Our class schedule allowed for a “free weekend”, and I
thought Saturday would be the perfect opportunity to visit several stores that
had piqued my interest. After all, stores are supposed to be open on Saturdays,
right? Deciding 11:00 would be an appropriate time for the shops to open, even
for Cagli, I set out to purchase souvenirs and mementos.
Imagine my surprise when the majority of my intended
destinations were closed. Being optimistic, I went back a little later only to
find they were still closed. Not giving up, I waited a little while longer only
to find several had been open for an hour or two in the interval and were now
closed again. Oh, the frustration. I thought, how can they possible turn a
profit if they weren't open for customers? Weren't they worried about client
satisfaction and losing business to a competitor? What if I, the customer,
never came back?
Of course, American cultural values were guiding my thought
process. The Italians aren't concerned with catering to the commercial crowd. They
open if it’s convenient and are closed when it isn't. In Cagli, as in Italy in
general, store owners don’t change their attitudes, behaviors, working hours,
etc. to appease a client.
And so, as with many aspects of Italian life, I took a step
back and reexamined my expectations. I’m still disappointed but it’s not the
end of the world. After all, I can try again tomorrow. And if the shops still
aren't open, at least I can stop by the café on the piazza and try another gelato flavor or maybe even two.
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