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Cultural Update- Life in Italy


Italians do not wait in lines the way Americans will. The "line etiquette" here is very interesting to me.





Let's say you are at the Gap in the USA and you get in line to buy something. You approach the cashier and if there is someone already waiting, you stand behind them. If there isn't, you stand across from the cashier and you expect the next person who joins you to wait at the register, to stand behind you. If it's Christmas, there might even be a delineated line formation and you stand in it. (Like at a bank, or a movie theater- you know, with those velvet ropes hanging from metal poles to keep people in order.)









Now you are in Italy and you go to H&M (clothing store) and decide to purchase something. You approach the cashier and if there is no one already waiting, you stand across from the cashier and you wait. If someone else comes to the cashier- THEY WILL NOT NECESSARILY GO BEHIND YOU! They MIGHT go behind you, or they may stand next to you or even in front of you. (I am not kidding!) When the next cashier opens up, they will push to get there first. If you stand there, awestruck, the next person will push in front of you as well.





If there are already people waiting in line when you arrive at the cashier, they will be in a line across the counter area, next to each other, not behind one another. If you are in this mob (!), someone might come and stand right in front of you. Or, they might be sneaky and stand off to one side of you with their back to you- then they will casually turn and voila, they will be in front of you before you know it.







If you are at the grocery store and are heading to the line, someone might just RUN to get there before you, even if you have only one item and a child (perhaps crying)in your arms and they have an entire cart of items.

It boggles my mind! It is soooo very different and it feels very rude, but here, it's not! You can't take it personally, and it's not technically rude because it is their cultural. It's crazy different!



These pictures are from Cinque Terre- we visited this summer. It was lovely and warm. Luckily for us, the lines weren't too long : )

Comments

nanny said…
What magnificent views! Loving it all over again. The pictures bring back memories of warm weather and actvities that warm the heart...H&Z playing on the playground, dancing in the tunnels, and eating gobs of gelato. How these photos and memories sustain us all. I have to go on record as having eaten the most delicious risotto ever on this magical coast.
November 8, 2009 at 10:34 AM
Anonymous said…
superbe les photos, mais en France c'est un peu comme en Italie POUR LES LIGNES HUM!!!!!!!! La bonne éducation commence à disparaître!!!!! et c'est triste, souvent dans les transports en communs (bus, tram), les personnes âgées sont debout et les jeunes assis, le monde commence à tourner à l'envers!!!!!!!!
November 8, 2009 at 1:52 PM
Unknown said…
Beautiful photos! Love the pizza shots! The line etiquette would drive me bonks! I would totally take it personally and allow others to temporarily control my mood! Glad you are adjusting so well!
November 8, 2009 at 11:03 PM
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