Sicily is a very loveable island region in Italy. Indeed, you haven't seen all of Italy unless you see Sicily. However, living in this island is completely different from being a mere tourist. You will have to learn to adapt to your new life in Sicily.
One thing you will have to get used to is that personal space does not exist in Sicily. Sicilians aren't disrespectful. Not recognizing an individual's personal space is just something that they're used to. When passing through crowds, squeezing in to them won't be a bother and you don't even need to excuse yourself. If you can't get through however, you can excuse yourself. Also , you don't have to say you're sorry if you bump into locals - unless you hurt them, of course.
Even when driving your car through Sicily's streets, you can't expect other vehicles to give you space. Don't freak out if another car gets too close and bumps side mirrors with your car or is just a few inches from behind you . Two lane roads turn to four lanes as cars crowd them. These circumstances may make living in Sicily stressful at first but you'll get the hang of it in the long run. You can also opt for local driving lessons so you'll have better grasp of the Sicilians' way of driving.
Another thing that you will have to get used to in Sicily is that greetings are important. This is quite odd considering the fact that personal space isn't an issue for the locals. When engaging with Sicilians, saying hello or greeting them a good morning or evening will get you far. "Ciao" is a more personal way of saying "hi" and is only to be used when greeting small children or people you've known for some time.As for eating out, Sicilians also play under different rules.
Don't be surprised if you see Sicilians eating their breakfast or lunch at a bar while standing up. It is a normal way of eating in Sicily if there aren't any seats available. Another thing you might notice is that at bars, you won't see any lines. Simply mingle with other people making their orders, remember the person ahead of you, and make your orders immediately after the person ahead of you finishes ordering up.
One thing you will have to get used to is that personal space does not exist in Sicily. Sicilians aren't disrespectful. Not recognizing an individual's personal space is just something that they're used to. When passing through crowds, squeezing in to them won't be a bother and you don't even need to excuse yourself. If you can't get through however, you can excuse yourself. Also , you don't have to say you're sorry if you bump into locals - unless you hurt them, of course.
Even when driving your car through Sicily's streets, you can't expect other vehicles to give you space. Don't freak out if another car gets too close and bumps side mirrors with your car or is just a few inches from behind you . Two lane roads turn to four lanes as cars crowd them. These circumstances may make living in Sicily stressful at first but you'll get the hang of it in the long run. You can also opt for local driving lessons so you'll have better grasp of the Sicilians' way of driving.
Another thing that you will have to get used to in Sicily is that greetings are important. This is quite odd considering the fact that personal space isn't an issue for the locals. When engaging with Sicilians, saying hello or greeting them a good morning or evening will get you far. "Ciao" is a more personal way of saying "hi" and is only to be used when greeting small children or people you've known for some time.As for eating out, Sicilians also play under different rules.
Don't be surprised if you see Sicilians eating their breakfast or lunch at a bar while standing up. It is a normal way of eating in Sicily if there aren't any seats available. Another thing you might notice is that at bars, you won't see any lines. Simply mingle with other people making their orders, remember the person ahead of you, and make your orders immediately after the person ahead of you finishes ordering up.
About the Author:
Traveling around the world for most of his life, the author has been seeing the world on his terms. Seeing the entire island he can share the top things to do in Sicily. He has lived in Sicily, Buenos Aires, Toronto, and other cities as well. A unique place in the world, there are many travel blogs online will share with you all of the amazing things that you can do on the island. Remember stay safe!
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