Nine Rules to Know About Getting Sick in Italy

Or Why the Cause of Your Pain is Either Poop, Your Liver, or Air

Note: This article was written by a contributor - Rachel Vermiglio Smith - and has been updated. Rachel graduated with a degree in Italian language and literature. After falling in love with Italian art as well, she went on for a master’s in art history with a focus on the Italian Renaissance. You can follow her on Instagram @theitalianista.

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It’s that time of year again: cold and flu season. The time of year my germaphobe self particularly loathes.

If you thought being a germaphobe was a hard knock lifestyle in America, it's downright torturous in Italy.

You see, Italy has some rules and ideas about sickness that we don’t prescribe to as Americans.

As such, it means that one) there are more germs floating around than there should be, and two) the modes of catching said germs are entirely different.

So, in honor of the inevitable sniffles, I give you:

Nine rules about getting sick in Italy

Rule #1: Respect the cold winter months.

Ambient temperature is arbitrary; it’s the months that matter. Starting October 1, everyone should immediately begin covering necks and toes.

Want to look like an American in Italy? Wear flip-flops in October. It doesn’t matter if it’s 90 degrees with a UV index of 10; you better cover up because this month marks the beginning of the cold weather months. The powers responsible for sickness wake up from their summer slumber, ready to infect those who don’t know the next rule…

Rule #2: Don't get hit by air.