Will The Future in Italy Be Better or Worse: An Ode to What Is and What Was
Anna Savino | Italianna Food & Wine Tours
[TomPodmore_Italy_Burano]
Burano, Venice, Italy
Image | Tom Podmore, Unsplash
The future can make us feel hopeful, uneasy or even afraid. When I picture the future, it transports me into a place of technical innovation, more efficiency, automation and less human contact. Yet part of the fascination and allure of my country, Italy, is quite the opposite of this.
Italy is moving on with the rest of the world at a fast pace. I remember when I arrived in Italy 16 years ago, and no one knew what sushi or WiFi was. It may have been frustrating at the time, but in retrospect, it was refreshing to jump back into the past. My nostalgic personality yearns for an Italy that preserves its traditions, which is almost frozen in time.
I secretly love that my in-laws in their late 70s still have no idea how to write a text message on their old “smart” phones. Our current and future generations are fully connected with the rest of the world so there is no turning back, but it reassures me to know that my kids— who spend so much time with their grandparents—are not becoming zombies in front of tablets, TVs, and game screens. Instead, they might just be bored (which is OK) or cleaning fresh green beans from our garden. The future will have our children more and more connected online without a doubt, so it’s nice to that they can be connected to family and nature right now.
Italian men passing the time in Marche
Image | Anna Savino
I love walking past the benches and seeing the elders sitting side-by-side on hot summer evenings, chatting about their favorite Rai cable TV shows, their grandchildren, and of course, the weather. I am afraid our future elders will be sitting on those same benches but chatting via WhatsApp and sharing videos through the internet of their favorite programs instead and not engaging directly with one another.
I hate knowing there is a Starbucks in Milan and that to-go cups are becoming “a thing.” It bothers me to see the Italians finally getting the hang of take-out and delivery throughout this pandemic. Many people from older generations here have never even tried a bite of ethnic food unless they have traveled. Of course multi-cultural influences are a positive addition to any society, but I wonder if the younger generations will still make homemade mayo like my mother-in-law or just go get burgers or Vietnamese food instead.
To-go cup for a caffè macchiatto—espresso with a splash of milk
Image | Anna Savino
I hope that the Tarantella, local dialects, and Napoletani songs will not get lost in the future of online music channels and globalized networks.
I will miss seeing people driving the ugly, yet so familiar, old Fiat Panda and little Piaggio “Ape” (AH-peh, Italian for wasp) as they start to disappear because they pollute the air with their noise and the belching black smoke that comes from their tailpipes. Perhaps more ecological versions will replace them.
Although the bureaucracy can be a nightmare—especially when waiting for hours in line at the post office (with no air conditioning) in order to make a simple transaction—it is part of the old fashioned way that also makes you secretly chuckle. You've got to take it with a grain of salt.
Despite Italy having had a turbulent and challenging past, there is something about the unchanging Italy that we all love. Certamente, I am optimistic that our children and future generations will have better opportunities as this country evolves. But if it doesn't evolve too much, I will be ok with that.
