What are aspects of good communication in your culture?

Comparing Lebanon and Italy

     Lebanon is the country where I have lived my whole life. It is located at the crossroads between the Arab world and the Mediterranean Basin, and as such it shares many similarities with other Mediterranean countries, like Spain, Greece and Italy. This is due to a common History those countries share, and consequently close cultures.

     To start off, it would be interesting to give some basic information: according to recent statistics, Lebanon is 30 times smaller than Italy, and its population is currently 10 times less.
But if we dwelve deeper into their respective cultures, we would be likely to find many similarities.

 

1- Language:

   The Lebanese are known for being very efficient at learning languages. The average Lebanese can speak up to 3 languages: Arabic, French and English. Some are also fluent in Spanish, Italian, or German. Italians mostly speak Italian (97%), and a great majority of the population doesn't speak English (around 85%).

2- Food:

   Lebanese cuisine is famous for being extremely healthy and based on vegetables, olive oil, garlic, grains and bread. Some of the more appreciated dishes include: Tabboule, Hummus, and Falafel, just to name a few. Italian cuisine, which has become widely spread accross the world, also shares similarities with Lebanese cuisine, such as its use of olive oil and vegetables. Some dishes include the very famous Pasta, Pizza and Caprese salad.


    Lebanese Tabbouleh.


    Italian Caprese salad.
  


3- Historical/Touristical sites:

   Since both Lebanon and Italy are located on the meditarean sea, the Historical events the two countries have undergone are very similar, especially those that took place during the Antiquity, where Greek and Roman civilizations had dominated this part of the world for centuries. Therefore it would be very likely to find similar historical sites in Lebanon and Italy. The city of Baalbeck, for example, is a famous touristical destination in Lebanon and some of its most famous monuments include the Temple of Bacchus, the Temple of Jupiter. The city of Byblos also contains a large medieval forteress built by the Crusaders in the 12th century. It belonged to a Genoese (Italian) family: the Embriaco. The city of Rome in Italy is one of the richest cultural and historical sites in the world. The Colosseum, Travi fountain and others attract tourists every year (48.6 millions in 2014).


  The Colosseum in Rome, Italy.

  The Temple of Bacchus in Baalbek, Lebanon.




Why should we encourage intercultural communication between Lebanon and Italy?

   The Lebanese and Italian populations share many similarities in their culture, history and diet. Encouraging communication between these two countries would lead to more acknowledgement of these aspects and strengthen bonds between Mediterranean countries. It would facilitate cultural exchange and could lead, for example, in and increase in the number of Italian tourists in Lebanon. But if we acknowledge those similarities, it would also be wise to keep in mind the differences, because it is especially this colorfull palette that makes the Mediterranean Basin stand out as a region rich in culture and diversity. And the first step to making light of these aspects is establishing communication.