Italians use huge uncontroable amounts of garlic, and big quantities also in recipes...............................no!

Italians use garlic in many recipes, but not six cloves at a time, and usually remove the garlic before serving the dish.............it that right you Italians? I am sure it is.........Italian Americans and A:eek:mericans in general use too much garlic for an Italian's palate.

Americans are always trying to “improve” on others’ ideas or products. The bigger, the better, or so they think.

What I've learned while working at LifeinItaly:

Italian mothers sometimes do not cook.

Spaghetti and meatballs is NOT a dish in Italy.

Alfredo sauce is NOT used in Italian dishes in Italy. In fact, it is not used in Italy whatsoever.

Placemat settings in tables are NOT checkered.

Things like tabasco, heavy amounts of pepper and salt are NOT used in dishes and considered rude.

Italian salad dressing only consists of balsamic vinegar, olive oil and salt.

Garlic and huge amounts of herbs, as Jacqueline mentioned, are NOT in every Italian dish.

Italian dishes are LIGHT in taste most of the time, not heavy.

American pizza is MUCH different than Italian pizza.

Italian men do NOT wear a striking mustache!

Thats all I got for now.

Dan you are right on target!:)

"All Italian men are great lovers."

Actually I'm not sure if this is true... or just a stereotype - not having had enough experience to make an informed judgement.

:D

Teresa

Not everybody belong in the mafia.
There are some people who speak very good English, without the "typical" accent.

I'll have to think some more. :)

I think that all culture are filtered about television ore what some one say us.

Italy is very very different about the stereotip give us.

Remember than many italina family that live in US came from a very
hard life, in 1900 many Italian poor family arrive to the US

they give a strange immage of italy

Many was Mafiosi, but not all and all the people think that we are all mafiosi.

In Italy there isn't a tipical cook
every place have a different way to cook
When we say this all say Impossible, pasta? there are aboput 1000 recipes and there are about 1000 different kinde of pasta fresh dry white red long big whit eggs whit rise etc...

Normally there are a mix from culure.
In italy we don't love much MC we think is rubbish , and what MC donald's did? change his recipes adding some we like, no big porzion, no many sauce (we think they kill the foods) and add many salad many yoguth etc.

We are beautifull lovers? I think the most lover you can found is the man or woman you love, everyplace HE/she come from.

We are mafiosi? tell me a plase where there isn't ugly people?

we are strange? I think starnge is somthing different about ours culture, in china heat some kinde of dog, in australia paws of crocodile, strange? no are different way to live. They think we are crazy because we heat rabbit.

We love ours mothers?
I think all the people love the woman give us the possibility to live in this world.

Ours girl want to rest virgin?
i think the US to :-) ... this says whit can't have a partner because is very orrible :-) all teh people in the world love max sex Italian too.

Pizza peperoni is the best one
or pizza salami or with corns??

we love pizza whit fresh tomato fresh mozzarella and basil..
some time we add ham or olive or parmesan cheese or gorgonzola cheese or artichokes and stop salami??? why kill a food
My grand mother say all the time that cook teh food is like paint you have to mix in the rithe way in a paint you can have 2 colors and make the most important paint in the world

Remembre that is important to not cover the flawors if you heat a pizza you have to heat in the simply way
many time we heat is whitout notthing only whit salt and olive oil .. called FOCACCIA.

Ciao

ps we think americans are all fat :-)
in tv show us only fat family

we think all the people are stupid, they show us Bush :-))
I joke
ciao

A great thread. Most of the stereotypes I'm familiar with have already been mentioned, but I'm sure I'll think of new ones.

Grazie, Fulvio, for the viewpoint from the Italian side of The Atlantic. It is a refreshing take and a reminder of perspective.

The Mafia thing: Personally I am always frustrated by the media's portrayal of things Italian always somehow always relating back to the mob. (You're absolutely right, Fulvio, there are usgly people in every culture.) I cannot watch some directors' movies anymore because of this, and rejoice when I find something - anything! - that can celebrate being Italian without the 'goombahs' and gunplay. (It amazes and saddens me that some even celebrate these stereotypes and aspire to immitate them.)

A great thread. Most of the stereotypes I'm familiar with have already been mentioned, but I'm sure I'll think of new ones.

Grazie, Fulvio, for the viewpoint from the Italian side of The Atlantic. It is a refreshing take and a reminder of perspective.

The Mafia thing: Personally I am always frustrated by the media's portrayal of things Italian always somehow always relating back to the mob. (You're absolutely right, Fulvio, there are usgly people in every culture.) I cannot watch some directors' movies anymore because of this, and rejoice when I find something - anything! - that can celebrate being Italian without the 'goombahs' and gunplay. (It amazes and saddens me that some even celebrate these stereotypes and aspire to immitate them.)


The stereotypes I think they live forever, when you found a strange people you have to look the different, and some time we enlarge it.

Remember that in Italy many people think american people are Ignorant, in Italy we know history culture poes form all the world, in america is starnge found a scool that learn europe , asian, African history etc.

or many people think in USA thera re only black people that are not good to wear, and kill everyone
In italy we think in usa a child can have a gun
In italy we think the people in USA are all fat
In Italy we think american are AMERICAN :-)) sorry but i don't know how say it, we say AMERICANATA, is when we want to say something make exaggerate too much big to much noise.
we think american love governate the world (you have to remember taht in Italy a drunk US FORCE AVIATOR cut whit is plane the string of a cableway, 25 people dead and US govern give to this splendid boy a medal, one year ago us mylitary shoot to a italian military because is wear like a muslim He was ous chief of secret agency.

this is what the tv show us about USA.
but isn't the total reality, people are various, there are idiot and there are splendid people


Ciao have a nice day
sorry for my terrible english

Thank you for your thought provoking reply. After sitting on it for a day or two

The stereotypes I think they live forever, when you found a strange people you have to look the different, and some time we enlarge it.
You described it perfectly. Stereotypes are stubborn and only die once a people let go of their irrational fear. (e.g. - Non-Asian Americans' fear of Japanese Americans after World War 2.)

Your examples prove the old adage that at the heart of some stereotypes there lies a seed of truth:

[/QUOTE]or many people think in USA thera re only black people that are not good to wear, and kill everyone...[/QUOTE]
Unfortunately some Americans still think this is true, too. Mostly because that's how the media portrays it.

[/QUOTE]In italy we think in usa a child can have a gun...[/QUOTE]
I'm not sure of the age limit for gun laws in all the states but there are towns where everyone is encouraged to own a concealed weapon. (An excellent video on this is 'Bowling for Columbine')...


[/QUOTE]In italy we think the people in USA are all fat...[/QUOTE]
Although obesity can be a problem in many societies worldwide, it is reaching epidemic proportions in the USA.

[/QUOTE]In Italy we think american are AMERICAN :-)) sorry but i don't know how say it, we say AMERICANATA, is when we want to say something make exaggerate too much big to much noise...[/QUOTE]
Lol, we called that The Eighties

[/QUOTE]we think american love governate the world (you have to remember taht in Italy a drunk US FORCE AVIATOR cut whit is plane the string of a cableway, 25 people dead and US govern give to this splendid boy a medal, one year ago us mylitary shoot to a italian military because is wear like a muslim He was ous chief of secret agency.[/QUOTE]
God, out of all your examples this is the one that made me cry. I too was horrified and shocked when that plane clipped the cable car and there was no recriminations. Or when the secret service agent was killed in Iraq saving the reporter (I assume that's the incident you mean.) While I'm sure every country has horror stories like this, not every one justifies its misguided actions away like the USA.

[/QUOTE]this is what the tv show us about USA.
but isn't the total reality, people are various, there are idiot and there are splendid people[/QUOTE]
Very true, Fulvio. There are many 'splendid' people here in the USA. And I think that's what it will take, intelligent people asking the questions and dialoguing, to make the stereotypes go away.


[/QUOTE]Ciao have a nice day
sorry for my terrible english[/QUOTE]
Ciao! And I'm so sorry I don't know more fluid Italian (yet)

Fulvio.. Il tuo inglese è migliore del mio italiano e mi piace il modo in cui tu parla inglese. Non preoccuparti. Sono in grado di leggere, parlo e capire un po' l'italiano senza aiuto, ma non so scrivere bene e spero che tu sia riuscito a capire il mio italiano!

Fulvio.. Il tuo inglese è migliore del mio italiano e mi piace il modo in cui tu parla inglese. Non preoccuparti. Sono in grado di leggere, parlo e capire un po' l'italiano senza aiuto, ma non so scrivere bene e spero che tu sia riuscito a capire il mio italiano!

il tuo italiano è molto chiaro
un solo problema
you wrote: "Il modo in cui tu parla inglese"

you have to say: "il modo in cui tu parli inglese"

this is the present

Presente
io parlo
tu parli
egli/ella oppure lui/lei parla
noi parliamo
voi parlate
essi/esse oppure loro parlano

the verb form you used
was "Imperativo"
you must do this!!!!

Imperativo

tu parla

you can reinforce this form whit
"dovere" but the verbs change :-)

you must speech
tu parla or tu devi parlare

lo so l'Italiano è una lingua molto molto complessa
pensa che solo di forme verbali ce ne sono circa 20
quindi
il verbo PARLARE ha circa 20 posibilità di tempo e sensazione :-)

altro piccolo errore

you wrote: "parlo e capire un po' l'italiano senza aiuto"

parlo you told in write way because is like
IO PARLO but Capire is the general verb and is an error you have to say that you speck and understand

so you have to say:
"parlo e capisco un po' l'italiano senza aiuto"

Brava ciao.

and if you whant to speech I try to help you

ciao
ciao

il tuo italiano è molto chiaro
un solo problema
you wrote: "Il modo in cui tu parla inglese"

you have to say: "il modo in cui tu parli inglese"

this is the present

Presente
io parlo
tu parli
egli/ella oppure lui/lei parla
noi parliamo
voi parlate
essi/esse oppure loro parlano

the verb form you used
was "Imperativo"
you must do this!!!!

Imperativo

tu parla

you can reinforce this form whit with
"dovere" but the verbs change :-)

you must speech say
tu parla or tu devi parlare

lo so l'Italiano è una lingua molto molto complessa
pensa che solo di forme verbali ce ne sono circa 20
quindi
il verbo PARLARE ha circa 20 posibilità di tempo e sensazione :-)

altro piccolo errore

you wrote: "parlo e capire un po' l'italiano senza aiuto"

parlo you told in write way because was correct because it is like
IO PARLO but Capire is the general verb and it is an error and you have to say that you speck speak and understand

so you have to say:
"parlo e capisco un po' l'italiano senza aiuto"

Brava ciao.

and if you whant want to speech speak I will try to help you

ciao
ciao

Mannaggia!!! :D:D:D
Si, hai ragione, l'Italiano e' una lingua molto complessa e la grammatica e' molto difficile per me, ma voglio imparare italiano e sono contento se siamo in grado di insegnare a vicenda. Va bene cosi?

BRAVA.BRAVA and BRAVA

What I've learned while working at LifeinItaly:

Italian mothers sometimes do not cook.

Spaghetti and meatballs is NOT a dish in Italy.:D

Alfredo sauce is NOT used in Italian dishes in Italy. In fact, it is not used in Italy whatsoever.

Placemat settings in tables are NOT checkered.

Things like tabasco, heavy amounts of pepper and salt are NOT used in dishes and considered rude.

Italian salad dressing only consists of balsamic vinegar, olive oil and salt.

Garlic and huge amounts of herbs, as Jacqueline mentioned, are NOT in every Italian dish.

Italian dishes are LIGHT in taste most of the time, not heavy.

American pizza is MUCH different than Italian pizza.:D

Italian men do NOT wear a striking mustache!

Thats all I got for now.

I always tell people here in the U.S. that in Italy Spaghetti and meatballs is not a meal.

"Italian pizza is different than American pizza." An interesting thing about this is that this past summer when I was in Perugia, Umbria had a Brazilian friend I would go out and eat with. She would always go on an on about how pizza in Brazil and Italian food in general in Brazil was so much better than the pizza and Italian food in Italy. Heard the samething from several other people of different countries and to tell you the truth I was thinking that the pizza we have in the U.S. is also better than the pizza in Italy.

Young Italian men will always pinch female tourists bottoms

Young Italian women are always chapparoned, and just looking at them will result in marriage, or "a sleep with the fishes"

Older Italian women are all big "Mamma's" up to their elbows in flour and eggs.

Pasta :-

Is either from a tin, covered in ketchup, and served on toast for tea

Or, a dinner plate covered in spaghetti at least an inch deep, and rounded off with a scale model of Stromboli on top, made out of minced beef (usually covered in grated cheddar cheese). It is always eaten as a main course, and is always called Bolognese (pronounced "Bolonyays"). All English people "make a great Bolognese" :rolleyes:

"Italian pizza is different than American pizza." An interesting thing about this is that this past summer when I was in Perugia, Umbria had a Brazilian friend I would go out and eat with. She would always go on an on about how pizza in Brazil and Italian food in general in Brazil was so much better than the pizza and Italian food in Italy. Heard the samething from several other people of different countries and to tell you the truth I was thinking that the pizza we have in the U.S. is also better than the pizza in Italy.


I went for work and holiday in brazil 2 time and every time I eat many in quantity but in quality some time is impossible.
Many place cook food whiteout the elementary rule of hygiene, sorry but I think the worst restaurant in Italy is better the the best in Brazil.
Brazilian every time talk about is splendid Brazil, I think is normal love ours home.

Pizza is from Italy the real recipes is the Napolitan one.
Yes is cook in all of the word and every one say the own is the best.
For me isn't a problem, but I think if in italy we cook hamburger of hot dog, we can say our are very nice, like in USA
but the truth is that in USA you have nice hamburger and hot dog.
the best way to eat a disk is eat it in local place.

I told you before, in Italy there are hundred way to make pasta pizza etc.

the real pizza is form Naples, the weather the water the flours are different, in Milan we can tray to make our best product but is impossible to do the same to Naples.

Villa Perugia is famous for his pastas whit mushrooms or truffles or whit fowl , for his sweet whit chocolate, isn't famous for pizza.

Ciao

Stereotypes of Italians viewed by Americans:

-Italians are all fat...
-Italians are all greasy (don't take as many showers as Americans)

Whether this is true or not is something I don't know. I don't think we Americans have room to talk when it comes to being fat. lol

As for bathing... I really don't know. I have heard they don't shower as often as Americans... But who's to say Americans just shower too much? 2-3 times a day in America. I shower twice a day. Before school and after work.

Buongiorno,

I'm having fun reading all the posts I've missed in the last week. This is a great thread.

What about this stereotype:

"Italian women are all arrogant and haughty, and won't respond to men who talk to them in restaurants or walking down the street."

I certainly haven't seen this but I'm curious what others think.

Teresa

wow thats alot..I only shower once a day...

Teresa, you are right, this is a stereotype....actually i think that italians are very lazy in bed, the problem is the weather, if it can be true that hot weather can make italians more passionate, but it can make them very slow ..... or fast, that is even worst.

Ciao Teresa Cutler

I never heard that Italians are lazy in bed. Hmmm... guess I need to do some more testing. :p

Actually, I'll just conduct a survey. ;)

Teresa

Fulvio,

I think we have to meet so I can buy you a glass of wine and explain why Milano is NOT the sunny Italy... ;-)

Stefano

I never heard that Italians are lazy in bed. Hmmm... guess I need to do some more testing. :p

Actually, I'll just conduct a survey. ;)

Teresa



you are so funny!!:rolleyes: something i don't think I will ever find out! you'll have to confirm for us!

Oh God... You make me laugh so much!!! :D
I'm italian and live in Italy... your stereotypes are too much amusing!
It' s really funny to see how italian people are considered abroad...
and let me say that most of the "traditions" you consider "italian", they are definitely not!
You have a romantic and ancient idea of Italy. :p

yes is rigth jaqueline,
1st: the mounth smell too much of garlic
2nd: Garlic make the bloody pressre low

I have never been on a thread b4, not even sure how I got here...I was researching italian culture..b/c I just got back from Italy..and could not stop reading the posts. I think for all women who go there..we experience the italian men, charm, flirting, good/great looks and being on vaca..we are just in that frame of mind for fun, adventure and love. I have met 2 men from italy, one very wealthy, who came here to see my family and I..a player though and one who was 15 yrs younger than me on the cruise ship he worked on. The similarities were being dominating (or trying to be...I'm a lawyer and very independent...that did not fly w/ me). They love the blonde, blue eyed busty american woman! and I liked that..I love tall dark and handsome... their accents drove me into total lust and their eye contact, ability to express emotional feelings/comments and just the ole italian charm.
When you go to italy..you fall in love..w/ all of it. A piece will always be in us. I can't stop thinking about it..or the Italian man I met. I can say ..if we want to get personal, they can be demanding in bed..what I consider somewhat inappropriate..since they are more aggressive and experimental than american men. But they are charming and once they whisper in your ear..it's all over. they kiss w/ such passion too. I don't think italian men are any better lovers though than american men. All men should read a good book..that's the way to always get a woman to say 'yes'! lol Well..still suffering from jet lag, amazing memories of my vacation of a lifetime, struggling w/ getting back to reality and missing all of my new friends ;( I better get some sleep. I hope to go back to Italy sometime soon..preferably after they stop hating us for bush and thinking we are like him and responsible for his actions..that got old! Hope the euro gets better soon too!
Buonanotte!! Ciao! ;) Love to Italy!

blondeblueeyed, Interesting and entertaining read.
I love the blonde, blue eyed busty american woman anche.
Must be the Italian in me.

Your words have inspired me. I feel like singing.

Penso che un sogno così non ritorni mai più.
Mi dipingevo le mani e la faccia di blu.
Poi d’improvviso venivo dal vento rapito
E incominciavo a volare nel cielo infinito.

Volare, Oh!, Oh!,
Cantare, Oh!, Oh!, Oh!, Oh!
Nel blu, dipinto di blu,
Felice de stare lassù.

E volavo, volavo, felice
Più in alto del sole ed ancora più in su.
Mentre il mondo pian’ piano
Spariva lontano laggiù,
Una musica dolce suonava
Soltanto per me.

Volare, Oh!, Oh!,
Cantare, Oh!, Oh!, Oh!, Oh!
Nel blu, dipinto di blu,
Felice de stare lassù.

Ma tutti sogni nell’alba svaniscon perché
Quando la luna tramonta li porta con sé,
Ma io continuo a sognare
Negli occhi tuoi belli, che sono blu
Como un cielo trapunto di stelle.

Volare, Oh!, Oh!,
Cantare, Oh!, Oh!, Oh!, Oh!
Nel blu degli occhi tuoi blu,
Felice de stare quaggiù.

E continuo a volare, felice
Più in alto del sole ed ancora più in su.
Mentre il mondo pian’ piano
Scompare negli occhi tuoi blu,
La tua voce e una musica dolce
Che suona per me.

Volare, Oh!, Oh!,
Cantare, Oh!, Oh!, Oh!, Oh!
Nel blu degli occhi tuoi blu,
Felice de stare quaggiù.

VOLARE (English Translation)

I think that a dream almost never returns:
I was painting my hands and my face blue.
Then suddenly I was coming, carried off by the wind,
And I was beginning to fly into the endless sky.

To fly, Oh!, Oh!,
To sing, Oh!, Oh!, Oh!, Oh!
In the blue, painted blue,
Happy to be up there.

And I flew and flew happily to the heights of the Sun
And higher and higher into the sky.
While the world slowly, slowly
Disappeared in the distance down there.
Sweet music sounded
For me alone.

To fly, Oh!, Oh!,
To sing, Oh!, Oh!, Oh!, Oh!
In the blue, painted blue,
Happy to be there.

But all the dreams vanish at dawn because
When it sets, the Moon takes them along,
But I continue dreaming in your beautiful eyes
That are blue like a sky dotted with stars.

To fly, Oh!, Oh!,
To sing, Oh!, Oh!, Oh!, Oh!
In the blue of your blue eyes
Happy to be there.

But I continue to fly happily to the heights of the Sun
And higher and higher into the sky.
While the world slowly, slowly
Disappears in your blue eyes,
Your voice is sweet music
That sounds for me.

To fly, Oh!, Oh!,
To sing, Oh!, Oh!, Oh!, Oh!
In the blue of your blue eyes
Happy to be there.

YouTube - Nel blu Dipinto di blu
Better than all the others in YouTube. They'll be singing ...
4 min -


www.youtube.com/watch?v=3o2wm4914Ts

Check out Related Videos
laura pausini and tiziano ferro - etc. etc.





YouTube - Gipsy Kings - Volare
This video has no Responses. Be the first to Post a Video ...
3 min 39 sec -


www.youtube.com/watch?v=oNgSeJzLJFc

Grazie, Fulvio! Fulvio is Italian, and Italians know the difference between the stereotype of the Italian/American (ie; "Goomba, Guido, etc.) and the way things really are over in Italia. It's a sad situation that these stereotypes are still perpetuated and (like Stephanie said) encouraged in some cases. It's something a lot of people are still trying to overcome.

Most Italians know that Italian women walk around with a grumpy face, rarely do I see one that is happy and smiling at passers-by!

Most Italians know that Italian women walk around with a grumpy face, rarely do I see one that is happy and smiling at passers-by!Well it not looks so clever to smile to everybody who pass by you :p

That's why they think American women are so easy. We're all taught to be friendly...the amount of trouble it gets you in is unparalleled. This is one case where mother was NOT right. But, I still think it looks better than all the grumpy faces...!