When two cultures come together, the result can be challenging, beautiful, and at times, downright hilarious. For one American-Italian couple, sharing the humorous side of their relationship has charmed millions of people across the globe.
The story began when Sarah, an American, traveled to southern Italy to visit her family in 2019. Carlo, an Italian lifeguard at the beach club owned by his family, crossed paths with Sarah while she was there. Although he spoke very little English, Carlo mustered the courage to ask Sarah out on a date. From that point on, they were practically inseparable for the rest of the summer.
After the summer ended, Sarah returned to the U.S., but Carlo surprised her with a month-long visit that fall. Their long-distance relationship was set to get a break when Sarah planned to return to Italy in May 2020, but the COVID-19 pandemic derailed those plans, forcing them apart once again.
Determined to see each other, they met in Ireland during the summer of 2020, one of the few places where both Americans and Italians were allowed to travel. It was there that Carlo proposed to Sarah, marking a new chapter in their relationship.
Their wedding plans also encountered roadblocks due to the pandemic. Although they managed to get married in Italy, Sarah's family and friends couldn’t attend. Now, they are preparing for their second wedding in the U.S. this October, giving both families a chance to celebrate their union.
But their heartwarming love story is only part of why they’ve attracted a TikTok following of over 4 million. The cultural differences between them often lead to hilarious moments, from Carlo’s confusion over English phrases to Sarah purposely breaking Italian food “rules” just to get a rise out of him.
Their playful dynamic shines through in their videos, with fans particularly enamored by Carlo’s habit of repeatedly calling Sarah “my love.”
One of their first viral videos, which racked up nearly 100 million views, featured Sarah breaking pasta in half before boiling it—an entirely normal thing for Americans, but it nearly gave Carlo a heart attack.
Then there was the time Sarah joked about asking for pineapple on her pizza while in Italy, to which Carlo responded that he’d have to leave the country if she did such a thing.
The couple also often highlights Italy’s strong superstitions about luck, which differ from American customs. For instance, placing a loaf of bread upside down is considered bad luck in Italy. Similarly, Carlo explained that when you get a new car, you should place a jar of salt inside to ward off “malocchio,” or the evil eye.
Carlo’s English has improved significantly since they first met—he started learning the language because he was interested in Sarah—but like anyone learning a new language, there are bound to be some humorous missteps along the way.
For example, Carlo once referred to a skyscraper as a “scratchy sky,” and another time, he confused a seed with…well, something else entirely.
Language barriers also lead to some amusing misunderstandings about what words are appropriate. This confusion was never clearer than when Carlo reacted to saying the word “peacock,” which, to his ears, sounded like something much less innocent.
Despite the occasional clash of cultures, Sarah and Carlo’s relationship highlights the humor and humanity that arise when two different worlds meet.
In fact, they even developed a way to “argue” without understanding each other’s language at all—a perfect example of how love, laughter, and a little creativity can transcend cultural boundaries.