
At the end of September this year I moved to Calabria (a region in southern Italy which forms the toe of the Italian Peninsula) to start working as an English language assistant in a local secondary school. Since then, I have been living in a town of 34,000 people called Vibo Valentia.
When I am not working I pack up my car to travel around, explore a bit of Italy and meet new people (Italians are ever so friendly). I have, so far, visited Tropea, Pizzo, Reggio Calabria, Lamezia Terme, Scilla, Naples, Pompeii and the Amalfi coast, Sorrento, Maiori, Minori, Amalfi, Praiano, Positano, Sorrento.
After living in Vibo Valentia for over a month and interacting with Italian daily, here is my first reflection of Italy. This is just a bit of fun, not meant to be taken too seriously.
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You'd better like pizza and pasta.
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In some Italian restaurants you won't find salt and pepper on the table.
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In England food is really expensive and not great. In Italy food is inexpensive and incredible.
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The coffee is amazing albeit small in size.
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In England the tea is amazing.
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Supermarkets in Calabria are big delis or are their delis just small supermarkets?
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In Italy you ask for a latte and you'll get a glass of milk.
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Ask for biscotti and they'll ask which ones, biscotti just means biscuits.
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Italian pastries are even better than French pastries.
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In England, if there is an accident on the motorway we'll use cones to close off a lane. In Italy they use sticks of fire.
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In England people drive on the left-hand side of the road. Italians drive on whatever side they fancy.
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Men walk arm in arm, kiss on the cheeks and grab each other by the head.
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Grown-ups loiter outside shops like teenagers do in England.
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Italians love public displays of affection. In England public displays of affection are treated to a firing squad of disapproving looks and tuts.
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Brits don't really talk a lot, and only if you seem to understand them. Italians talk a lot even if you don’t understand them.
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In Britain if you can't speak English you’re screwed! In Italy don’t worry if you can't speak Italian, you'll hardly ever get a word in edgeways.
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In Italy everyone greets you like you're their long-lost relative. In England everyone greets you like you’re their long-lost relative.
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Cool teenagers wear bum bags across their chest in Italy.
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In Italy there are often no toilet seats in public toilets, let alone toilet paper.
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In Italy beware of Yoga Risata classes; they will expect you to fake laughter for an hour!
What do you think about Angela's light-hearted look at the difference between some aspects of life in Italy and the UK?