Dating in Italy vs. Dating in the Netherlands
Dating in the Netherlands, to sum it up, is just crap. Yes, sorry, but it's just not fun, is it? Especially not in corona times like now, but I didn't really like it before that either. I mentioned it earlier, and then I compared it to how dating is in America (spoiler: much better). It can't really be that we in the Netherlands have the worst luck when it comes to dating and hooking up. Right? RIGHT?
So I went on a quest. Who has a bit of a good image? As in: they are desirable, seductive, and are often associated with passion and love. Exactly: the Italians. How does dating actually work for them?
Unfortunately, I couldn't just go to Italy to do my own research because that wouldn't go down well here and we are still dealing with a pandemic. Luckily, there's the Almighty Oracle called Google and it had answers. Multiple ones, in fact. Be warned: your dream of an Italian Stallion might just shatter.
According to the site The Culture Trip there are indeed a number of points you need to consider if you want to run off with an Italian. In fact, there are 12 (!) points you should keep in the back of your mind. And they are really not all that positive. I have no problem with some of them (‘they go everywhere by car’ would be a concern for me, although cruising on an old Vespa sounds a bit more romantic), but other points are a bit more problematic.
For example, they warn you: Italians are always late. Yes, even for that date that is quite important to you. Apparently, the whole concept of time works a bit differently in Italy and being ten minutes late is really no big deal. So don't expect any excuses for that; those only come after the twitnig-minute mark. As someone who hates being late, this really gives me the creeps.
Don't be shocked: 81 percent of Italians between 15 and 29 still live at home. Sorry, but that's really quite a lot, isn't it? There's a good chance that your date still lives with their parents and, well, that doesn't have to be a dealbreaker, but I personally don't see it as a plus.
In terms of gender equality, Italy seems to lag quite a bit behind the rest of the world. That might be something you find appealing: men always pay the bill, but they usually go for women who play hard to get. Here, you can (I hope) bring a bit of change: just split the bill, especially if you've had multiple dates.
Now it seems that Italians also have quite a bit of commitment issues, and it can take a while before you really feel like something serious can come out of it. According to The Culture Trip, there's a way to know if he/she sees a future with you: if he talks about you to his surroundings, then you're in luck and you might just become his or her fidanzato/fidanzata.
Are there only downsides to dating Italians? Not at all. They don't really do coffee dates (sorry, I find that a bit lame), but an aperitivo is a more common date. In other words, snacks and drinks before dinner. And if things go well, you'll of course stick around for dinner. Additionally: if someone talks to me in Italian, there's a good chance I'll be sold pretty quickly. Faster than when I actually understand someone because they speak Dutch. Well... there's just something about that language. They say French is the language of love, but Italian does much more for me.
Source: The Culture Trip
