“Time is money” can be heard almost everywhere in America. We view time as something rigid that we control. This is very true for me, having spent a career in the military. During our class discussions we contrasted this American view with the Italian view of time. For the Italians time is fluid and often viewed as out of your control. This can be seen when you drive through the small Italian town of Sorrento or visit a coffee shop early in the morning.
Sitting at a coffee bar early in the morning has provided me with a great chance to compare and contrast Italian and American culture. The importance of a morning coffee and the opportunity to meet friends is different here in Italy and highlights a significant difference in the view of time that I experience daily in America. The difference in the inter-personal interactions can also be seen in the Italian approach to traffic and how coffee affects it.
On the very first day here in Italy I noticed that coffee was going to be an important part of my learning experience. Almost every bakery, coffee shop, restaurant and bar have a sign somewhere pointing out which brand of coffee they serve. This left me with the impression that it would be really easy to find a morning coffee spot because I view coffee as part of the “waking up” experience. This has definitely not been the case. Italians view time differently than Americans. Theirs is a much more fluid view.
The first challenge I encountered was trying to determine when things open because very few places post their hours. It took me a week, but I finally found my early morning spot. Far from the school I found a spot on a side street near the train station that opens sometime before six in the morning. I am not certain exactly how long before six, but it was open then. It may be possible that the place is only open that early on certain days of the week. This was quite a culture shock for me. I am a very regimented person and have a very American view of time and money. I had to adjust to a different view of time and profit. I would expect an American establishment to post and then maintain very specific hours.
My first coffee was easy to obtain because they were not busy at the time. My second cup took a while longer because I learned the very hard way that if you leave American sized personal space between you and someone at the bar people will just squeeze in between you. I am totally amazed by this. People who wouldn’t look me in the eye or smile at 30 seconds before, have absolutely no problem squeezing body to body with me on four sides in order to get their coffee. My biggest shock came when I went outside to a table. There were cars two deep in the intersection, cars blocking the crosswalk and motorinos everywhere.
If this were to occur in the States I would not be surprised if physical fights broke out. No one yelled at anyone else. If they got back to their vehicle before the person blocking them in, they just waited quietly or talked to a friend. I cannot think of an equivalent in the States. Something like the coffee culture here that is the source of so much passion and fanaticism and being widely accepted by everyone.
Another cultural difference that I observed while getting morning coffee was the absolutely impressive way that they handle traffic. There are a lot less traffic signals and signs than there are in the States. At first glance the traffic appears to be complete chaos, especially for a guy that likes everything explicitly directed.
Italian drivers appear to approach traffic much like they approach the queue to get coffee, massive throngs just pushing to get through the streets. If you sit back and watch it is nothing like that. There is a fluid, almost elegant, flow to the traffic. People let others into the flow without taking it as a personal affront. If someone rolls into the intersection from behind their stop sign trying to make a turn, they slow or stop and let them do it. I rarely observed horns being used as tools of aggression like they are often used in the States. They give a simple beep before going around one of the many tight corners or give a little beep to let someone know that they are present.
When traffic is blocked by someone getting coffee it is fine. Coffee is more important than traffic. Talking to friends while getting a coffee is more important than traffic. This was quite difficult to understand at first for an American who feels that I must get to my next location as quickly as possible and if you interfere with that you are having a negative effect on my life. I have come to think of this coffee and traffic culture as a very good example of mutual respect and understanding. I will let you make that illegal left-hand turn that slows me down because I know that you will let me do the same in return. I will not take it as a personal insult if you block my driveway while getting your morning espresso because I know that you will allow me the same convenience when I get mine.
Living this experience for a few weeks has allowed me view time in a more fluid manner. If we were to live and work here on a long-term basis I believe that eventually I would adapt to the view of time on the way to work. How much are a few minutes worth? What if they are spent having a great coffee with great friends? What would it really hurt if I got to work twenty minutes later?
About the Author
My name is Doug Harris. I have been blessed with the opportunity to return to school to pursue a new career as a French teacher. I just completed my first year studying French and Communications. I hope that I can take what I have learned about the similarities and differences between cultures and put it to use teaching a new language to students from a much different demographic than my own.
Under the Sorrento Sun 