File che fanno senso

"File che fanno senso" - which I THINK is Italian for "lines that make sense" (corrected translations welcome, amici italiani!). This is something that simply does not exist in Italy that I have a renewed appreciation for as I am back here in the States. The blissfully simple 'rope and stanchion' system that is so prevalent here in the good ole' U-S-of-A, combined with a country full of people who are not only familiar with said system, but respectful of its role and the resulting orderly waiting that it facilitates.

Italians are shockingly bad at lines. Indeed, they don't really even HAVE lines, more clumps of impatient nebulousness moving generally in one direction. This is something I was completely unaware of before moving there: it's not highlighted in the guidebooks or commonly known as one of the cultural stereotypes (like amply-sized grandmas, dark chest hair, ass-pinching, or gold chains -- some, to be fair, more accurate than others).

No, you actually have to get there (and be waiting for something in a group) to experience the true disjointed, expanding and contracting, nebulous, shoving, edging forward, shrewd shoulder placement, total disregard for others' presence and personal space, complete shared psychosis that is the Italian 'line' system.

By contrast, we Americans are brilliantly ordered. "My dance space - your dance space". One after another. Every person gets his turn. I'm proud that America leads the globe in a few things, and I can definitely add respectful group waiting to the list.