Nate Kantner and I sat down for one of those meandering, no-rush conversations about what it’s actually like to live in Italy—not the Instagram version, but the messy, funny, frustrating, sometimes absurd day-to-day stuff. We talked about learning Italian (and butchering it along the way), the oddities of dining out, what it means to be a musician here, and how different the cultural wiring is compared to the U.S. There’s beer. There’s music. There are stories about language mishaps, the real cost of living abroad, and the weird, wonderful way Italy gets under your skin. If you’ve ever thought about moving here—or just want to know what it’s like beyond the vacation glow—this one’s for you.
Follow Nate on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/bozemanate/
Follow Nate’s band: https://www.instagram.com/kantnerbrothers/
Mentioned in the episode:
Snack Bar Anna:https://share.google/N7VtUPbHbjDn8Vx02
Books that helped with Italian:
Italian for Dummies: https://amzn.to/3LgyMWi
501 Italian Verbs: https://amzn.to/3JqV7Qq
5 Comments
Intro on point
I think I understood a little bit better the discourse over music. That's been very interesting to listen to. I do agree that it is quite common here the fact of being dismissive on music tastes, and that's annoying. That was great conversation, thanks!
I can add on:
1- Flip flops: they are ugly. So we can "accept" them at the beach, and you sure can wear them in your home and garden but please spare us wherever else. And men should never EVER show their naked feet in public. Never. Please. For the sake of mankind reproduction. (So it's an esthetic problem, I think – how we develop an aesthetic? I think there is a rich literature on that, and I think to simplify saying that's the genius loci).
2. Again on going around naked: it's just ugly. Even when you are really good looking, it's just "not the place" to be naked.
I think this pairs up with the food culture: it's a sort of atmosphere you grow up into, you know that it's not nice to dress like that to do certain things of going certain places. I always made it a "respect" thing: if you are going to public places you should try to add up to the environment, not be detrimental with your esthetic or behavior (your need and freedom to feel cool, contrasts with my need not to be embarassed, I our own liberties end when the next person's ones start).
3. I am sure you know: bidet are compulsory in Italy, by law. There need to be at least one in each house (so you have two bathrooms you might don't have a bidet in one of them). Exceptions are made for flats under a certain dimension (very tiny apt).
Yeah sometimes I really struggle not to be a "know it all" person and today I failed. Thanks again for this conversation, for it's always interesting to see onself from the eyes of a "stranger". Ciao foresti!
Woohoo! I have a degree in Mechanical Engineering too! Hahaha!
Hard disagree on the Steak question. Never had a good one here I didn't cook myself. But then he said he likes pineapple on pizza after, so…😂