I'm half-Italian. I learned to twirl spaghetti as soon as I could hold a fork. Usually against the side of my pasta bowl. As an adult, in polite company, I use a tablespoon with the fork. I also took to chopsticks pretty easily. But then I also knit & crochet - learning both as a small child as well. Muscle memory - and I think it's way easier to acquire back when our brains were developing & were more neuroplastic. The Youngest Magical Creature is the best knitter in the bunch - I taught her when she was 5.

Don't bemoan your twirling skills. And I agree 100% with your GF. :)