Only the Iceberg of the Dolce Vita

I’ve only been here for a week, and they say Italian culture is like an iceberg.  You only see the tip of it but there is so much more to it you cannot see at first glance.  So to cast opinions or ideals on this completely foreign culture is not what I came here to do but instead only to observe and immerse myself to become more understanding of a way of life so completely unlike my own.  This way I can see myself, my culture, and my way of life through an entirely different perspective.

So because it has only been a week, I can really only say I’ve seen the tip of the iceberg, for there is so many things I know I have yet to realize, understand, and even notice.  But we have to start somewhere, so here are a few observations I’ve made over the course of a few days.

Italians have a sense of style.  

Sexy?

From satin scarves to scarlet red sandals, every wardrobe in Italy is probably not only colorful, but sophisticated as well… I mean come on… even the men wear purses.  Well, I looked it up and it’s technically called a satchel, but sitting down at the ipercoop which is basically like an Italian version of a Wal-Mart (at least as far as selection goes), I noticed that almost every man I saw was carrying a purse/satchel that I knew for a fact wasn’t their girlfriend’s or wives.  I think it’s kind of cool… although I’m not sure if I’m ready to see American men walking around the mall wearing a “satchel.”  It’s just different though, nothing for better or worse.

People in general look really well put together, are often wearing layers, and usually very nice shoes, especially the women.  Nobody wears flip-flops, at least that I’ve seen, and the only place I saw them for sale was in the swimming section at a sports store.  Luckily, the markets here have a good selection of locally made shoes and clothes that are very reasonably priced, usually anywhere from E  € 5 to € 25.  I noticed too that I have seen very little clothing with writing in Italian.  Most of the clothes I’ve seen with writing have been in English.  There is even a Timberland store in Viterbo and several people wear brand clothes like Nike and Adidas.

  So here, you can look good, without emptying your wallet. All in all, in order to have a bella figura (beautiful figure/presentation), you must always look your best in order to make a good impression, even if you’re just needing to make a quick run to the local supermarket.

A couple walking outside the walls of Viterbo. 

Italians know how to be in love. 

I mean maybe I’m just a cheesy romantic, but I could sit down for hours and just watch Italian couples. Already Italians seem to have a natural fluidity in their movement, and they don’t have such a separateness and sense of space like we do.  So naturally, with their lovers, they seem to be able to moreso express themselves openly of their affection.  Even the simple things like holding hands and a brief loving kiss are things I notice that I don’t see as often back at home.  I guess it may have also something to do with the more relaxed nature and slow paced life style… they aren’t in a hurry to be anywhere so why not spend a little more time at the café with your lover sharing some quality time?  I think it’s a good standard to have, something our culture shouldn’t be afraid to embrace.  After all, it’s the small simple things that mean the most. 

The clothesline… a metaphor for the Italian conception of time.

Today as I was sitting outside of my apartment at the picnic table snacking on a pesca (peach), I looked up at all the clotheslines, quietly hanging up against almost every balcony.  Each one held up an array of colorful clothing, every article seemingly to stubbornly dry against the humidity of the day and the heavy rain of the night before.  And then it just hit me… the clothesline… what a perfect metaphor for the Italian conception of time.

First of all, every day from 1 until 4pm all the shops close for an afternoon break called pausa pranzo.   Some people nap, some people still wander the town streets, but overall its just a time for people to relax and spend time at home, to take in the day, and not worry about the stresses surrounding.  Now the question is… why can’t we do that in America?

Within the walls of Viterbo

But you can’t compare apples to oranges… or maybe you can.  Either way though there just isn’t a sense of urgency or rush in day-to-day life.  There is never any hurrying or a rushed mentality and every moment is spent to its fullest.  If you go to eat lunch, you go to eat lunch to enjoy the food, talk over your favorite pasta dish, and enjoy the beautiful day.  There’s no hurrying through a fast food restaurant and I have yet to see a policeman dodging traffic with doughnut crumbs flying out the window (though I can’t say I’ve seen that in America either).  Though you can take pizza to go, or portare via, every line I’ve seen the people were patiently waiting just having a nice chat; something I probably would have preferred at my first job working the busy lunchtime crowds at Subway.

So no matter the occasion, Italian’s don’t run by the clock, they run the clock.  They can wait for the clothes on the line.  Rain, shine, wind, humidity; what’s the sense in having a drier when you just don’t need it?   There’s always tomorrow and there’s always the moment right in front of them that they must enjoy to its very fullest.  After all, they call it the dolce vita for a reason.