What Can We Learn From Italians?

In the Vatican document Gaudium et Spes, it reminds us to be open and understanding to new cultures and to try to expose ourselves to them so we can learn as much as possible about other people to help reduce conflict. So what can Americans learn from the Italian people and their culture?

Throughout our eight-week stay in Rome we have been able to observe many Italian habits and have had the chance to visit San Giovanni Hospital to aid us in learning about Italian healthcare and their attitude towards being healthy. After seeing all of this I have found that Americans can learn from and, maybe should adopt, some Italian habits. Walking, at least in Rome and the other cities, is a huge part of everyday life. It is more expensive to drive a car in Italy than in the U.S. so many people choose to take different means of public transportation such as the trains, metros, and buses, or some just choose to walk if they can. This is not only a habit that can help keep one healthy but it also helps to reduce waste and gas consumption. During our homestay experience, our Italian mother told us that she walked almost everywhere; she was 60 years old and was in great shape. We walked home with her one night and were surprised at how fast she was moving through the streets, and at the end she was not even tired like many people would be. She said it was because she was used to it. I know in the U.S. especially in the more rural places, walking is not always the best option, even more so because of the more extreme weather that we have. However, I think that if we are able to walk somewhere it would be much better for our health to do that instead of jumping in to a car.

The Italian diet is much different that what most people in the U.S. are used to. Yes, there are a lot of carbohydrates here and a lot of wine. But the way people eat and the times that they eat seem to make a difference for them. Our homestay families did not snack on junk food like many people do at home; they would only eat breakfast, lunch, and dinner. And all of these meals were homemade; the ingredients were bought that day and used that day and just enough was made for each person to have one portion. Food was not wasted and no one seemed to stuff themselves each night unless it was a special occasion.

Italians have a much different view on healthcare than most people in the United States. Our homestay mother and siblings tried to explain. They said that they viewed it as something that everyone will need at some point in their lives, therefore everyone should have access to it. To them it was very simple and when we brought up the idea of paying for what you needed they did not quite seem to understand. It was not natural to them. I think that this last point is one of the most important things that we can learn from Italians. In the surveys that we did most people were for public healthcare, and sometimes they would tell us why. It was the same answer as our homestay mother gave us; everyone will need it eventually, therefore everyone should have access to it.