GL 350 Blog 5

Blog 5 Prompt: What is the point of leisure? Compare and contrast Italian culture to your own as it relates to leisure.

                “Leisure” is a word that means entirely different things to different people, especially when discussing the matter in relation to people in different countries. People have different viewpoints on leisure time and what they do with it. For example, Americans definitely have a different viewpoint on leisure time than Italians. Another thing to look at when discussing leisure is to examine the surroundings of each individual and the access to certain technology, activities, and events that one can choose from to spend their “leisure time”.

                The classic American leisure time is sitting in the comfort of our own homes, drinking a beer, and watching the game with our friends and family. Although not all Americans would choose this as their ideal leisure time, most would say that it is one of the ways which many Americans pass time. My prime leisure time would be to work on cars all day. When I’m turning a wrench, installing a new engine, or simply changing my oil, time seems to not exist. I think this is the point of leisure time. To find something that you enjoy doing in which you don’t have to worry about time and responsibilities.

                Italians, I believe, have the same viewpoint but use their leisure time to get away from the hectic Italian lifestyle. Italians are always on the go, never stopping to really enjoy the little things in life. Italians create places like Piazzas to spend their leisure time in. These piazzas serve as a place for Italians to get away from their everyday lifestyle. Leisure time can be spent sitting in the sun, eating gelato, and admiring the stunning architecture that most piazzas have to offer. Again, this may not be all Italians choice. Others may decide to go to the Borghese gardens to escape horns, traffic, and noise. They may like to enjoy a bike ride or admire the city from one of the many amazing overlooks that Rome has to offer.

                In Barzini, he states on page 165 that “Italians, when safe to do so, enjoy genuine and unrestrained emotions as well as anybody” Although Italians are fast paced, they have some practices they do in which they can enjoy some leisure time. One example is when stores and shops close from 1-4pm. Italians have a chance to enjoy leisure time and relax before going back to work. Americans do not get this mid-day leisure time. Some parts of America are fast paced just like Italian life and sometimes even faster paced in some US cities. Leisure time is very important to both our cultures and the both relate and differ at the same time. Overall, Americans are open and expressive about their leisure time while Italians are not as outgoing about it. They enjoy their time to themselves in private while America is based completely on leisure time instead of trying to focus on work. Barzini says that “The free expression of genuine emotions is a luxury for the privileged, often a dangerous and expensive luxury.”