An American Gypsy

To whom it may concern,

Having spent upwards of a week here in Italy, I've arrived at a number of conclusions about European culture, two of which I find to be particularly intrinsic with the very fiber of my experience.

1) European culture is nothing like American culture.

2) European culture is American culture.

These dueling, seemingly contradictory statements serve as a self-perpetuating dynamic, but probably warrant further explanation, so allow me to elaborate.

There is literally an infinite number of cultural differences that initially seem to be little more than a senseless diatribe on the American psyche, but this is not so. Despite my best efforts, I simply cannot fathom what long-forgotten grudge these people have with the concept and subsequent usage of ice in beverages. It's just not done, and I am through banging my head against the proverbial wall trying to wrap that same bloodied, beaten cranium of mine around the idea.

That being said, while their day-to-day lifestyles stand in stark contrast to what we view as the American Dream, Uncle Sam’s influence is impossible to ignore. From Jack Daniels to Lady GaGa, it is impossible to overlook the fact that American culture has been absorbed and even proliferated by Europeans. Were any Italian to seek out an Italian-speaking American in the United States (short of Jersey), he or she would be fighting a losing battle; nor would you find Italian in any other non-European country to any real capacity. However, the King’s English is everywhere.

So here on this digital diary, I will attempt to absorb the European cultures while spreading the good word of capitalism and the Gospel according to Jack Daniels to all the backwards countries of the European Union. Just start accepting the dollar, because I’m not paying for my college education with Euros.

From Florence, With Love

Erich