Meathead to Meatballs: My new life living in Italy : What really stands out?

View from behind the Basilica Papale of Santa Maria Maggiore. "Chrome Dome" as called by locals. 1 KM from my soon to be new home.

View in front of the Basilica, camera facing Aviano. I am facing the Basilica.

Now after 13 days living, working and learning all things here in Italy, I thought it would be worth doing a blog post that points out the biggest differences I have found so far. What are the biggest cultural norms and local customs here in Aviano, IT that differ quite a bit from what I am used to in the states? Here is where I will do just that by showing the different domains that I continue to find peculiar and interesting. I am sure more are yet to come as I explore and engage with all that is Italian geography, people, food and culture.

Grocery Shopping:

Grocery stores are at first much like US grocers, all different sizes from super small to very large. No Wal-Marts or Costco or Targets here though. Nothing like that. The common differences I found are as follows.

No bags for you! OK so you can get plastic or paper bags but you will pay for them. Almost everyone brings in their own reusable bags.

Water bottles are sold by the liter in packs for 4 to 8 and you can buy the pack or tear it open and take just 1. They have water in the form of sparking, fizzy, natural and mineral water. They also have nearly an entire aisle in most stores for just bottled water! Mostly because people and restaurants and even hotels do not offer tap water. Just bottled.

All shopping carts function like Aldi does in the states (because Aldi is German-owned after all) require a 1 Euro coin or US quarter to unlock it from the cart rack.

Nutrition facts panels are all based on a 100g ( that's 3.5 oz) fixed, standard serving size regardless of food or drink source. This is more an EU thing than just an Italian thing. They will NOT list the total number of servings per unit (rarely do they). So you must know the full unit size to know how many servings you get and the nutrient content within that product you wish to buy.

The bakery sections have more loaves of bread and rolls available than I have ever seen in a store of any kind. Each with its own name and shape and color and hardness. Most also have hot baked fresh thin crust pizza of 3-4 types available at any time from brick ovens.

Dining Out

Branzino, spinach entree from Casabianca, Aviano

Grilled vegetables side dish from Casabianca, Aviano

As one who dines out allot in general, but even more so now with my having very limited means to store or prep foods in my hotel since arriving here, have gotten an almost daily exposure to Italian dining from casual to fine dining. These are the major notes I made.

Almost all places have a 1-3 Euro cover charge just for coming in and sitting down. The more high end the venue, the higher the "coperto" charge is.

You are charged for water even if you don't ask for it.....it will show up unless you state you want nothing to drink at all. You typically can get a small 250ml or large 750ml water in sparkling or natural options. It's about 1.50 to 2.50 Euro.

Fresh baked sliced bread and crispy breadsticks are almost always offered free with dinner.

You can eat cheap and casual at a Tavola Caldo, Caffe or' Trattoria. Or you can eat more upscale and formal at an Osteria or Ristorante where large menus, multiple courses and lots of wine are the norm. Dinner (Le Cena) is the largest and most important/formal meal of the day for Italians where full families from grandparents to tiny kids are often present at one table. Around the base I find a handful of Americanized places for that US craving of burgers, burritos, Chinese take out, or weekend bacon eggs, pancakes and toast. I even found 2 AYCE sushi joints within 3 miles of base! Score! Most cheaper small shops and mom and pop places take cash only. No cash, no mangia!

Some kind of coffee based drink with a pastry is the norm for breakfast 90% of the time it seems. Lunch is some kind of pizza, a panini, a salad of prosciutto, cheese, tomato, and olive. Or fresh fruit with yogurt and nuts. Nuts of all kinds are big here. Dinner can be anything! Seafood, steak, pasta (almost always pasta), salads, pizza again is a staple with more versions than I ever knew existed. Dessert is more often the expectation versus the exception. Portions across the board are mild compared to the states. Gelato, Tiramisu, Cheesecake, and other torta (cake slices) are the norm for those with a "dolci" tooth. About half of the coffee shops have WiFi and about half do not. Only the bigger shops seem to offer this.

Wine is almost always ordered by the bottle at every table with 2 or more people I found. At 10-12 Euro a bottle for amazing house wine......why would you not?!

Most meals are quick, casual and brief with more time spent chatting than eating or ordering. Dinner is a spectacle, an event. It's normal to spend 2 hours from arrival to leaving at dinner on weeknights! Weekends its more yet which requires many places to seat by RSVP only as they get full and stay full from this exact lengthy stay the Italians seem to love about dinner.

Lifestyle

Italians here at least so far in this neck of the woods of Aviano that is, are less rushed, less antsy, less annoyed and less angered over everything. They generally seem more lax and mellow. They always say hello (boun giorno) and ciao when eye contact is made.

Italians are joyed to see "another American" who can break into the conversation using Italian at any level let alone small conversations. They get excited that you are trying to adapt to THEIR language versus an assumption they will just get you and your typical English slang. This has been the most effective way for me to pick up my Italian speaking (and reading) ability since arriving. Talk to the Italians! Even if I mess up (I do!) Its a chance to learn it right and move on.

Bikers bike! I see bikers at every level on their 2 wheels getting around town. Pro caliber men and women in tights on high tech bikes cruising down the main roads every day early and late. I also see older folks on their cruiser bikes with baskets going to and from shops and homes just as much.

Old folks walk all over every day! This really impressed me the most of all the things I noticed as different here. An extension of the Sardinian Blue Zone concept perhaps? Men and woman easily age 70+ easy I find walking at a good clip (often up hills) every day on the small backside roads of the towns. When I go to and return from work, I see the same people out walking every day! I feel strongly this lifestyle norm in the geriatric population is the key to their longevity and physical capacity being retained up till their passing. I have not seen one breathing tube, O2 tank, Rascle, wheelchair or for that matter, an overweight Italian person that upon visual would be considered obese. These people don't hit the gym for hours on end and crush weights, log massive miles or take many supplements if any (can wine be a supplement? Please? Anthocyanins!). What I do know they DO previously on concept alone but now from witnessing it myself....is this:

drink wine daily
eat small portions of all foods (fresh, clean, natural and some that are not)
eat dessert daily
eat carbs like pasta and bread daily( semolina-based pasta and 100% "00" Italian flour for bread)
drink coffee (espresso daily)
eat cheese daily
walk outside daily through old age
keep multiple strong close social circles with family and friends (i love watching groups of old Italian guys gather for wine at night on my hotel patio and talk and laugh)
few seem to smoke

OK.....I left you with a lot to chew on in this post. I had fun writing this one as I had all these mental notes of peculiar nuanced things I kept finding since arriving and to now put them on paper (digital paper) was kinda cool for me. I hope it helps you gain some insights to.

I have to leave you with some visual treats for your efforts to read this lengthy blog post so to say "Milli Grazie" Here you are.....feast your eyes.