How to make friends with Italians

   One thing that has been of my concern before moving to Italy, is how easy it will be to make new friends. Especially because I first of all will be moving to a small city, on the east coast called Pescara. 

That's me sitting right there in the corner, checking out the street artists

  In small cities there, like Pescara, there tend to be a similar tendency amongst the people there, to be a bit reluctant. It makes sense, really, when you grow up in a small city where you go to school with the same 20 people you went to kindergarten with, then you tend to become a bit – let’s call it shy – to meet new people. And when the new people speak a foreign language it becomes very much a challenge it seems. At least that has been my experience so far.

  It was a bit surprising to me I admit; because where ever I have traveled people have always been able to at least speak English. So when I have been visiting Pescara I had to get used to being “that person” that nobody wants to sit next to at the table, because, what if I started a conversation with them and they had to speak English. I understand them, because everything in Italy is in Italian. Even the American TV-shows are dubbed (Seriously hard to get used to The Simpsons intro song in Italian) so I don’t blame people for not speaking English well. But that doesn't make it less hard to be the alien among them.
So my first advice on getting friends in Italy would be this: Start learning Italian!

   The trick I have learned how ever is that with Italians, I just have to go about it in a different way. Because, really, Italians are very social and curious people. You just have to adjust the expectations a little. But once you have gotten to know a few people, you will undoubtedly soon find yourself in a larger group of people. And then it’s all about putting on your friendliest smile, and work on that Italian opening line you have memorized.

  You just have to forgive people for not feeling comfortable with you, because you are a non-Italian person. Because if you have never moved some place new where you had to make new friends (or be lonely with your cup-noodles every night) you can’t be blamed for not knowing what it’s like. But some of the most rewarding friendships I have ever had, has been when I have lived abroad.  And I love knowing that I have friends all over the world, that one day I will come visit again. So it is hard for me to understand why people don’t feel the need to get to know new people, from different countries.

   Of course I understand though, that in a city like Pescara, the foreigners you will meet are tourists, that will eventually leave. So why make friends right? To me a friendship can be short or long lasting, but still valuable because you never know what kind of influence this person can have on your life. I have met people for ten minutes that could have still had an impact on me.

One last thing, if you are a girl trying to make friends with other girls in Italy: keep in mind that topics of appropriate conversations are: Makeup, nails, dresses, hair, weddings, food and travels. As a down to earth, beer drinking, pervert-humored kind of girl I really had to work on my feminine skills in order to make friends with the women. Italian women are a lot more feminine minded than I am used to (don’t make anal jokes at the dinner table, just saying). And a lot more focused on the feminine aspects of life. So first of, when greeting the women, throw in a compliment, then move on to neutral topics of conversations. At least until you get to know them.

Next off: Eat your way though Abruzzo