Italy is a popular country to admire and consider for those moving away from home or even just traveling for fun or vacation needs long or short term. Just like anywhere else, there are loads of things that you will pick up on and change in your lifestyle depending on where you live and where you may have lived before. Italy has a great deal of things to enjoy but also can be so intimidating for new folk that want to or already have decided to uproot their lives to this gorgeous country.
However, just getting out there can help you pick up some useful habits and blend into the way of life pretty well. Here are some habits you may pick up when living in Italy to give you some examples of how this country could shift your habits and way of life.
Closeness
Probably the most difficult adjustment of habits and lifestyles for those that may come from other regions that don’t have the same closeness and manners of many European countries is the greetings. Italians always tend to be in each other’s space as a way of friendly existence or greeting, like how cheek kissing is how you greet others. You may be freaked out at first since it is very different from most of our way of living, but it does become an easy habit in time.
Conversations Change
From talking with gestures and your hands to learning Italian, you will blend right in with time in the Italian conversational scene. While you don’t have to learn Italian to be able to communicate with most of the country effectively, even learning a little will go a long way and over time it sort of blends into the way you talk or exist. Many newcomers to Italy will definitely have no trouble picking up on the usage of hand gestures and movements while talking though!
Goodbye Timing
Much of Italy is focused around community and usually not on rushing through life, so many Italians have long lost their habit of punctuality for events and get-togethers. Chances are, even the most punctual people will learn to be a little less on time when they get used to the way that their friends and family tend to show up late anyways. It’s not really something that is seen as offensive either, so it’s nothing to be scared of falling into.
Coffee Fiends
Italians love caffeinating often and throughout the day, but there are also some interesting little rules to it that make the difference between being a visitor and being a true resident. Drink all the caffeine you want, but be sure to only drink before or after meals instead of with your meal and it’s generally a rule to not order cappuccinos after the 11 am mark hits. Why? We don’t really know, but it’s something that’s sure to get you odd looks if you disregard these little pieces.
These aren’t the only things that you may pick up on in living or visiting Italy for any period of time, and not everyone may specifically pick up on every habit or nuance in the country, but it does give us a good idea of what you could perhaps expect if you decide or have decided to make a big move to Italy for yourself or your family. From art to weather to cuisine, no matter the reason, Italy truly has you covered in things to enjoy or reasons to consider moving if you want to live in a new country someday. And now you know at least a handful of the most commonly picked up habits that may impact your life if you do make a decision to live in Italy someday for any length of time.