Going it alone

Well initially many years ago I came to Italy on my own but I did have a job. Years later I returned and eventually married (an Italian) but I would think the difficulties of adjusting to a new country, culture and language exist with or without a partner. Maybe it's easier if you are outgoing and flexible in your outlook and expectations.

There's an intersting blog here by a woman who relocated by herself to Tuscany from the UK. She's married, but her husband elected to stay in the UK.L

Hi,the fact that you are interested to the Italian world, means that you are already there!It's always very nice to hear about people who would like to visit the country where I was born. That's even great that people would like to live there! It's means that you love Italian people and Italian culture, the atmosphere that you breathe when you are in Italy, the food - or at least you're aware about the freshness of products and the great regional recipes.From my own experience, I wish to alert you about life in Italy:

• bureaucracy: be aware of long queues to the post office, or to go and come from office to office for papers that should take minutes
• taxes: many are learning a sad fact: people who live in Italy are over-taxed
• occupation: after the credit crunch it's really difficult to find a job in Italy

That wasn't meant to get you depressed, so I'm going fast to show you some great advantages of living in Italy and give you a background of what life in Italy would be like:

• food, open-air markets in Italian villages have cheap and fresh products.
• people, they are always happy to help somebody and give support when you need it, they often meet and eat or like to have a walk (passeggiata) in places surrounded by nature such as: countryside, lakeside, seaside.
• english language, all children and youngsters learn English at school, so you'll be able to find someone to communicate with, and I thing you'll need it especially at the beginning of your life in Italy

There would be so many things to talk about living in Italy. Browsing the community you'll learn more about those things and will be able to talk with people who may have already experienced a whole new life in Italy and could be a good guide to find the right place for you.Good luck!   

I can think of 3 women who have come to this area of Marche alone, all with different circumstances, but the main factor has been that they have all learnt or spoken excellent Italian and have either set up work here as B&B or had enough money to survive without working. I dont think it has been easy for any of them. I would consider your options very carefully, but wish you good luck.A

I'm thinking along the same lines as Passiflora.  For family and financial reasons I'm unlikely to be able to make a permanent move for a while.  Also, everyone's experience will be different so even with all the advice etc available I think what I'm going to do is perhaps rent somewhere for 6 months or so and see how I get on.  Just going for it sounds great, but doing it in stages might be a less scary option for people doing it on their own.  I'm lucky, as a nurse I'd be able to get temporary work back in the UK if I decided to do it over a period of time.Good luck Passiflora!