Time plays a crucial part within an Italian’s everyday life, however, not in the way most Americans think. I, an American, had viewed time as a stress factor rather than something to be enjoyed or savored. However, after living in Italy for almost a month, I have realized that time for most Italians is a moment to pause, connect with others, and enjoy the moment, rather than trying to fill that period with something productive like most Americans do.
My first encounter with this was when I got off the plane. Everyone was walking to the luggage claim while my friends and I were jogging, so we had enough time to shop before the sunset. However, when jogging, we were getting stares and concerned looks, and we didn’t understand why. Once we arrived at our luggage claim, I overheard this bilingual Italian couple whose child was complaining about how long the luggage was taking. The father began to explain to her in English, “Stop complaining and enjoy this time now, the bags will come. Enjoy being safe and standing here after that long flight.” At that moment, I realized Italians see time as something to cherish or enjoy, rather than something to constantly rush through.
Another experience that altered my perception of time is the traditional coffee routines. Most Italians will wake up and start their day with coffee or cappuccino at their local cafe. Italians will order their coffees at the front, pick a seat, and wait for their coffee. There are no servers pestering them every two minutes. They had time to relax and savor the moment. Italians seem to develop this mindset because they have the ability to decide when they are done. They don’t have a strict American clock to follow. I usually see these Italians sit for hours, joined by a friend or just staring off in the distance. No phone with them, iPad, computer, or TV in the restaurant — just fully in the present enjoying who they are with or where they are.
Another cultural tradition they have is have aperitivo time. This usually occurs around 6:00 pm to 9:00 pm. During these hours, people can get a cheap drink and snacks after work. This period of time is often a social, relaxing time spent with friends or colleagues rather than just a “happy hour” we have in the States. People often just sit and talk about their lives or other topics. Similar to their coffee times, this allows them to savor both their drinks and time spent together.
Overall, Italians value their time by slowing down, savoring their daily routines, and fully enjoying each moment rather than rushing through it. This can be seen throughout their early coffee times when sitting with a friend and leaving on their own accord, or at aperitivo time as they make time to talk and sit with friends instead of rushing home from work. They avoid all distractions like phones or screens and choose to fully experience each moment. These small routines show the opportunities to relax, connect, and appreciate life demonstrating the importance of living in the moment and not rushing ahead.
Lilyana C is studying business administration with minors in healthcare administration and marketing. She is studying abroad at Università Cattolica Del Sacro Cuore
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