Posts

AC

This week, thanks to a wonderful reminder from our professor, I’m going to talk about a difference that most international students dislike: air conditioning. Starting with cars, during the summer, practices are tougher because of the heat, and we sweat much more compared to winter. So, in Italy, when we get into the car, we usually roll the windows down to enjoy the breeze and cool off with the outside temperature. We do this for a few reasons: first, because it feels good and is something you can only enjoy during the summer; second, to save on gas; and third and most importantly, to avoid getting sick from drastic changes in temperature. We only use air conditioning when driving on the highway (which does not happen often) because the noise of driving at high speed with the windows down is annoying. However, when I came to the U.S., I learned my lesson the hard way in Texas. We trained in dry, 100°F heat, and as soon as we got into the cars, it was freezing cold within seconds. It ...
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Summer

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Welcome back to another blog! This week, I’ll be talking about the differences between summertime in the U.S. and Italy. This post will be specifically based on the cities where I’ve spent my summers here in the U.S. especially Ocean City (NJ) , and the city where I live back home . Starting off with the United States , fortunately, I’ve had the opportunity to spend summertime on the East Coast , ju st two blocks from the beach, which helps me make a more relatable comparison with home.   E ven though I was in season when I was in OC during the summer , being so close to the beach made the experience far more enjoyable and more vacation-like. Training was held in the mornings, so we had time to go to the beach afterward or later in the afternoon. We spent our time playing soccer on the sand, having fun in the water, or just going for walks. At night, the routine became horror movie nights or evening walks , sometimes including a stop for ice cream. It was a beautiful...
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TIPPING

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Welcome back to another blog. This week I will talk about something simple: tipping. When I first came to the United States and went to a restaurant or anywhere to eat, I didn’t leave any tips.😓 However, after a while, my teammates helped me understand that tipping is a cultural norm in the U.S., and people generally tip whoever is providing the service. After that, I changed my behavior and adapted to this aspect of American culture, also because at that point, not leaving a tip would have made me feel bad, which is one more reason why I now make sure to comply with the culture. As you’ve probably figured out, this happened to me because tipping is not “required” in Italy. Anytime you go out to eat, you simply pay for what you order. Some people do leave tips from time to time, but it’s not common behavior. As a result, when I first came here, I didn’t feel guilty at all for leaving a $0 tip, because if I were at home, no one would have expected anything different or judged me in any...
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COFFEE

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This week, I’ll talk about something that many people around the world consider a morning must-have: coffee . There’s a big difference not only in the coffee itself between the U.S. and Italy, but also in the habits built around it.   When it comes to Italian coffee, people enjoy having it at a bar, where they can socialize and relax. In the United States, on the other hand, people usually stop by a coffee shop or take advantage of the drive-thru to save time , as I mentioned in the previous blog.   In the U.S., the coffee is served in large cups, and the quantity is quite big. It often takes people a good amount of time to finish it. There are also so many different flavor combinations that I had never seen or even heard of before coming to the U.S. Moreover, Americans usually drink it in the morning because it gives them that energy boost they need to stay awake and productive throughout the day; while in Italy people have it in the morning, but also after meals (lun...
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JOB OPPORTUNITIES

Welcome back to my blog! It is becoming more and more difficult to think of differences between the USA and Italy to talk about at this point, but I think another interesting one is the job-related opportunities offered by the two countries. The United States is the “Land of Opportunity.” Many people’s goal is to have their own business and be their own boss by taking advantage of their knowledge, resources, and capabilities, and in this country, that is actually possible ! This is one of the biggest countries in the world, where, through connections, a college degree, and the results of belief and hard work, individuals have access to many job opportunities. They also have the chance to move to different states in search of better options, and even the minimum salaries here would be considered a dream for most people in Italy.   Italy is a much smaller country that, unfortunately, especially for younger generations, does not offer as many opportunities as the U.S. And even if i...
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Coffee Shops

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Welcome back to my blog! I’ve been thinking a lot about what to discuss this week, and I finally came up with an idea that is pretty simple but represents a big part of most people’s daily routines in both countries: coffee shops. Starting with Italy, what we call a “bar” is more similar to an American coffee shop. These bars offer a wide variety of sweets, pastries, sandwiches, and snacks, ranging from ice cream to chips and more. Coffee is the main reason people go to bars, especially in the morning, where they read the newspaper, particularly the Gazzetta dello Sport , the national sports newspaper, where of course most pages are dedicated to soccer! Unlike in the U.S., we don’t have drive-thrus, so people visit bars to sit down, relax, and chat with friends. Many bars also offer the opportunity to have an aperitivo , which takes place later in the evening before dinner. People gather around a table, listen to music, and enjoy a selection of shared snacks along with an alcoholic ...
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WINTERTIME OUT

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WINTERTIME OUT Welcome back to another blog! This week, I will talk about what going out in wintertime looks like. Dinner at home with friends (long time ago) For this topic, you might think things are actually different or completely disagree with me. The reason is that I will base my opinion on my personal experience at home, which is truthful and relatable, and on what I have experienced in college in the U.S., which may be biased because I am sure it depends on what state or city you live in and what your circle of friends looks like.   Here in America, when my friends tell me they are going out, it means they are going to a party. In Italy, when we say we are going out, it usually means we are going somewhere that is not necessarily a bar ; it can mean many different things. Let me explain. Here, when you go out, you typically go to a bar with friends to dance, maybe drink , and have fun until late at night. Meanwhile, at home, we have a different concept of “going out.” When...
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