🚗 1. He Who Parks Closest Wins

In Italy, parking is a competitive sport. The goal? To park as close as physically possible to your destination — as if the pavement between car and shop were molten lava. “Just one step closer” might as well be the national motto.

🍕 2. Buffet Service vs. Full Service at Home

When hosting Italian families, we love the idea of setting up a buffet — food spread out so everyone can serve themselves and choose what they like: pizza slices, side dishes, maybe Thanksgiving turkey.
But each time we try this, it doesn’t quite go as planned. No one gets up. Instead, guests politely wait to be served. The Italian instinct for hospitality means you are the one expected to fill their plates — and that’s part of the charm.

☕ 3. Offering Coffee (or Any Beverage) to Workers

When a plumber, electrician, or delivery person comes to the house — especially in the morning — offering an espresso or a drink changes everything. It’s not just politeness; it’s part of getting to know each other. A quick espresso builds instant trust and conversation — caffeine diplomacy at its best.

📮 4. Things Are Not What They Appear to Be

Names can be deceiving.

• The Autoscuola (driving school) isn’t just for learning to drive — it’s your lifeline to the Department of Motor Vehicles. You don’t call the DMV directly; you call the Autoscuola, or risk a two-month wait.

• The Posta Italiana (Italian Post Office) is more like a parallel universe — part post office, part bank, insurance broker, investment adviser, and sometimes immigration office. They also sell boxes, though you may need to summon an employee from the back who isn’t entirely sure how much they cost.

🚴 5. Bikes Are King (If You’re Racing)

Want new pavement in your town? Host a bike race — the streets will suddenly be pristine.
But leisurely cyclists beware: casual riding without Lycra, speed, or competition is often met with curiosity — or suspicion. Biking is noble when it’s sport; puzzling when it’s pleasure.

🌬️ 6. Colpi d’Aria — The Draft That Defies Science

Ah, the Italian nemesis! Colpi d’aria — “blasts of air” — are believed to cause everything from stiff necks to bronchitis.
Windows are managed like nuclear containment systems, scarves are year-round companions, and air conditioning is treated as toxic gas. Health begins with keeping the breeze out.

🙋‍♂️ 7. Greetings Matter — A Lot

Step into a shop and forget to say Buongiorno?
You’ll quickly be reminded — loudly and cheerfully: “BUONGIORNO A LEI!”
It’s not scolding — it’s a ritual. Greetings anchor every human interaction. Forget them, and you’re not just impolite — you’re invisible.

🧑‍🤝‍🧑 8. Government Failures = Community Builders

In many countries, processes are streamlined online. In Italy, the real network is human.
Need something done quickly (or unusually)? Forget the website — call a friend, a neighbor, or your cousin’s friend’s accountant. “Who you know” still outpaces “what you know.” Bureaucracy may be slow, but relationships make the wheels turn.

🚦 9. Getting Close in the Traffic Circle Builds Character

Roundabouts in Italy are their own form of courage training. Cars swirl in perfect chaos, often separated by just inches. Somehow it all works — a dance of faith, reflexes, and nerves of steel.

💬 10. Interaction Over Transaction

We’ve lost count of the times we’ve tried to pay for something — sometimes twice — only to be waved off: “Don’t worry about it.”
Commerce in Italy often feels secondary to connection. What matters most isn’t the sale — it’s the human exchange behind it.

Join the conversation — what are your favorite Italianisms?