Cultural Differences Between Italy And The United States

Italy is a beautiful country with a diverse culture, not much different from that of the United States. There are many aspects that make Italy unique from other countries, all of which are beautiful in their own way. Italians are proud individuals who take family and business seriously. First impressions can be lasting impressions, so be sure to make it a good one. The main language spoken in Italy is Italian, by 93% of its citizens (Kids Europe, 2005). There are however, a multitude of other languages spoken within the country. Some such languages are Albanian, Bavarian, French, German, Greek, and even Sicilian. Similar to the United States, there is a main language spoken with a variety of additional languages spoken throughout the
In Italy, Opera is a major music tradition dating back to the 1800s (HowStuffWorks, 2015). It is so prevalent because Opera generated in Italy from performances that encompassed singing and dancing meant to entertain Roman crowds during the intermission of plays. Italians also listen to modern music genres such as pop, rock, hip-hop, jazz, and electronic dance. The music in Italy and the United States is similar because there is a wide variety of music available for people to enjoy and express
They greet enthusiastically rather than formally, with a handshake, direct eye contact, and a smile (Kwintessential, 2014). Once the relationship advances and trust has developed, air-kissing on both cheeks occur along with a pat on the back between men. As mentioned previously, first impressions are very important to Italians. For that reasoning, one must demonstrate respect when meeting people for the first time and should not greet another by his or her first name until invited to do so (Kwintessential, 2014). Rather than using business cards, Italians normally use calling cards. They encompass similar information, just slightly larger in size. Face-to-face is the preferred method of contact and they would rather know something personal about the other party prior to conducting business. Since Italians are so intuitive, trust and networking are imperative. Taking the time to learn personal information and building a relationship will go a long way in Italy (Kwintessential, 2014). Italians are passionate communicators, so emotion and facial and hand gestures are often used during conversation. When it is necessary to request a meeting, the invite should be made in writing weeks in advance. The appointment should also be confirmed prior to meeting. The month of August is a popular vacation month in Italy, so it is common for organizations to be closed entirely. It is important to be