WINTERTIME OUT

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 we do, we usually gather at a specific point in the city and spend the night walking around, talking to one another. Many times, we also have dinner together at a local restaurant before going out. 

Another thing that we mean by “going out” is going to someone’s house. It depends on the day and time, but if it is a Saturday, we usually order pizza, and after that, we either go out or spend the night at home playing board games, cards, or maybe watching a movie or a soccer game. There are nights when we might decide to party at a bar, but that does not happen every weekend; it is sporadic and depends on who your friends are. When it is particularly cold, going to someone else’s home is usually our go-to, but bowling, going to the theater, or the mall are things we tend to do more often as well. 

So, in the U.S., when someone tells me they are going out, I know exactly what the routine looks like and even where they are going based on the day of the week. However, when people at home tell me they want to go out, I need to ask where we are going so that I can decide how to dress, whether I need to bring money, and whether I should eat before we meet or not. 

Let me know what you think and if what I said relates to you; or if you grew up in a place or with a group of friends that had similar habits to the ones we have back home. 

 

Thank you for your time. See you next week! 

Comments

  1. Tia B.March 18, 2025 at 12:06 PM

    This is such an interesting perspective! It’s cool how “going out” can mean totally different things depending on where you are. I’ve definitely noticed that in the U.S., it usually means heading to a bar or a party, but I love the idea of just walking around, talking, or having a more relaxed night with friends. It sounds like there’s a stronger focus on quality time in Italy, which is really nice. Thanks for sharing—makes me want to experience a night out there someday!

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