What America can Learn

With the eight weeks in Rome coming to a close, there is much I have learned about the Italians. Many of which I observed can be beneficial if incorporated in the United States. These differences are part of how the Italians live and within their culture. The most notable one is that Italians in the city walk instead of drive. Driving in Italy is more expensive than the United States making the use of walking or public transportation more practical. Weldon and I walked a couple miles with our homestay mother to her house to get there for the first time. She is 66 years old and in much better shape than everyone in my family at that age or older. I thought she was 10 years younger than she actually was because of how good her health was. Walking to work or to school every day is much more beneficial to your overall health than jumping in a car and driving there. This change in lifestyle has attributed as to why most Italians are in such good shape. I have can count the number of overweight Italians on my hand

Italians eat a much healthier diet than we do in America. Fast food joints lines most of the major streets in America, and almost all the food is cooked in grease. The fat and sugar consumption back home is considerably higher. In Italy, they eat a Mediterranean diet: olive oil, fruits, nuts, spices, vegetables, and fish. This diet places a limit on unhealthy fats leading to better health. This is a major factor as to why Italy is seen as the ninth healthiest country in the world. My homestay mom would go out and buy fresh ingredients every night to make for dinner. Honestly, my diet in Italy was much healthier than it had ever been back in the US.

When it comes to alcohol consumption Italy is more responsible with how they handle drinking. The drinking age in Italy is 16 as opposed to the American drinking age at 21. It is very common for Americans to abuse alcohol through unhealthy binges that can cause serious damage to one’s liver and brain. Italy is the leading producer of wine and considered to have the best in the world. They drink a little each day which is a healthier practice than chugging down vast quantities. Alcohol has become such an integral part of Italian life that they don’t drink to get drunk. Paola, my homestay mother, talked about how drinking has become such a problem in the United States. She said that it isn’t a problem in Italy, but the American stereotype is that we all love to drink and get drunk every Friday and Saturday night.

As I learned more about Italian health over these passed eight weeks, I began to realize how unhealthy most Americans really are. Our overall health as a nation doesn’t even come close to Italy’s. One of the things that I am not looking forward to upon returning to the States is an unhealthy diet. I find it so much more difficult to eat healthily when I am at home.