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

Having time to leisure is a necessity in life. Both the Italians and the Americans leisure, they just do it in different ways. The Americans typically spend their leisure time sitting in front of a television. At best they get out of the house to play a game of golf. Italians, on the other hand, spend their time working out, meeting friends for coffee, grocery shopping, or walking their dogs in the more peaceful parts of the city. I know if I had the time to leisure during my regular work day I would spend it with my dog in the grassy fields near the aqueducts or in the calm and quiet parks of the Borghese Gardens.

Leisure is a necessity in order for people to remain sane. It is impossible to perform at a highly productive rate in the work place without taking some time to recharge the batteries. The Italians do a great job in taking time out of the day for leisure by having siesta in the afternoons from 1pm-4pm. Having a break like this allows them to be more productive in the times they actually work, because they know they will have time to relax in the afternoon. Americans on the other hand, has little time in the day, especially the workday, for leisure. Often times people work between 40-80 hours a week and whatever free time they do have is filled with doing other chores that are necessary in life. This could be things like picking up the kids from school, cooking dinner, or even just sleeping. Italians also find pleasure in the little things. Barzini explains this when he says, “Above all he believed in all kinds of physical pleasures. The feel of a panting horse at a gallop between his knees, a swim at dawn in the sea, rare perfumes, the killing of enemies in battle, and the endless delights of women’s bodies.” These things cannot be enjoyed, it least not so in depth, if you are working for so many hours. It is in times of leisure that Italians become the most connected with the beautiful life around them.

The Italians tend to be very relaxed in nature. I believe this comes from them having so much time to for leisure. It gives them a lot of time to reflect on things. Like Barzini says, “They mind their own business. They behave with circumspection, caution and even cynicism. They are incredulous: they do not want to be fooled by seductive appearances and honeyed words. They cannot afford to be carried away by emotions. They keep them under control.” I have noticed when walking around Rome. Sometimes you see things that may not always be right, and yet, people rarely do anything. They just mind their own business.

In conclusion, Italians go about leisure differently than Americans. Their work day is better because of it and the people are more happy and refreshed. They are living life to the fullest, the way it should be lived. Not just in a desk chair for 10 hours a day. I think Americans sometimes forget that. Life is better lived when enjoying the little things, as Barzini describes, “But then you listen to people talk in cafes, watch them diffidently buy fish or fruit in an open-air market, watch them rapturously listening to sonorous band-music, watch old men smile to an unknown pretty girl in the street…” Italians love their leisure time and it is not hard to see why in such a beautiful country.