Author: Abbey

A large dimensional discrepancy between the US and Italy according to this tool is long term orientation. Italy has a high index of long term orientation at 61, while the US has a very low index at 26. Long term orientation describes how a society maintains links with its past despite developing technologies of the present and future. While staying in Siena, which has had the same population since the medieval ages and retains many centuries old traditions, I observed first hand how passionate Italians are about preserving their past. My apartment building is likely over 500 years old, twice as old as the US. For this reason alone, it is easy to see how Italians are more concerned with preserving their ancestral history, there is more to preserve. My cultural course professor expressed this to us as well during a class when she told us that Italians are generally scared of welcoming in Americans because they perceive us to be a threat to the preservation of traditions.

Another large difference between these countries’ two indexes is the Indulgence-restraint dimension. The US has a very high degree of Indulgence at 68, while Italy’s is only 30. This surprised me because, in some situations, I observed Italians to be more indulgent than Americans. For example, in Italy, leisure time and long, long meals with company are very important. Whereas in the US it is common to eat shortly and alone. However, it makes sense that the US has a high indulgence score because of our work hard, play hard mentality.

One recurring incident for me throuhgout my time in Siena is how italians automaticcaly speak to me in English, even if I first speak to them in Italian. Whether I am in a shop, restaurant, or even engaging with locals on the street, Italians seemed to automatically switch to English upon hearing my accent or detecting that I was a foreigner. At first, I felt disheartened, as if my efforts to learn the language were being dismissed or invalidated.

As I reflected on this recurring phenomenon, I began to think about the possible interpretations behind it. One aspect that stood out was the prevalence of English as a global language. English proficiency is widespread in many parts of the world, including Italy, due to the influence of media. It became evident that for some Italians, switching to English may have been an attempt to provide convenience or accommodation to me as a visitor, or a chance for them to practice their English skills as I am practicing my italian.

.To verify my interpretation, I engaged in conversations with local friends and language exchange partners. Their insights further confirmed my observations that speaking English to foreigners is often seen as a gesture of hospitality and a way to facilitate communication. Many Italians believe they are being helpful by using a language they assumed visitors would be more comfortable with.

Evaluating this critical incident, I recognize the importance of embracing these encounters as learning opportunities rather than feeling discouraged. While my initial intention was to practice Italian, I understood that language barriers are not simply obstacles but gateways to cultural exchange. Instead of viewing the switch to English as a dismissal of my language skills, I could choose to engage in meaningful conversations about language, cultural diversity, and shared experiences.

This week, Siena is preparing for its famous and historical Palio. In simplest terms, the Palio is a bareback horse race where 17 contrade (the neighborhoods of the city) vie for victory through an intense three laps around the main Piazza. The competition draws 30,000 people into the square to witness this 90 seconds of lawlessness and medieval nostalgia. The Palio dates back to at least the 13th century and holds immeasurable significance for Sienese people. 

The best description I’ve seen of this cultural significance comes from the book Seven Seasons in Siena by Robert Rodi. In this passage, he draws upon the common and shortcoming analogy that Sienese contrade are akin to American sports fans. “For it to be analogous, the Cubs would have to be one of seventeen ball clubs in Chicago, each one specific to a certain neighborhood; fans would have to have been baptized in the Cubs church and grown up identifying themselves not as Cubs fans but as Cubs themselves; the Cubs would have to be not merely a beloved team but a family, a community, the foundation of our very identity. And, oh yeah, there’d have to be only two ball games every summer. And the Cubs would’ve just won one of them, against all other Chicago teams.” 

With a tradition this old, this important, and this difficult for Americans to fully grasp, it was understandable when my professor remarked to us earlier today about how the Sienese are weary of Americans during this climatic week. To let an outsider fully into this ecosystem is to risk compromising the traditional foundation that has supported this race for centuries. Thus, my professor provided us with a common heterostereotype: Americans are unable to respect and understand tradition. This heterostereotype comes from their perception of Americans through TV/media, the throngs of summer tourists, and news. 
While I have met Americans who are extremely disciplinarian about following tradition, I understand why the Sienese people got the impression that Americans in general are obsessed with change. Our country is built on globalization, industrialization, on the idea that change is necessary, good, and can’t come soon enough. While Siena is modern in the sense of household goods, job opportunities, and most everything else, they retain a uniquely full medieval town and have done a remarkable job not changing the historical artworks, events, and contrade. This ability to let the new in without destroying the old is very admirable and something hard to transfer to America, a country ¼ the age of the Palio.