meteor asked:




The best way to learn about Italian women and the culture of local dating is going to the source itself: Italian women and girls who live in Italy. You’re not going to learn all there is to know about seduction by visiting a library in Ohio. No, some travel abroad is necessary. Of course, an Italian’s opinion and ideology about romance is colored by the region of Italy and the generation in which he or she was raised. Nonetheless, I learned that, across the board, Italians are still fairly traditional when it comes to gender roles, especially when compared to other Western countries. And romance still plays a large part in modern relationships. And no, fluency in the Italian language is not a requirement for success. You should go a bit deeper than that.



After 5 years in Italy I learned that the little things in life which count with the locals and what scores points with Italian girls and Italian women. I have noticed earlier on that men in Italy seem to be much more free with admiration than those in other parts of the world. And I quickly followed to suite my best. “Men will compliment your appearance a lot, and they can be very “touchy” but not in a perverted way,” says Lucia, a 25-year-old in Bari who is in a long-term relationship. “But above all, they are chivalrous. They will open doors for you, pay for things, etc. Males might even ask if it is okay for them to kiss you.” And Lucia (a real Italian woman) admits that women respond to a man’s ego by laughing at his jokes or making clever comebacks if they are interested in him. Flirting, with warm back-and-forth text messages via cell phone, has become a popular sport for both sexes in Italy.

And unlike their American counterparts, who seem to have turned courtship into a business that requires a strategy, replete with speed dating, professional matchmakers and dating consultants, Italians still believe that you can meet “the love of your life” just about anywhere. The Italians with whom I met and had subsequent dates were found in the piazza, at the beach, on the slopes, at school, at work, at the discotheque, at concerts, at pubs, on planes, on trains, through friends, and even right next door. Shared interests like a love for soccer or Latin dance, which is becoming more popular in Italy, often helped to spark romance. You can find common interests in almost every aspect of life. Like singles all over the world, Italians are also starting to turn to the Internet and web personals for companionship.

The flipside to all this is simply too much romance. The rush of meeting Italian women, experiencing local dating, and falling in love can be addicting. In fact, in some cities the locals refer it as “The love of falling in love”.

If you’ve ever been totally overwhelmed with that special someone then you know the symptoms: the strange, sizzling feeling in your chest, the inability to think straight, not to mention loss of appetite, insomnia. And this is love? But after all these years I learned to distinguish between infatuation and something a lot deeper.