Culture Through Food..........

It is very seldom that one is presented with the opportunity to, not only travel to another country, but live and study abroad. A little more than a month has seemed to slip by, the shock of Rome has brushed off, and I am beginning to feel less lost and more at home. With 3 remaining weeks ahead I am beginning to better understand the importance of this city, how long 2 months really lasts, and how fortunate I am to be here. Rome has been a key element in shaping my experience, but the smaller coastal and hill town areas have been a key as well (a post is soon to come). Rome is a dense metropolitan area thriving with commerce, energy, and culture. As in the case with most large American cities, Rome seldom ceases to be sleep. Though, the shift from Day life to nightlife is further enlightened. The American day is a long, jam packed, and seamless line that starts in the morning is interrupted by a short lunch, followed by dinner, and culminates at 10 PM on average. Like most, the Italians start with breakfast, with lunch in the middle, and follow with the dinner. The most notable difference is that breakfast is abbreviated, with lunch and dinner being elongated. The lunch hour, or three (often called siesta), is a time for one to eat, socialize, and relax. It seems that this extended time for lunch is due to the extended night life that is present within the culture .A typical dinner, in America, usually starts around 6 PM and last no longer than hour and a half. Where as in Italy, dinner usually starts around 8 or 9 PM and lasts as long as 3 hours with the night culminating at midnight or 1 in the morning. Longer dinners in the U.S. aren’t uncommon, but from personal experience have been reserved for those in the higher social strata. In the U.S., especially when dining out, meals that last longer are typically more expensive. In Italy, a majority of the population experiences longer dinners with, not only family, but with friends on a regular basis. The food culture is an obvious observation, but the way eating, drinking, and socializing is a key difference in our cultures.