch and before aperitif starts (around 4:00pm).
Long lunches and dinners
Speaking of lunch…if you go to lunch with friends or coworkers it is incredibly normal to order a glass of wine with your meal. Even two glasses. Even a bottle if you’re with good company. A quick lunch is considered to be 1.5 hours, but a 2 – 2.5 hour lunch is normal, but 2.5+ hours happens as well. Especially if it’s a weekend lunch or BBQ. Oh my….those can go all day long. I mean it. 6 hours to 12 hours for those.
Food really is an experience and all day or all night thing. It entails wine(s), an apetizer, a first place, a second plate, dessert, cafe, and digestive. It can last for hours. The next plate is usually prepared only after you have finished the plate before it so you can imagine how it quickly turns into an event. Again, family and friends are of the upmost importance and spending time together over meals is the best way to experience eachother.
Fewer hours
Depending on the profession and job position, the Italians we know work fewer hours than the average American. 25 to 35 hours can be considered full time in Italy. Read that again hahahah. It will really make you question the “normal” 40 hour work week in America. Some weeks they may be on a rotation working only half days X number of days a week, and full days only Y number of days a week, and so on.
If you could save even 1 hour a day from work and still be considered full time, what would you do? What all could you get done? This put it in perspective for me. They really do care about living.
I’ll tell you what Italians do after work with that hour or two. They meet friends for Aperitif (happy hour) which is a cocktail accompanied with little bites and different treats to enjoy with your drink. Each restaurant has a different aperitif so it’s fun to find which ones you like the best. Or, they may meet up at the local beer shop and grab a beer to walk around the town with their friends. It’s always something.
Dressed to Impress
Whatever you are doing, do it in style. Going for coffee? lunch? the market? a beer? the post office? Do it looking your best! I quickly realized that “athleisure” is not a thing in Europe. Your workout clothes are for working out or keep them inside.
I say that kindly because obviously wear whatever you want! I’m just sharing my obersvations and things I like about living in Italy. Everyone gets dressed up for wherever they are about to go. Italians wouldn’t dare to leave the house with a wet head (also because they are cold very easily but think it’s wildly irresponsible as you can get sick). But you get my point.
I love to people watch from the sidewalk bench along the lake, as the people walk by in their cutest and most sophistocated or sexy outfits. The women wear high heels with the thin heel and pointy toe, silk or linen dresses with beautiful colors and designs, large belts with their designer bags. And the men partake in the action as well with nice cuffed pants, fitted top and jacket or blazer, and the shoes are very european, usually suede or leather.
It is both entertaining and inspiring. They are good people. They love to be seen. I do too.
Mentality – no rush, no worries
Lastly, and most relatable for myself. Be late. It’s okay to be late. There is no rush. No one is ever on the other side of the clock ticking for punctuality. Perhaps it’s because you’ll spend a lot of time anyway. Or maybe it’s because they get it and they have those days too. Or because they realize literally nothing is worth losing sleep or your ‘salute mentale’ over.
Salute mentale. My Italian girlfriend told me this was equivalent to “peace of mind”. She told me this after I was running ‘late’ to our outing. She said shhh, Lanier, it is okay, salute mentale. Sometimes they’ll say ‘tranquillo’ which usually is the nice and pretty version of chilllll dude, relax.
Whether you are late, searching for something on your phone to show, or are anxious about something, they will likely tell you to stop and relax because it is fine you are here now, and you can find that thing on your phone later, or that there is nothing to worry about because everything is okay.
They care about right now. Relax, enjoy, be your best, it is good.
I’m sure I will continue to add to this list of favorites, but for now, I am grateful to have these at all. Check out some of my most recent and favorite Destinations.
