Italy vs. USA

It seems like everyday I find another difference between Italy and the US. I don't go looking for them; I usually just stumble upon them. This past Saturday, Kevin and I were walking around the town center and stopped in Kevin's favorite butcher. We weren't buying anything; we were just looking around, checking out what people were buying, and eating the free samples. When we were leaving, an older woman (in her 60's) was walking out in front of us. She walked over to her bike, placed her purchase in her basket, and then hopped on. But what made this all shocking was the fact that she was wearing a dress, tights, and 3-inch heels. I can say that is something that is not a regular occurrence in the States.

Here, people always look presentable. In the States, people are slobs (me included). We wear sweatpants to the grocery store and put ball caps on over our unwashed hair. Last year in Fort Wayne, I had no problem getting up, grabbing my keys, and going grocery shopping in the same thing I wore to bed. Here, I feel like I would be stoned if I went to pick up a loaf of bread in that get-up. Tennis shoes are also nonexistent in Italy, except at the gym. People don't wear them out and about in their daily lives. If you see someone out in their ASICS, there is a good chance that they are from North America. I love that in Italy, everyone is dressed to impress.

Italy and the US also differ in their lunch breaks. Here in Italy, people leave work, go home, have a HUGE meal with their family, and then take a nap. In the States, you are lucky if you even get an hour to find something to eat, use the bathroom, and get back to work. When Kevin has a work lunch, I know he will be gone for at least two hours. It is also no big deal if you have a wine or beer with your lunch, even if you are going back to work. In the States, you would be fired if you came back from lunch with alcohol on your breath...no questions asked.

In our town of 6,000 there is not a fast food place in sight. The nearest McDonald's in located in Innsbruck. Their idea of fast food is going to the grocery store and having the deli make you a sandwich or grabbing a panini at a cafe.

Another difference is the coffee. In the States, if you are in need of a pick-me-up, you hit your local Starbucks and get a coffee the size of your head. Here, the coffee (even the bigger ones) are small. And I have yet to see a place that has take-away coffee.

You should have gotten the big one.
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Lent

The Lenten season officially starts today and that means it's time for all the crazy Catholics to figure out what they want to give up until Easter. Every year I rack my brain to try to figure out what it's going to be and this year is no different. Kevin said I should give up cussing, but that just made me cuss more. I know it isn't very ladylike, but I like to do it and sometimes I just can't help it. So instead I ran through a list of things I love and indulge in (that are foods) and this is what I came up with: soda, coffee, pizza, chips, chocolate, and cheese.

Soda wouldn't be a hard one for me to give up, but Kevin just got me Sprite Zero the other day in Bolzano and I really want to 'indulge' in it. I haven't had a Sprite all year. As for coffee, I just don't think I can do it. I'm in Europe; people drink coffee all day long here, with every meal. Giving up my latte macchiato or cappuccino would be like giving up on my European experience.

I've never really been a fan of sweets. Back home, I might have a Reese's Peanut Butter Cup or a Snickers occasionally, but nothing extreme. Here, things have changed and in a bad way. After I eat dinner, I feel like I have to have something sweet. Maybe it's a piece of chocolate or it could be an ice cream bar covered in chocolate. Then, I also am obsessed with chocolate croissants. Every week Kevin and I go to one of the bakeries and get a treat and I'll give you a wild guess on what I usually get.

Oreo Milka Bars are amazing!
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Cheese and pizza are two of my favorite things. Right now, I probably have 8 different kinds of cheeses in my refrigerator. As for pizza, let's be practical here...there is no way that I could give it up. I live in Italy and eat pizza numerous times a week. In fact, I'm going to eat it for dinner tonight.

I love potato chips! I typically have them at least once a day. I know they aren't good for me, but that doesn't stop me. They are my weakness and I don't want to ever give them up.

Out of all of my indulgences, I have to pick something so I'm going to be giving up potato chips. I hate to do it especially since I have a drawer full of chips that are already tempting me and it's only day one. But Easter will be here before I know it and I can celebrate the Resurrection of Jesus with a bag of Paprika chips.

This is what our chip drawer looks like on a regular basis.

This sums up my time here in Italy

Back in the States, I always order a vanilla latte with skim milk, but here in Italy, I'm getting daring. So far, every place we've been, I've ordered something different and have only been disappointed once (with a lukewarm espresso). I'm working my way down the menu and I've got pictures to prove it. I'll blog about my coffee tour at a later date, but for now, I'll leave you with this.