I was fortunate enough to go on holiday with my family to Italy this past Summer Holiday. It was a skiing trip so naturally we ended up in Livigno. This is a skiing town that's brought to life during the holiday seasons with tourists coming from all over the world looking to glide down its snowy white capped mountains. You would think since this is a town relying on its tourism for business that the inhabitants would be welcoming and friendly. (Two very important traits in the service industry). Alas this was not the case.
We traveled with two other families and amoung us all the notion was unanimous, Italian people are rude. When we ate in restaurants, the service was bad (not to mention the food). When we shopped at stores, the assistants neglected us. When we parties at clubs and bars, the people in charge were inhospitable. The list goes on and on. Furious with the unwelcoming nature the Italians presented, our tour group stuck together and continuously complained. For good reason, however.
After contemplating the unusual and bizarre behaviour of our Italian hosts, I came to a realisation. The reason for their unwelcoming, unfriendly and inhospitable ways had to do with the fact that we "no speak Italiano". More frustrating to them was that instead, we spoke English. Imagine a foreign Italian tourist holidaying in South Africa approached you and began to engage in a conversation. Their limited English would heavily impede their ability to get their message across to you and in turn understand your confused response. But they would do it a manner that said - hey man, I don't really know much English and I'm sorry you have to deal with this, but let me try anyways.". Because of this timid, almost embarrassed manner in which they string together their "English" sentences, we choose to respond to them as if we were speaking to a child. We speak slowly and simply using elaborate facial expressions and animated hand gestures. "You (pointing) need to go (fingers walking) over there (pointing)". It's degrading. But they take it because they're the foreigner and you're the local.
Now, switch the positions. You're and English speaking South African holidaying in Italy. You approach one of the locals and dive straight into: "Sorry, do you know where the nearest pub is?". (Obviously they should be able to speak English, it's the Universal Language!). Confused, they respond in Italian. They clearly didn't get what you were saying. Furthermore, how ignorant of them to expect you to understand them. So you ask again, this time using the animated expressions and gestures. Where (shoulder shrug and confused look) is pub (drinking action mimicked). After this interpretive dance routine, the Italian seems to be getting rather annoyed. Why? Because you just made them feel stupid for not being able to speak your language. The comforting reality for them is that hardly anyone in their local area can. So they adopt the attitude - get an Italian dictionary, or go back to an English speaking country.
After this epiphany I decided it was time to invest in one such dictionary. And you know what, if this were Facebook, Italy would have "liked this".
