In Italy, a number of chemical cleaning products are on the market for the purpose of limiting the amount of time one must spend cleaning house. Take, for example this "easy wax," a floor polish that can be spread with an ordinary damp mop, so that you don't have to go digging in your closet for the floor polishing machine and put down real melted wax (duh). You can see the picture of a floor waxing machine in the upper left corner of the label, with a red line through it. I had to ask someone what it was... In America, we know that the ultimate purpose of all chemical cleaning products is so you don't have to clean your house at all. As usual, we're a step ahead.
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Italians and Americans have wildly different feelings about doctors. Leaving due room for the exceptions, Americans in general trust the advice of medical professionals and scientists in general, and Italians in general do not. Here are two true examples that illustrate this nicely:
A) After an Italian Person I know went to the doctor and was diagnosed with a fairly serious condition we had the following conversation: Self: So, what do you have to do about it? IP: Sometimes I have to take a pill. Self: What do you mean sometimes? IP: Well they told me to take it after every meal, so I decided only to take it after dinner. Self: ... IP: Anyway, they said something about it conflicting with another medicine I have... Self (becoming alarmed): What? Isn't that serious? IP: Well I had already decided not to really take that other one all that often anymore, anyway... Self: ... B) After an American Person I know went to the doctor... Self: What's that? AP: Oh it's a nasal steroid. Self: For what? AP: My sinuses. Self: I didn't know you had sinus trouble. AP: I don't, really, but she asked if sometimes I get stuffed up and she gave me this prescription. Self: ... AP: So I'm gonna try it and see if it helps... |
AuthorI'm an American living in Italy and making gross generalizations about it. Categories
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January 2021
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