By Amanda Schmidt
I figured that the food in Italy would be better than in America (a statement I can definitely confirm as true), but I was not expecting the culture surrounding food to be so different. I pose the question “what is the meaning of life” because I believe that one of the key cultural differences between the United States and Italy is what they value and give the highest priority to in life. I will revisit this philosophy a little later because I first want to explore how this value manifests in the two cultures, specifically through the food culture.
Fast Food? Try Again
When driving around the United States, you can find a fast food chain everywhere you go, even in the tiniest of towns. One of the first things I noticed was that the food in Italy was much less advertised and more locally based. Besides the McDonalds we visited, which felt so different it was hard to believe we were in a McDonalds, I have not noticed any food chains in Italy. Even though you can find gelato on almost every block, most of them have different names, flavors, and textures. I would count gelato as being the closest thing to a food chain of Italian origin, but it hardly compares to the plethora of food chains found in America.
Perhaps the biggest difference in food culture between countries is the experience of going to restaurants. Our first week in Rome, while walking around window-shopping, I noticed that many restaurants had an employee outside, inviting customers in. This was a practice I have not seen in America and I found it interesting that restaurants would try to convince people to stop as they walked by. Another small detail is that Italian restaurants display their menu in the front so that potential customers can get a glimpse of what is offered and the prices. As someone who is experiencing Rome for the first time, I found this extremely helpful and wish it was common in America, although in the States you can just google the menu.
Once inside the restaurant, the dining experience has a completely different meaning than it does in America. In the United States, eating is a very rushed experience. Fast food is a booming business, and restaurants are eager to give you the bill and send you on your way so they have another available table.
From a cultural perspective, food is seen more as a necessity than something to enjoy. Americans cram a meal into the busy workday or between classes, eating just to have energy. In Italy, I have found quite the opposite to be true and think that food is an expression of art. It is meant to be appreciated and enjoyed, as food is the center of social gatherings and the product of generations of skill and passion. In America, eating is an event scribbled into the schedule and restaurants sell food to make a profit; in Italy eating is the event and restaurants seem more concerned with providing an experience than rushing customers in and out for more money.
When dining in Italy, customers take their time and enjoy the food and night. Waiters do not come to the table after you have ordered your food unless you ask them too, and the bill will not be delivered until you are ready. Even this small detail highlights the stark contrast between cultures because in America, waiters slide you the bill and take away plates quickly, waiting for you to leave so they can bring in more customers.
In this regard, I think the restaurant culture for employees also varies across the cultures. In America, being a host of waiter seems to be a stressful job as you must often deal with rude customers and are obligated to get people in and out quickly. American servers must have a polite, welcoming personality that does not conflict with customers, and at the end of the meal wait for a tip that not everyone gives – even though they are paid far below minimum wage and most of their paycheck comes from tips. From my experience in Rome so far, it seems that gratuity is built into the bill, and it is not common to tip unless the service was exceptionally good. Serving seems much less involved and stressful, and it appears as though employees are treated with more respect and appreciation by customers.
Slow and Meaningful
Another striking difference between cultures is the way in which meals are enjoyed. At my first restaurant in Italy, I immediately noticed that there were multiple courses served during the meal. While both cultures have appetizers (antipasto) and deserts (dolce), Italy differs from America because they offer a first (primo) and a second (secondo) course. In America, appetizers are typically fried foods and the main course is anything ranging from nachos to seafood. In Italy, appetizers are similar, but the first course is often a pasta dish and the second course includes meat. Although a small difference, the inclusion of courses gives a glimpse into the importance, or rather lack of, time in Italy.
Rather than eating on the go as Americans typically do, Italians devote time to their meals and enjoying it with loved ones. One cultural value close to the Italian heart is family. In the context of going out to eat, Italians don’t do it just for survival purposes, but to connect with others. Meals are consistently shared with family and friends over multiple courses with minimal interruptions and full attention is given to the food and company – there are no TV’s available in every corner or people scrolling through their phones the entire dinner. Italian food inspires community and reflects the cultures rich history. Recipes are passed down generation by generation, and some dishes take anywhere from years to decades to master. While the recipes may seem simple, Italians combine fresh ingredients that complement each other to create a dish that speaks for itself – there is no need to add chemicals or drown the dish in spices. At first, I was skeptical that pasta with a sauce consisting of only three ingredients could be a culinary masterpiece, but I was quickly proved wrong. Food in Italy is bursting with history and culture and you can taste the passion and care put into the preparation. Now don’t get me wrong, I still love American foods, but the excess of ingredients (that aren’t as fresh) and lack of value on enjoyment make me wish I could eat here for the rest of my life.
In addition to eating with family and establishing a sense of community through food, Italians consume and live at a much slower pace compared to Americans. The Slow Food Movement’s philosophy is to promote access to and production of quality food that reflects the cultures history, which I have seen clearly in my time here. Italians take care to slow down the experience of time by valuing leisure and focusing on the present moment rather than rushing into the next one. Savoring every last bite of the edible art in front of them while conversing with company is the cultural norm in Italy. Although Americans do this too, it is not as engrained into the culture or observed to the same extent.
What Matters the Most?
So why don’t Americans slow down to simply enjoy the moment – or their food? In my mind, it all boils down to the saying regarding if work or leisure is valued more. In America, you “live to work” and put in countless hours a week, waiting for your one vacation for the year. There is a strong societal value placed on your contribution to capitalism and ability to be as productive as possible in your career. But in Italy, the cards are reversed and you “work to live”, meaning there is more value placed on having personal time and fulfillment. Central to the culture is the idea of “godere la vita” – the art of enjoying life – and they do. Working is a means to an end, and while it is still incredibly important, Italians take care to set aside time for themselves; to go out to a restaurant with friends; to take a walk through the ancient streets; to simply relax at home. I believe this is one of the deepest cultural differences between the United States and Italy because this philosophy dictates how citizens navigate themselves in their culture.
This idea of “work to live” also shows up in Italian’s separation of private and personal life. In the United States you can walk into a Starbucks, or really any coffee shop, and nine times out of ten you will see someone working on their computer. Whether it a student typing up their essay, business colleagues having a meeting, or an individual finishing up work for the day, it comes as no surprise to see them in the coffee shop. But in Italy, working in a café or any restaurant would turn heads and warrant some looks. Eating a meal is not to be interrupted by work, as the two should be kept separate. Living in the moment and enjoying your food is far more meaningful than trying to finish an essay at a café in Italy.
The Italian separation of personal and private life is further understood when observing how they spend their time outside the home. Eating out is a way to connect with family and friends, where you have all the time you want to be in their presence. But once you go home, it is your time and your space. I was honestly a little shocked when we learned in class that Italians never really “hang out” in each other’s apartment. In America, going out to eat is an occasion saved for catching up with friends or going on a date, but hanging out at home is the cultural norm. I have people over at my apartment nearly every day so I was surprised to learn that Italians treat their home as a sanctuary where they can do whatever they like with no intrusions. I quite like this idea of separation as it provides a safe space to relax and decompress from the trials of the day.
Growing up in the American culture, I can attest to the philosophy of “live to work”. There is so much value and stress placed upon working, first in school and then in your career. While Italians live with their parents longer to devote their full effort to getting a degree, it is custom in America for students to study and work at least one job at the same time. I believe the American culture emphasizes the ability to work so much that burnout and overworking have become nearly normalized. Many people are afraid to take breaks because they feel guilty for not being productive, especially with schoolwork. This is something I have personally noticed and talked to many friends about. Life is always about the next task, the next assignment or meeting, and very rarely about simply living in the moment and dedicating time to yourself.
For me, this was one of the unexpected cultural shocks. I knew Europeans had a more reasonable work-life balance but being able to observe and experience this balance from the opposite side gave me a new perspective on my life. I am constantly being told to slow down and stop anticipating what comes next, but it wasn’t until I saw and experienced that idea here in Rome that it really sunk in. I have always loved food and sharing it with others, so alongside a deeper appreciation and understanding of this cultural aspect, I have gained a newfound desire to stop rushing through my life.
This trip has given me an irreplaceable experience in a culture vastly different from my own, teaching me the practices and values of Italians and how they are rooted in history. Moving forward, I will carry this knowledge with me so that I can effectively navigate myself in other cultures and see the value in their differences. I want to consciously integrate this experience into my everyday life back in the United States, and not just in the ways I talked about in this post. My strengthened appreciation for food and the people I enjoy it with is part of the culture I plan to share back home, but above all I will leave this country with an intent to prioritize my work-life balance and slow down, remembering “godere la vita”. So to answer a question that has no true answer, the meaning of life in Italy is to simply enjoy your time, loved ones, and food; and I find the simplicity in that to be more than enough.
About the Author
Amanda is studying Chemical and Biological Engineering and grew up in the beautiful state of Colorado. This trip was her first – but definitely not last – experience out of the United States, and she would like to thank Julia and Carl for making it unforgettable both in and outside the classroom. In her free time, Amanda loves to camp, swim, and enjoy the company of friends and pets. She currently works in a lab on campus studying the production of fatty acids and hopes to create a career focused on implementing sustainability into the energy industry.
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