From The Italian-American Page Via Ann (anncruise).

Of course I had to add my two cents.
~Marie

American kids: Move out when they’re 18 with the full support of their parents.
Italian kids: Move out when they’re 28, having saved enough money for a house, and are two weeks away from getting married….unless there’s room in the basement for the newlyweds. (Do the Boschetto’s have a basement? ~M)

American kids: When their Mom visits them, she brings a Bundt cake, and you sip coffee and chat.
Italian kids: When their Mom visits them, she brings 3 days worth of food, begins to tidy up, dust, do the laundry, and rearrange the furniture. (Hey, any Italian mom out there, come on over. Please! ~M)

American kids: Their dads always call before they come over to visit them, and it’s usually only on special occasions. (Not my Dad. When I moved out he came over because he was afraid I would be with an Italian kid. ~M)
Italian kids: Are not at all fazed when their dads show up, unannounced, on a Saturday morning at 8:00, and starts pruning the fruit trees. If there are no fruit trees, he’ll plant some.

American kids: Always pay retail, and look in the Yellow Pages when they need to have something done.
Italian kids: Call their dad or uncle, and ask for another dad’s or uncle’s phone number to get it done…cash deal. Know what I mean?? (Anyone have Uncle Giuseppe’s number? ~M)

American kids: Will come over for cake and coffee, and get only cake and coffee. No more.
Italian kids: Will come over for cake and coffee, and get antipasto, wine, a pasta dish, a choice of two meats, salad, bread, a cannoli, fruit, espresso, and a few after dinner drinks. (If I had been born in Italy I wouldn’t fit thru the door ~M)

American kids: Will greet you with “Hello” or “Hi”.
Italian kids: Will give you a big hug, a kiss on your cheek, and a pat on your back. (I am expecting that at the next M & G ~M)

American kids: Call your parents Mr. and Mrs.
Italian kids: Call your parents Mom and Dad. (I secretly call the Boschetto’s Mom & Dad. ~M)

American kids: Have never seen you cry. (They have if they’ve been with me to an Il Volo Concert, I weep with joy through the whole damn thing. ~M)
Italian kids: Cry with you.

American kids: Borrow your stuff for a few days and then return it.
Italian kids: Keep your stuff so long, they forget it’s yours. (Like your heart? ~M)

American kids: Will eat at your dinner table and leave.
Italian kids: Will spend hours there, talking, laughing, and just being together.

American kids: Know few things about you.
Italian kids: Could write a book with direct quotes from you.

American kids: Eat peanut butter and jelly sandwiches on soft mushy white bread.
Italian kids: Eat Genoa Salami and Provolone sandwiches on crusty Italian bread.

American kids: Will leave you behind if that’s what the crowd is doing.
Italian kids: Will kick the whole crowds’ ass who left you behind.

American kids: Are for a while.
Italian kids: Are for life. (True. Il Volo is for life! ~M)

American kids: Like Rod Stewart, and Steve Tyrell. (Who is Steve Tyrell? ~M)
Italian kids: Worship Tony Bennett, and Sinatra. (I know one who worships Sinatra. ~M)

American kids: Think that being Italian is cool. (American adults think so too.~M)
Italian kids: Know that being Italian is cool.