Italians often ask me what Denmark is like,
compared to Italy. The short answer is that Denmark is pretty much the exact opposite in every way. The weather
is cold, not warm. We get drunk, you don’t. Our coffee is weak, yours can be cut
with a knife. We stand in line, you attack from all angles.We have 24 hours a day, you guys seem to have 28.
Anyway, recently
I had a Danish friend visiting and I was reminded of all the things that makes
no sense to a Dane at the first encounter with italian culture. This gives an idea of what the main differences are. Even for me, after almost three years of
visiting Italy on and off, and for the last two month living here, there are things that I still just do not understand
about italians:
Why do you worry so much about food? Italians can spend hours, days and
weeks worrying about what food to eat or what restaurant to go to. Should we eat
fish, or meat, or maybe pizza, or what about pasta? What do you think? I don’t
know - All of the stuff is good! And
it is not until two month from now – It is not possible to plan my hunger in such
advantage.
Why are you so worried about how much
people eat? I know that it is probably a thing of being polite, but the genuine
look I get from people when I am just not that hungry, is true concern. Why are
you not eating? You should eat some more. Guys – sometimes it’s okay to at
least experience hunger.
Why are you not able to keep appointments? I know, I am being overly Danish
here – but if you already know you will be 15 minutes or half an hour late
late, just tell me. Why do you not feel bad about letting people wait?
What is up with the super hard bread? Why don’t you have fresh soft bread at
the bakery’s? I feel that I am always eating yesterday’s bread.
Why do you take so long to say goodbye? Once we have agreed to split up, I just want to get on with my day and do other things. But every time we have to go through a long awkward goodbye-session. So where are you going now? Ah you are taking the bus? At the bus stop? It’s like you feel guilty for ending the meeting. Just say goodbye already!
Why do you take so long to say goodbye? Once we have agreed to split up, I just want to get on with my day and do other things. But every time we have to go through a long awkward goodbye-session. So where are you going now? Ah you are taking the bus? At the bus stop? It’s like you feel guilty for ending the meeting. Just say goodbye already!
What is with all the walking? Why do you think it is more comfortable
walking up and down the street with no goal in mind? It is super unpractical to
talk to people when you are walking at a line, and it always end up being the
two people in the middle having a conversation. I am sick of hanging off the
arm at the end of the line – let’s stop and make a circle so everyone can be
included in the conversation, shall we?
Why do you hang all sorts of shit in your keys? The keyring is for keys.
But you guys stuff it up with all sorts of things. Guys on the streets even
make a living of selling blinking souvenirs for people’s keyrings. Why does it
not bother you to carry around five kilo heavy keyrings?
I call him Claus |
How can you be so calm? I admit that I tend to be a bit impatient. Once I
have set something in mind, I’d like to start doing it. Now! Right away! How is
it possible to get anything done when it can all, according to you be done
tomorrow?
Why are you so proud of dubbed TV? Most Italians prefer watching TV and films that are dubbed rather than the original language, because they find subtitles disturbing. That is fine when you are not used to it, but why are you so proud of the quality in which the Italian voice over is made? It still looks super weird when voice and pictures don’t match, people.
I would be interested to know what things the Italians just don't understand about the Danes..