Cultural Differences- Customer Service

While it's hard to generalize these differences to Italy or Europe as a whole, I've definitely noticed a difference in how customer service workers are expected to act. Quite frankly, it's refreshing, and I think we should bring this model back to the US. There are the overt changes, such the fact that when sitting down to eat, you must call your waiter to you when you need something or request a bill, but there are less obvious attitude differences as well. Most are kind but are not expected to over-perform sweetness like in the US. You may get a "Ciao" "Buongiorno" but from there it's mostly business, receiving orders, etc. Some on busier/tourist streets will be dramatically charming and loud to try and get you to sit at their restaurant (sometimes to the point of being pushy and obnoxious), but for the most part the waiters are not trying to "earn their tip" like in the US. Often, the tip is included in a service charge, or food will cost more if you dine in versus out. This makes more sense to me, but I do wish it would state whether or not their is a charge ahead of time. I want waiters to get paid properly and not have to "dance monkey dance" just to make a living wage and it seems like the Italians are doing it a lot better than we are. Plus, a lot of waiters have been extremely fun to talk to and kind anyways, even without the American tip model.