Funny Things Italians Do in Everyday Life

What comes to mind when you think of Italians?

Tall, dark, muscular men drinking coffee calling you “bella?” Maybe you think of beautiful women, with long lean figures, thin legs and a big booty? How did they get that way? Grrr!

Or maybe you think of jovial personalities, smiling, generously offering you a morning espresso or post-dinner grappa?

Sound stereotypical? Maybe it is. But Italians are some of the most beautiful, generous, fun-loving people I know. And they are funny, too.

Over the years I’ve observed, been party to or noticed some pretty funny things going on around here, but they are never enough for a whole post. So I’m going to save them up and give them to you in threes.

1. Last week was All Saint’s Day where all people who aren’t named after a Saint’s get to celebrate. Hence … It was “my” day. Since I’m trying to lose those residual Mexican-food-and-margarita pounds, I asked my husband and father-in-law not to buy the traditional celebratory pastries. They happily obliged.

Instead, they came home with a kilo of vanilla bean ice cream and two dozen Ferrero chocolates …
2. Last month I was trying to sneak in a mid-afternoon nap when the sound of the door bell thrust me from my slumber. Upon opening the door, I saw my husband’s uncle, standing with his fruit-stained hands open in front of him.

“Ciao, Zio Joe. What’s up?”

“Hey, Cherrye. I am dirty. I’ve been picking persimmons.”

“Do you want to wash your hands?”

“No, no, I was just wondering if you like persimmons?”

“Oh yes,” I tell him. “I love persimmons.”

“Well, I have too many.” He said. “I’ll bring some over.”

“No, no. We don’t need them. We have plenty on our tree.”

I later retold the story to my husband who thought for a minute, started laughing and clarified my story. “He came over to ask you if we wanted persimmons?”

“Yes.”

“That’s hilarious,” he said. “He doesn’t have a persimmon tree. He was picking them off of ours!”

 3. I was driving home from the supermarket on Monday (there are seven of them within a two kilometer drive) when I turned the curve and noticed two cars headed directly toward me. One was in his appropriate lane. The other in mine. The guy in my lane, in a frenzied fuss, started honking his horn and yelling at me … for not moving out of his way. Ahhh, when will I learn?

What are some things the people in your life do to keep you laughing? Do you think these things are more amusing in a foreign country or would they be funny in your home country?