Writing Assignment #9

What is an Italian? What does it mean to be and Italian?
What I find interesting, is my inability to understand the national pride that all Italians posses. For a while I was offended by their attitude towards immigrants, and change in the world. Back home in the US, we are all immigrants; we are a country built on change and new ideas. So it was easy for me to come to another country, and criticize what they do and how they act, because it’s unfamiliar to me. But it’s arrogant. I can’t judge Italians by what they do or how they act. Because I don’t understand what motivates them to be that way. I could pretend that I know it all because I have been here for over two months. The reality is, I don’t think I will ever be able to understand them. People are too different. I grew up in a different world.

Even still, I think about what they are doing to the immigrants, and then I look at America. How are we handling the immigrant situation? Do we make it easy for people to gain citizenship? No, I don't think we are that much better with our immigrants than the Italians. So why are we studying all the immigration issues in Italy and judging them? Why aren't we reflecting on our own situations? It is interesting to think about, do we hold ourselves to a different standard?

Sometimes I find my self-jealous of the Italian world. Sometimes I think they got it all right. In the US everyone gets up at 6, spends an hour getting ready and driving to work, works an eight hour work day, spends an hour trying to get home, another hour complaining about work, then an hour trying to figure out what to do for dinner, maybe 30 minutes actually eating dinner, then a few hours watching TV, then some at home work/ emails, then they sleep… and get up and do it all over again. It’s terrible, and boring. What are we doing with our lives? We live to work… We go out with friends and what do we talk about? Work… When we meet people what do we ask? What do you do? Work, work, work. It’s wrong. We are here not to work non-stop for the rest of our lives. We should work to LIVE.

That’s how I feel the Italians got it right. Yes they work 5 days a week, but they have a whole 2 hours off in the middle of the day to go home, relax, get some lunch, or WHAT ever they please. Then they get off work, and go out, or spend time with their families. I see so many people here at the same spots everyday. Walking in to coffee shops or restaurants, where the owners already know their name and order. The Italian slow food theory is a perfect example. They wont seccum to this idea of running somewhere to pick up food and being done. Having meals together really helps people connect. I can’t even think about the last time I actually had a dinner with my family, that wasn’t for some special occasion. Its not any ones fault we don’t have dinner together. We are all too BUSY. Mom and Dad work 8 hours a day, my sister has school, then practice, my brother has school, then work, I have school, then practice and THEN work. Again back to the idea of work, what do we sacrifice just to have a few extra dollars? Is it worth it?

Italians have a strong sense of national pride, and individual purpose. They aren't perfect, but Americans aren't perfect either, but I love the Italians and will miss them greatly. CIAO!