WSCL Autumn 2008
WSCL
8-30-08
The Italian Secret
When you ask people where they would like to travel, many Americans will tell you Italy. Italy is the number one tourist destination for many Americans. It’s not just the great climate, the ancient cities steeped in history, or the phenomenal art. Americans want to go to Italy to try to figure out why the Italians seem to have such a stress free life. What is their secret? What is the Italian secret? I had to know!
On a mission to find out the Italian secret, I traveled to Italy this summer and spent three weeks observing, experiencing and taking good notes. My conclusion – the Italians are different from Americans in one critical way. They approach life with the attitude that life is to enjoy. Americans believe that life is meant to work and if you get all of your work done and accumulate a pile of money, then you can enjoy. Some Americans never get to the enjoy part until they retire! By then, they forgot how to enjoy!
Italians love life.
They make time to talk to each other. In the small town of Ripatransone I observed a woman going to a small market and ordering meat from a real butcher! They talked. It was more about the relationship than about the food. They discussed their children, the weather and the way the meat should be cut. At night in the hilltop town of Volterra, the men gather in the town square and talk. The women walk arm in arm through the piazza talking and laughing.
Italians have meals that go on and on. One night we dined with the mayor and the meal lasted for close to four hours! For me, it was difficult to sit that long but our Italian hosts didn’t seem to mind at all. They enjoy each course, savor the wine, carry on in depth conversations, tell stories and share experiences. This is their way – to recline at table. To take pleasure in the food, the wine, the friends and the day.
Italians have a favorite word – domani – this means tomorrow. It is their way of postponing things. Just when tasks seemed to be a bit too much, the Italians would use the domani clause to alleviate the stress. They say why not put off to tomorrow what you cannot do today? To me domani has become the Italian pressure valve that I need to survive my American world. It is the Italian secret – tomorrow, tomorrow Diana – today is to enjoy.
