1) The Italians, at least my family members, communicate quite clearly. That's to say, they are unlike many Americans who use circumlocution to avoid saying stuff directly. For example, I was talking to my host dad why he was going down to Puglia (his home region) for the weekend. Rather than saying that it was for his family, he said that his dad was quite ill at a hospital. Also, they do not hide their emotions. So when they are mad, they shout. When they are sad, they cry. It is quite different from how I usually act, which is to keep my emotions to myself.
2) When I was in Milano and Bologna last week, the local people wanted to practice their English, so they insisted that I speak English. I shared this story to my host family, and they said that it is because English is "molto molto molto molto molto importante." Watching these Italians (and other people in this world I'm sure) who are learning English for years after years makes me realize that I often take my ability to speak English for granted.
3) You see dogs everywhere in Italy! I don't know about you guys, but speaking from my experience, I have never encountered a person walking his/her dog in a city. Sure, I have seen dogs in a park or a neighborhood, but on the Metro or on a bus? Definitely not. So that is why I find fascinating that the Italians do not mind/have strict regulations for dogs on public transportation.
4) Back in the US, I would jokingly make fun of people who say y'all (I too say y'all haha). But the Italians also make fun of different dialects! In Milano, they say "diamo" to say "andiamo" (let's go). So when I came back, rather than saying "annamo," which is the Viterbese dialect, I said "diamo" and my host family laughed at me. They said the Milanese dialect was weird, and I bet the Milanesi would say the same thing about the Viterbese dialect.
5) Gestures are such a thing in Italy. I thought it was a typical Italian stereotype, but everyone does it for sure! I start using gestures as well and it makes me feel like I am turning Italian "piano piano."
Till next time!