Stereotypes about Italians and culture shock

The human mind is very strange. It always needs to concretize images. When, for example, we talk on the phone with a person we have never seen, we inevitably imagine what he or she might look like physically. The same thing is done with reference to a whole people. There are always generalizations for the population of a particular nation. Germans are punctual, Russians drink a lot, Spaniards think only of partying, and Italians believe in the holy trinity: pizza, pasta and coffee. Stereotypes are a caricature, an exaggeration of a behavior that is not necessarily common to the whole group to which it refers in fact, perhaps it is completely made up. Much is said about Italy and Italians, positive things and negative things, either well-founded or totally made up. The first thing a foreigner usually thinks of when meeting an Italian is the food. Not only because of the fact that food, Italian cuisine is really famous and delicious, but mostly because of the fixation that Italians have.

Italians and the cuisine

This is not a stereotype, this is a real thing. A cookbook is more sacred than the Constitution, and if you alter the recipes, Italians take it very seriously. They might even be offended. But don't hold it against them, they would never accept it anyway.

Italians and fashion

"Italians are always fashionable." Another myth to dispel. In general, Italians take great care of themselves, but they are not all fashionable. Also because designer clothing is a luxury that not everyone can afford.

Gesticulate

This is true, and a foreigner notices it immediately. It is probably a positive connotation because it could be interpreted passion for the topic being addressed or a desire to be understood and entice the speaker to participate.

The Cafe

Coffee is an Italian pride. A culture shock is the way coffee is taken in Italy: standing, at the counter, all in one gulp and often bitter. Certainly for a foreigner, anAlbanian like yours truly, not taking the proper amount of time for coffee is sacrilegious, regardless of its quality. As with Italians, for all other peoples, stereotypes are hard to eradicate. One who does not know the country one is talking about instinctively to preconceptions thinks about it, it is inevitable. If one travels, one cannot help but be astonished when one discovers that most of what is said outside is not at all or is partially true in the country to which they are referring. The secret, then, remains travel, the best antidote against preprinted ideas and beliefs that are never actually tried.