During winter break, I went to Italy to visit my family for a few weeks, and, as always when I go back to my hometown, people asked lots of questions about the United States.
They want to know how life is in America, what it is for a young guy to live in the center of capitalism and, of course, if the U.S. is the real “paradise” where anybody can realize the American Dream.
There were no easy answers to those questions.
I quickly learned that Italy and the U.S. are two different realities, almost two different worlds. Both have pros and cons.
Before moving to America six years ago, I imagined the U.S. as the place where you could wake up, take a walk to the beach, stop by a Starbucks and drink a Frappuccino next to Leonardo DiCaprio just to start your day.
Of course, I was wrong.
There is a huge difference between Italian and American work ethics.
After living for a while in both countries, I can tell that many American people live for work while many Italian people work for living.
When I moved to the U.S., one of the things that shocked me most was the lack of annual paid time off.
In 2021, more than one-third of private industry workers received 10 to 14 days of paid vacation after one year service, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.
Even if these numbers do not impress the American workers who are used to them, in Italy and a majority of European countries, a worker has a minimum of 20 days of paid vacation, according to a Jan. 11, 2020 article by The Local, an English language Italian magazine.
I still remember when my parents used to schedule their vacations during the summer just to go to the beach with my brother and I.
Those were not luxurious vacations, but nice moments to enjoy with my family. Since we moved to the United States in 2016, we’ve barely made it to Lake Tahoe for three days.
In addition, it’s not a surprise to hear that Americans work more than two jobs to face the expensive standard of living of the U.S.
More than 7.7 million Americans worked two or more jobs, according to a Nov. 5, 2022 article by The Guardian.
In contrast, the employment rate in Italy is one of the lowest in Europe, reaching just 60.5%, according to the Italian National Institute of Statistics.
People in Italy tend to find a job and stick with it until their retirement.
Although this work ethic does not permit significant career advancements, it permits an Italian adult to have a stable life.
It is true that Italian people have a more “settled life” when compared to the intense American working schedules, but it is also important to look at the other side of the coin. People in the U.S. start to be independent earlier when compared with Italians. I can tell that Americans have a more dynamic and propositive mentality compared to Italians' sedentary mindset.
In addition, it is not rare for young people in the U.S. to leave their parent’s house right after high school. Many teenagers leave their parents’ house to study in a specific university or, in general, to be more independent.
I still remember when an 18-year-old person I attended community college with told me he was living by himself with his girlfriend.
I was impressed because the situation in Italy is the complete opposite.
More specifically, in Italy in 2019, 67% of people aged between 18 and 34 years old lived with their parents, according to a 2021 research published by Statista.
In other words, people in Italy tend to leave their parents’ house when they are financially stable, and in a country where economics and employment are not at their best levels, it generates a situation where 30-year-old people still live with their parents.
The result is that both these countries lack balance.
The United States seems like a perfect engine where jobs are the fuel to society. This translates into good opportunities for young people, but at the same time, I have this constant feeling that people are still missing a lot.
On the other hand, Italy offers the opportunity to have more free time to enjoy family life, but the job opportunities are extremely poor and not rewarding.
Living my life between these two different countries is a great learning opportunity, but at the same time, it is also easier to focus on the negative aspects of these two societies and the limits that both countries have.
I believe Americans should take something from Italians and vice versa. Let’s say, a cultural exchange.
Italians should understand that goals are only reachable through hard work and that “settling” is not always the best solution while Americans should take time to stop from their impressive work schedule and just enjoy what life can offer.
