1. Americans seem willing to eat or drink pretty much anything... At a gas station in Italy, I was served fresh squeezed orange juice. I received a beer anywhere I went, not be mention an excellent caffe. Can't decide where to eat while roaming the streets of any small Italian village? No problem, their all way better than most places you'd actually seek out in the States.
2. Americans care about things. We put them behind temperature controlled glass and put alarms all around them. Nature however is not worth quite that level of protection. Perhaps because we have plenty of nature and not art? Italians go out of their way to protect nature and expose art to all the "damage" of the elements and human contact.
3. Americans get quite agitated and rude when things don't go efficiently and how they want. Italians seem not fazed by so called delays or disruptions. Perhaps it's all the wine.
4. Americans can be seen not wearing the appropriate winter attire while being outside. Italians wear coats and other winter gear as part of their outfit. To go outside without a coat is to risk being called an "americano" by a nearby Italian.
5. Americans seem to think everyone speaks English, or perhaps they just think they should, thereby making few attempts to speak the language and resort to pointing to what they want. Italians appreciate those that attempt to communicate in Italian or another European language as they speak several.
6. Americans switch their fork between their right and left hands while eating. This seems to waste time, which is odd for them to do since we have a culture that prides itself on efficiency and productivity. Italians eat with their fork in their left-hand... all the time.
7. For some unknown reason, American wine under $7 is not exactly drinkable. Yet a bottle of wine in Italy for 3 euro is amazing.
8. Since we're talking about wine... when you purchase it State-side, each bottle is carefully wrapped in a paper bag. In Italy, wine is treated as water and all bottles purchased (be it 2 or 10) are all lumped together in one flimsy, yet large, plastic bag.
9. Americans like promptness. They like to be on time, and expect others to be timely which includes all bills. In Italy, the water bill is mailed once a year. The utility bill is mailed when they feel like (which could be six months or more leaving you with a 1000 euro bill). However, if you are pulled over with a police officer you are expected to pay your ticket on the spot. If you don't have the cash - they'll follow you until you do.
10. Americans like to recycle and force recycling to some extent - more or less depending on where you live. Italians are issued 52 bags for trash each year. Now that is a new level of forced recycling.
11. Americans have a bizarre relationship with alcohol and yet most states I believe have a legal driving limit around 0.08 and seem to encourage getting our past DUI offenders back on the road. Italy loves it's alcohol and yet has a legal driving limit of 0.05. Should you get a DUI in Italy, they will take possession of your car... permanently (even if you're still paying on it).
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