If you are talking to an American - about politics or something - and they are silent, it means they DISAGREE with you, because otherwise they would say something.
If you are talking to an Italian - about politics or something - and they are silent, it means they AGREE with you, because otherwise they would say something.
If you are talking to an American - about politics or something - and they are silent, it means they DISAGREE with you, because otherwise they would say something.
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In Italy, you know you've had an altercation with a friend when:
Your ears are ringing Your mouth is dry You feel that you disagree strongly with your friend about the matter you have been heatedly discussing with them You are on your way to have a beer or some sort of food because, let's face it, this is going to take a while. In America, you know you've fought with a friend when: Apparently nothing has happened You have no idea what's going on Maybe your friend is just tired, but maybe they are being totally weird around you. You ask your friend if they're ok, and they say "fine," and now you know it's really bad. You tell all your other friends that your friend is being weird. Your other friends tell you that your friend thinks it's your fault but they don't want to get into it. Some of your other friends have to not talk to you out of loyalty to the pissed friend. Months later, you see your ex-friend out at a bar and they finally get drunk enough to walk up to you and tell you they're pissed, and you sort of talk it out for a second shouting over the music, although you can't really hear, but who cares, and then you awkwardly hug and buy each other drinks and introduce each other to all the strangers in the bar as best friends even though you probably never were. Dear Italians, all Americans secretly make fun of the fact that you live with your moms during college, after college, and until you are, like, 35. And that, during that time, you let her do your laundry and cook for you.
Dear Americans, all Italians secretly make fun of the fact that, in order to sustain the illusion that you are not living with your mom and are buying your own food and laundry service, you are in debt. Touché this time, Italy... In America, minimalism is a lifestyle and interior decor trend that involves discarding of huge quantities of accumulated crap, frequent turnover of one's possessions, and a lot of clean lines and bare surfaces (and probably exposed brick, hiring a cleaning service and never admitting it, doing yoga, painting your entire house in shades of grey, and buying only Mrs. Meyer's hand soaps, but that's neither here nor there).
In Italy, minimalism is more prevalent than in America. This is possibly because spaces are smaller, and possibly because Italians have not yet proven capable of imagining consumerism in all its glory. But most likely because of the "when-you-move-into-a-place-whether-you-are-renting-or-buying-there-are-no-closets-or-shelves-of-any-kind-and-unless-you-want-to-drop-twenty-grand-right-now-to-have-them-put-in-you'd-better-just-not-buy-anymore-shit" principle. In America, there are certain places and times that are considered more appropriate than others for going barefoot. These include: in your own home, on the beach, at the pool, and on the dance floor at weddings if you are 1) a girl, 2) a couple beers deep, and 3) wearing sufficiently high or uncomfortable shoes to justify your change of footwear.
In Italy, there is only one time that is considered truly appropriate for being completely barefoot: when you're dead. |
AuthorI'm an American living in Italy and making gross generalizations about it. Categories
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