B6 Travel Blog #4

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Question: What consists of the societal life for average citizens in Italy? How does this differ from the societal life of an American?

Source: http://www.kwintessential.co.uk/resources/global-etiquette/italy-country-profile.html

Italy is a country in Southern Europe. The style in Europe is that appearances matter in society. The way that an individual dresses in Italy can show what social class you are in. Also, an individual's first impression is an impression that lasts. Being clothed well is extremely important for Italians. Individuals respect their elders and people who are successful, such as business owners. Greeting another person is usually enthusiastic but still formal. Most actions taken that involve other individuals are typically formal as appearances make an impression on the other person. Respect in Italy is highly valued as each individual has to be formal to one another. Accessories that are elegant are equally important for both genders.

The societal life of an Italian is completely different than the societal life of an American. Italians are a lot more formal than Americans. Even though both countries respect is highly valued, Italians take respect to a higher level. Most interactions in Italy with other individuals are formal, while many Americans choose to be informal as they do not feel the need to be formal. Appearance is not extremely important in America compared to Italy. Also, many impressions in America change over time depending on the interactions individuals take. In Italy, first impressions usually last for a long time. Overall, both countries' societal lives are very different, yet they have similar values.

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