I’ve written about the “ugly American” syndrome. I’ve written about the value of going abroad to learn about your host country and yourself. And today, I’m apologizing for what I expect will be nothing by an “ugly American explosion” in the country that gave the world Michelangelo, DaVinci and Botticelli.

This spring, we are sending Italy some of the least cultured media/pop culture that the United States has to offer, a show called the Jersey Shore. One of the more notable characters we are sharing is “Snooki.” (This young woman was arrested for public intoxication in the stateside version of the reality show she is on – called “The Jersey Shore.” I wonder if MTV cares that it is sending her to a country where public intoxication is not well tolerated. Then again, I wonder if the Italian government cares – they apparently are granting her a visa!)