Cultural factors

Greetings everyone,

How are things going?

I decided to write this article about the significant differences between cultures because I find this subject fascinating. I am referring to those details that, according to our culture, we take for granted, while others may take them seriously or personally.

Factor 1: Today, I discovered that in Chinese culture, writing an email signifies the need to discuss a serious matter or warn someone about something. This contrasts starkly with our daily use of emails for reminders, communication, or simply to discuss everyday life.

Factor 2: I noticed that here in Norway, after a day at work, a reunion with friends, or an outing, Norwegians have the habit of saying, “Takk for i dag!” which means “Thank you for today.” For instance, we Italians do not say this, possibly because we tend to take time spent with others for granted. In contrast, Norwegians take nothing for granted and express their gratitude, a practice I have adopted myself. We should learn to appreciate such details. Similarly, after meals, Norwegians say, “Takk for maten!” which means “Thank you for the food!” This is something I have never encountered in my country, and I find it so intriguing that I am learning to say it despite it not being my habit.

Factor 3: In Spain and Latin America, I noticed that everyone calls each other “amor/tesoro/mi vida,” etc., meaning “love/honey/my life,” and many other affectionate nicknames even if they have just met. This practice starts practically from day one! It is entirely different in Italy, where we use such nicknames only when we are well-acquainted with someone. Let me remind you that I left Italy 14 years ago, and surely some things have changed since then. Perhaps they are more passionate than us.

Factor 4: We Italians hug frequently, a habit not shared here in Norway. I recall a few years ago when I went to Italy with a Norwegian friend for a wedding. I couldn’t stop greeting and hugging people because it had been a long time since I had seen them or had the opportunity to be with them. Upon returning to Norway, my friend remarked, “I had such a great time, but I have never seen so many hugs in a day!” What is normal for us is not for them, and vice versa.

Do you know more cultural differences between other countries?

The world is beautiful because of its variety!

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Did you know that?

Hello Everyone and Welcome to Sunny Days!

Finally, we have some summer days here in Norway, and having them here is big news!

Today, I would like to share my thoughts on two articles that I have found particularly interesting lately:

Why Do People Throw Rice at Newlyweds?

According to an article I read online, in ancient times, cereals were considered a symbol of prosperity. Bread has always been a staple in our daily lives, and traditionally, brides would incorporate spikes of wheat into their hairstyles, while grooms would place a wheat pie on their heads to serve to guests after the ceremony. Guests would throw almonds and nuts at the newlyweds as a wish for children. Over time, dried fruit was replaced by rice, which continues to symbolize prosperity and abundance. Recently, petals of roses, soap bubbles, or feathers are also thrown to the bride and groom, as rice can sometimes get in their eyes or soil their dresses. Curious, isn’t it?

Why Are Pizza Boxes Square?

Another intriguing fact is the reason behind the square shape of pizza boxes. As children, we learned to recognize geometric shapes and fit them into the correct slots in educational toys. This might explain why the question “Why are pizza boxes square?” arises. Pizza makers often create round pizzas that are not perfectly circular. Placing these in square boxes allows for variances in size. Additionally, producing a square box is cheaper than a round one because it requires only one sheet of cardboard, whereas a round box would need two sheets plus extra time to cut the angles precisely. The side holes in square boxes are necessary to let steam escape, preventing the pizza from continuing to cook and becoming burnt. Interesting, isn’t it?

Learning new things, especially about everyday items we take for granted, is always fascinating.

I hope you enjoyed my post and have a wonderful summer, even in these unusual times.

Follow my posts and please share your opinions.

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I miss being a tourist…

Greetings Everyone,

What a time we are living in! First and foremost, I hope that all of you are safe and well.

The topic of this article revolves around one of my greatest passions: traveling.

I truly and deeply love to travel! Believe me, I have had the opportunity to visit many different countries, and I would love to explore even more. The world is vast and filled with incredible sights… but who can possibly see it all?

But what type of tourism do I engage in? And what about others? What purpose does tourism serve?

I recently read an article about tourism that classified three different types of tourism: artistic tourism (museums, buildings, art galleries, religious temples, skyscrapers, monuments, etc.); event tourism (conferences, meetings, festivals, concerts, etc.); and nightlife tourism (parties, parties, parties…hehehe). To these, I would like to add “self-discovery tourism” or journeys that help one find themselves. Although, I believe that we do not need to seek external experiences to fulfill our souls, as fulfillment is already within us (a bit of philosophy here!). You can feel the same wherever you go unless you work on your inner self. Thus, travel is not always necessary.

Personally, I engage in a mix of the first three types of tourism. I think being a tourist is akin to being a student in a classroom: you learn and observe the daily life of a place; you taste wonderful foods; you experience things that may be unfamiliar in your own country, like different music or shows; and you learn about new cultures and their traditions. Traveling enriches your soul and makes you feel free to feel, think, see, do, and even buy. What a discovery, right? Haha. I know many of you share my thoughts on traveling, but I write this because I miss buying a flight ticket and dreaming about my next adventure. When I finally have the chance to travel again, believe me, I will savor every moment. After this stressful period and the constant fear for ourselves and our families, we all deserve to go back to where we belong or simply hug each other tightly until we find it hard to breathe! How amazing would that feel?

It is true that we appreciate or miss something much more once it is no longer available, rather than taking it for granted. This situation, caused by Covid-19, has forced us to change our habits and lifestyles: something as simple as a hug or a handshake may have held little importance before because it was taken for granted… but now? Now that we can no longer do these things, how does it feel? Bad, right?

For those who love tourism, I affirm that tourism is beneficial for everyone, not just for consumerism, which benefits society, but for enriching our knowledge, minds, and souls. You can meet people, compare your story to theirs, learn tips to improve your lifestyle or diet, visit new places, and so on. There is an infinite number of benefits we can gain from traveling. The most important thing is to appreciate our own country or home after visiting a place we may not have liked.

So, my friends, I truly hope that this lockdown will end soon and we can return to our routines, traveling once again to discover more of this wonderful world! I know it will take some time, but never lose hope!

What are your thoughts on this?

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Latin still lives!

Hello Everyone,

As time progresses, everything around us evolves, and our language is no exception. In our daily routine, we use English words, and our vocabulary is continuously updating. However, today I would like to focus on how we Italians still keep our linguistic roots alive!

Despite the prevalence of modern language, we continue to use Latin words and expressions such as: carpe diem, curriculum vitae, alias, Deo gratias, etc., which have Italian equivalents. But why do we do this if Latin is no longer spoken in our daily lives?

Is it to showcase our intellectual prowess? Or do these specific Latin words and expressions convey our intended meaning more accurately?

To help unravel this little mystery of mine, driven by curiosity, I had an interesting conversation with one of my dearest friends. We have known each other for many years. He is an Italian, Latin, History, and Geography professor, also qualified to teach Greek. He resides in a small and beautiful town in Southern Italy named Mesoraca. I sought his opinion to compare our perspectives and to learn more from an expert. His name is Francesco Grano, and here I share his explanation:

He explained that we use these Latin words and expressions because they are “linguistic fossils,” some of which, over time, have permeated our daily speech due to their cultured origin. Many are common sayings embedded in our historical and linguistic memory, such as sic et simpliciter (thus and simply) and ex abrupto (without preparation). Others originate from literary traditions, like famous Latinisms still used in literature today. These belong to the refined lexicon of poets and prose writers. Additionally, some are cultured quotes memorized and repeated over time, present in the works of those who preceded us (for example, carpe diem by Horace and alea iacta est by Caesar). They have various levels of continuity.

Reading his messages was enlightening! The wealth of knowledge he shared was fascinating. What I cherished most was his quote, “If you think well, Italian is Latin!” This statement made me realize that we have a vast cultural and linguistic heritage that we will always carry with us.

A special thanks to my wonderful friend Francesco Grano, who is not only a learned professor but also a beautiful and warm-hearted human being!

I hope you enjoyed this article!

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Mi scusi? O scusa?

Hello Everyone,

Today, I would like to discuss the polite forms we use when speaking to people. Specifically, I am referring to the formal and informal ways we converse.

In Italian, we have the “tu” form and the “lei” form. What do I mean by these?

When we talk with someone we know or are related to, we use the “tu” form. When we talk to someone we do not know, an older person, or an authority figure, we use the “lei” form, which is considered a form of respect:

Formal: Mi scusi, lei sa che ore sono? (Excuse me, do you know what time it is?)

Informal: Come stai? (How are you?)

Let’s see how this works in the other four languages I know.

In Spanish, they have the “tú” form and the “usted” form, and they use them exactly like the Italians:

Formal: Usted sabe dónde se encuentra la farmacia? (Do you know where the pharmacy is?)

Informal: Sabes tú qué hicieron ayer? (Do you know what they did yesterday?)

In Portuguese, they use the “tu” form and the “você” form in Portugal, while in Brazil they mainly use just the “você” form:

Informal: Te quero (I love you)

Formal: Quero você (I love you)

But what about English? They have only the “you” form now. English once had a “thee” form, which dates back to Early Modern English. “Thou” was used for the subject, “thee” for the object, and “thy/thine” for the possessive. Although they use “you” for everyone today, they add “Madam” or “Sir” to indicate politeness:

Formal: I love thee (very old form) Informal: I love you

Formal: Thou worked all day long (very old form) Informal: You worked all day long

Formal: Thine dog is smart (very old form) Informal: Your dog is smart

Today: How are you, Sir?/ How are you, my friend? (Notice the difference?)

Finally, we have Norwegian, which now uses just the “du” form. Seventy years ago, they had the “De” form. Norwegians used “Herr” (Mr.) and “Frøken/Fru” (Miss/Mrs.), but they no longer do so, except perhaps with the Royal family. Today, they use the first name and last name at the first meeting and then just the first name in subsequent interactions:

Formal: De er vakker fru Hanne (old form) Informal: Du er vakker Hanne (today)

It is important to know these distinctions, especially when working with Norwegian-Italian interpretation or speaking in Italian, Spanish, or Portuguese. It can be challenging to remember to distinguish between both forms, as Norwegian always uses “du“, but Italian does not. When working for an Italian client conversing with a Norwegian professional, I have to use the “lei” form for the Italian customer. This means being proficient in my job and using the formal way with the Italian customer, while the “du” form is acceptable with the Norwegian person.

Curious, isn’t it?

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