1570 Divorce coming Scared Stiff

just a bit confused about how you plan to live on no income?
If you had some income I would say go for it, make the committment to live in Italy and do everything you can to make it work for you and the children.
Good luck, whatever you decide to do.

p.s. where in Italy is your house?

[QUOTE=Technically Blonde]just a bit confused about how you plan to live on no income?
If you had some income I would say go for it, make the committment to live in Italy and do everything you can to make it work for you and the children.
Good luck, whatever you decide to do.

p.s. where in Italy is your house?[/QUOTE]

I have a business here making olive oil soap the plan was to give it a year to get on my feet with a new business out there. Have enough to live on for 6 months but still scared.
PS House is in emilia Romagna (Bardi)

If you decide to go for it and need any help with web site for marketing your soap, give me a shout. Can also help with accounts etc if you need it

No real advice Kym, but I think that you have to put the needs of the boys first.

I also would have thought the council would want confirmation from you before they remove your name. Actually, interesting point, if the council know you're taking the children, there's no way our local authority would give a single man a family home, they'd rehouse him in something much smaller. So, unless you stay, I don't think your home would be around in a years time anyway, and point 3 doesn't count.

Don't let this man spoil your dreams, and good luck with whichever decision you make :)

hello kym,my thoughts are with you.i cannot offer you detailed advice but i have had a lot of experience of divorce(in a professional capacity).i would say that it is not a good idea to rely on your husband to provide a home for your boys if you move to italy and have to return after a few months .in my experience ,it is very common for people to find new partners quite quickly after marriage breakdown so it is possible that his situation will have altered.i have just read an interesting post by adriatica in this section under-looking for TEFLwork- dealing with the cost of raising children in italy which you may find helpful.good luck whatever you decide.

Hi Kym

I think I am right in saying that in order to get Residency in Italy you will need proof of an income to show that you can support yourself.If your'e self-employed you will have records,statements from the Inland Revenue etc to show?You will be able to live there for 3 months without it and I know Brits that live in other European countries for years without it! It may be that some busy body will report you though.So I would take care.
It would be awful if you set up in Italy then were told that you could not live there permanantly.

I think a lot rests on whether your income will support you and your sons and whether you can speak Italian If you say yes to both I would move to Italy.Your sons are old enough to give you practical help and there's no reason you should not continue with your business.

Good Luck

Becky

Woww, you certainly like making life simple Kym... OK, you need to ask yourself a few fairly simple questions.
How badly do you want to move away...
Do you have a market over here for your product...
Can you afford to live for the time it will take to establish yourself here....
Can you produce the proofs of income the questura will be asking for before they grant your Permesso....
At that stage you can make a considered decision, I have seen too many people ( nice people) arrive over here with the dream, struggle and fail, be aware of the risks.
Best wishes and Good Luck Kym.

Hi Kym,

Hmmm very tricky situation. I would probably go for option 2 as a safeguard. Once you're there on holidays, you can check out how well your products will do at the local markets and maybe make arrangement with someone in the village to keep their eyes open for opportunities.

But - and I don't know much about council housing - would they allow you to live in the house knowing that you bought a property abroad? This might raise some eyebrows! :(

First of all, however, you need a boost of confidence!! Don't let anyone tell you you're useless and you'd fail anyway! It's always worth trying something, which is so much braver than sitting back and criticising others (as your ex-hubby-to-be does!)!

But always try and play safe before rushing into something merely to escape a dreary situation. Been there - done that! It's very tough... but you can make it worthwhile with some hard work.

Good luck!

Stephanie

Kym, I think you should use the house as vacation home, but while down there can't remember who wrote this already on this post, but make your contacts and get a feel for the area. Also, is it possible to make your product where you are living now and when you go to your house in Italy take it with you and sell it while there, maybe give you an idea of how it will do. I don't know any of the legalities of selling products while vacationing and not being a residence in Italy, but I would research that option. That way the kids won't have so many changes in their lives in such a short period should things not work in if you move to Italy. Divorce is hard enough, divorce, moving, new business, new friends, new schools, and the thought of maybe moving back that is a lot for kids and even adults to go through. Don't give up the dream, just alter it a little to accomodate the setbacks. ;) And Bulls#$! on having someone tell you, you are useless and are no good. Man that pisses me off! :mad: Male or Female to do that just gets me so mad :mad:

Things will work out the way they are suppose to, keep positive thoughts, say nice things, even when your soon to be ex is an ass, it will work out.

Hugs, Peggy ;)

Is there any way of checking with the council without giving the game away. As somebody said, surelly he can't just take your name off the rent book if it was your house to begin with.
Have you got any family living nearby, should you have to return, that you could stay with.
Work like billy oh to market your product once you get there and [B]make[/B] it work.
This guy probably thought you'd probably never do it and now that its getting nearer your time for leaving he is realising your serious and is jeaulous as hell. Your lucky in the fact he's agreed you can take the boys, which is my problem. Go for it girl. Prove him wrong.

I can't say too much just in case my first husband finds this site but go for it, stand tall, shoulders back and make the dream happen, only you can do it! ;)

Good luck

Paula

Definitely Option 2!

Sweetpeg makes many valid points. In the short term enjoy the house as a holiday house, let everything calm down a bit and when things are less fraught and less emotional take stock and go from there. After such a traumatic time now is probably not the best time for you or your sons to move away from family and friends and all the support they can give and move to a new country full of strangers who speak a different language and may not understand your situation. Use the time well, save hard, do a TEFL course or something similar so you have another skill up your sleeve to use whilst you get the soap business established when you do make the move. Use holidays at the house to suss out the business opportunities and markets and to sort the house out itself. Moving to Italy with no income and having enough savings to last six months is fine if there are no children involved - but it just takes the boiler to blow up, the car to be pranged, something needs to be done to the house, you find out you have underestimated living costs (as many others have done before you) and there go your savings! Have a look at all the posts re Cost of Living - Italy is not as cheap as many seem to think especially if you have children, you pay for far more than you would in the UK. Bide your time, make objective, informed decisions rather than knee jerk reactions, at the end of the day the house will still be there and waiting for you!
Whatever you decide, good luck
Anne2

:) Thank you every one for your thoughts and ideas. It has left me to think seriously about my situation. The contract for the house and the structural survey report arrived this morning every thing is fine. The vendor in Italy has already signed it All I have to do is sign and send it back. So feel a little happier this morning. As to the idea of a TEFL course it is funny you should mention that I start the intensive course this Saturday I am trying to take things one step at a time, with a deep breath in between. Got to think positive its hard being with the same man since I WAS 19 now 42 Sorry to bore you all, but needed some boost of confidence. I know I can do this its just I feel like I am going on my first bungee jump. I hate my self for letting someone take away my self esteem and confidence. Started Italian lessons last week, Tefl course this week, contract signed and will post today. I love Italy and the Italian people so I am hoping the country will give me a little bit in return. Thank you again for advice

[QUOTE=kym]:) now 42 [/QUOTE]

from 42 on (now 52), for me, life goes on getting better and better. I'm sure it will be the same for you, whatever you decide to do. Good luck.

That's the right way to go, Kym! :)

Great that you've started Italian classes and are about to join a TEFL course! Of course you can do it, and succeeding in both courses will boost your confidence enormously!! Meeting likeminded people on your courses can do no harm either - always a chance for making new friends! Go & have fun!

You're doing things the right way... complete the courses... learn about the area of your house.. and start enjoying life!!

Hope your dreams come true soon!

Stephanie

Sorry but I say stay put and go for the holiday home scenario.

I have a friend who ended up desperate and flat broke, there was no safety net, she considers the experience one of the most frightening things she has ever done.

Italy is a foreign country no matter how kind and gentle the italians are, many think that everyone from another country is rich.

Get your divorce, wait till the kids are a little older and then come.

Hi KYM.
I don't know what experience you have of Italy and the culture or language, but if you do not speak Italian and do not have work there, then don't go, this is my best advice for you and your children. Stay within the security of Britain. I have lived in Italy for most of my life, being half Italian and half English, (my father was English) and so I am qualified to know about life in Italy. You will find it very hard to live there without knowing the language and you will have to pay for private health, because you are not a naturalised Italian. I wish you all the very best though, in whatever you decide to do, as you have had a raw deal in respect of your husbands treachery behind your back.

ciao Jamie x

i would think that taking a boy of 12 to any country that spoke a different
language, would be putting his education at risk.
just a thought, where was your ex husband going to live?
also if you intend to live in italy, i found it very strange that you would [and
so many backed you] try to hold onto a council house, when you plainly
would have no rights to it once you left the country, yet you slam your ex
who still lives here.

Keep reading 'you have to pay for private health care '.........
........ UK and Italy are both in the EU... as long as you bring all relevant forms from UK DHSS ( E111 to start you off) in my experience you do not need private health care.

[QUOTE=giovanni]i would think that taking a boy of 12 to any country that spoke a different
language, would be putting his education at risk.
[/QUOTE]
I took a boy of 12 to live in France. He had had a few french lessons but that's all. We put him into a french speaking school and whilst it was hard at first, he did extremely well. His education and language skills are far superior to those I see coming out of UK education now (having employed quite a few school leavers). He is now 32, and has lived in France / US and UK. His french is so good the french often refuse to believe that he is not French.

As an IT consultant, his language skills have helped him get contracts throughout Europe.

You have lots of things to think about but education and health (see post from Alex and Lyn above) are the least of your worries

[QUOTE=Technically Blonde]I took a boy of 12 to live in France. He had had a few french lessons but that's all. We put him into a french speaking school and whilst it was hard at first, he did extremely well. His education and language skills are far superior to those I see coming out of UK education now (having employed quite a few school leavers). He is now 32, and has lived in France / US and UK. His french is so good the french often refuse to believe that he is not French.

As an IT consultant, his language skills have helped him get contracts throughout Europe.

You have lots of things to think about but education and health (see post from Alex and Lyn above) are the least of your worries[/QUOTE]

i am so glad it worked out for you, but thats not always the case,and really
i didn't finish my statement, you have to consider that a 16 year old is
also going there, what will he be doing, not knowing the laugauge or able
to read and write, what career path can he take.
i know of 2 girls now in there 30's, who moved from england to italy at 10 and 12, they were bright, but struggled and still even now although they are
married, and knew alot of italian before going out there, still resent the fact
they they were taken to italy from england at that time in life.
i will stick by my statement, once your kids are into secondary education,
its not the ideal thing to do.
as for my rough italian, people always think i speak with a napolitan[campania] acsent,
although bar a few holidays nearby, have never lived there.

education and heath, "least worries" i don't think so and have already posted
a topic on the unexpected expense one can expect,if you need to buy medicines regular.

[QUOTE=][/QUOTE]
An E111 only covers you for a short period of time and for emergencies, but if you live permanently in Italy and are a straniere i.e. from another country even from another EEC state, either you fall under your company's insurance scheme and are covered, or you arrange this privately yourself with a society in Italy, only naturalised Italians who have paid into their health through taxes etc can benefit without this. I suggest you check again Alex and Lynn, especially if you are in Italy at this moment, you may not be covered!!!

I think Alex and Lyn qualify for healthcare on the basis of Alex being of pensionable age (and Lyn by virtue of being Alex's missus).
(Correct me if I'm wong, Lyn!!)
There is also a similar sort of thing available for EU citizens that qualified in the Uk for Income Support or other benefits and have children I believe.

I'm sure I've read about this somewhere but now I've written it down am feeling less confident. Will do some further research and return ......

Regards, Lesley

Lesley please trust me, "don't think you know", be sure of the facts, these people will have problems if they become seriously ill and are not covered. We had an Englishman who worked for our company here in Milan, a few months ago he was made redundant, but wanted to stay in Italy teaching English, he needed a doctor and was told that he couldn't have one without personal insurance, fortunately the company sorted it out for him and paid the costs of treatment, but it could have ended up far differently without this. All people wishing to start life in Italy, in fact anywhere in Europe must check this out, it is vital for their piece of mind.

[QUOTE=rebelinleather]Lesley please trust me, "don't think you know", be sure of the facts, these people will have problems if they become seriously ill and are not covered. We had an Englishman who worked for our company here in Milan, a few months ago he was made redundant, but wanted to stay in Italy teaching English, he needed a doctor and was told that he couldn't have one without personal insurance, fortunately the company sorted it out for him and paid the costs of treatment, but it could have ended up far differently without this. All people wishing to start life in Italy, in fact anywhere in Europe must check this out, it is vital for their piece of mind.[/QUOTE]

Hi rebelinleather,
Please dont think that I don't trust your advice.
There is nothng more certain that everyone who is thinking of making the move to Italy should seek out the particular advice (from the appropriate official source) that will clarify their own unique position - in their own particular circumstances - and act accordingly.
It is sometimes difficult to remember that everyone's circumstances are so very different when we seem to be talking in a group of 'kindred spirits'.
I do believe there are reciprocal arrangements for pensioners and their immediate family (as this is my particular circumstance) .
I also suspect the Englishman who worked in your company fell between the cogs of the rules (by being neither employed or entitled to benefits at the time that he needed help) but that is just my guess and I can see how he would have struggled in his situation.
The best advice I would give anyone from a healthcare point of view is to look at their own situation, research what is necessary for them, find out what is available and make sure that if there are any gaps they arrange any necessary additional cover.
In our own circumstances I am expecting, like Alex and Lyn, to rely on the state system as pensioners.
If anyone thinks I am totally misguided in this, please let me know,
Best wishes, Lesley

I am a little concerned about the information being given on this issue which is totally incorrect.

We LIVE in Italy. My husband is retired and I am his dependent.
Before we came we made sure we had an up to date E111 and he also applied for the E106 which entiltles us BOTH to receive ALL our healthcare under the Italian State System.

When we arrived we took the E111 to the ASL and were issued with an officially stamped booklet which we then took to the English speaking Doctor who registered us. The booklet covered us until 31th December 2005 when the new E111 will be issued. This enabled us to visit the GP whenever necessary and he supplied my monthly prescriptions.Had we needed hospital care, we simply gave them the booklet.

In the meantime , the ASL had phoptocopied our E106 and told us that as soon as our residency was granted to return to them and they would register us permently under the Italian State Health System. This we did and are now fully covered.

As I am diabetic and have regular medication, this was an issue which was paramount in our research BEFORE we came here to live.

We now have exactly the same benefits as an Italian . I only pay about 4 Euros for each item of my monthly medication ( much cheaper than the UK ! ), I see the GP every month, will have regular blood tests every 6 months and my blood pressure tested.
I have already arranged to have my flu vaccine. EXACTLY THE SAME LEVEL OF CARE I HAD IN THE UK...ONLY CHEAPER !

Whilst our situation does apply to pensioners, I am certain that if you contact the DHSS in the UK before you travel, you will find that all EU Member States have a similar system. Naturally if you are working in your new country, presumably you will need to be paying the equivelant of that countries National Insurance Stamp.

THIS ONLY APPLIES TO MEMBERS OF THE EU...I PRESUME FOR AMERICANS AND ANYONE OUTSIDE OF THE EU, IT IS TOTALLY DIFFERENT.

Hope this clarifies once and for all......just to reiterate my previous statement...WE LIVE IN ITALY !!!!!

[QUOTE=alex and lyn]I am a little concerned about the information being given on this issue which is totally incorrect.

Me too!!!

Under the EU Reciprocal Health Care agreement ANY EU citizen who moves to another EU country and obtains residency is entitled to EXACTLY the same health care as a national of that country. It is in black and white in numerous publications issued by the DHSS, Foreign Office and NHS. It is fact not fiction, unlike some of the information given in this post.

Regards
Anne2

[QUOTE=alex and lyn]I am a little concerned about the information being given on this issue which is totally incorrect.

We LIVE in Italy. My husband is retired and I am his dependent.
Before we came we made sure we had an up to date E111 and he also applied for the E106 which entiltles us BOTH to receive ALL our healthcare under the Italian State System.

When we arrived we took the E111 to the ASL and were issued with an officially stamped booklet which we then took to the English speaking Doctor who registered us. The booklet covered us until 31th December 2005 when the new E111 will be issued. This enabled us to visit the GP whenever necessary and he supplied my monthly prescriptions.Had we needed hospital care, we simply gave them the booklet.

In the meantime , the ASL had phoptocopied our E106 and told us that as soon as our residency was granted to return to them and they would register us permently under the Italian State Health System. This we did and are now fully covered.

As I am diabetic and have regular medication, this was an issue which was paramount in our research BEFORE we came here to live.

We now have exactly the same benefits as an Italian . I only pay about 4 Euros for each item of my monthly medication ( much cheaper than the UK ! ), I see the GP every month, will have regular blood tests every 6 months and my blood pressure tested.
I have already arranged to have my flu vaccine. EXACTLY THE SAME LEVEL OF CARE I HAD IN THE UK...ONLY CHEAPER !

Whilst our situation does apply to pensioners, I am certain that if you contact the DHSS in the UK before you travel, you will find that all EU Member States have a similar system. Naturally if you are working in your new country, presumably you will need to be paying the equivelant of that countries National Insurance Stamp.

THIS ONLY APPLIES TO MEMBERS OF THE EU...I PRESUME FOR AMERICANS AND ANYONE OUTSIDE OF THE EU, IT IS TOTALLY DIFFERENT.

Hope this clarifies once and for all......just to reiterate my previous statement...WE LIVE IN ITALY !!!!![/QUOTE]

very good write up.
but again you are miss leading people, because you are talking about only
your situation. this topic seems to be talking about the two types of care.
1. is you are entitled to the same care cover as here in the uk, the other
which i was talking about is the cost of aftercare, which can apply to anyone
but espiecally the older group.
firstly overhere don't pensioners get FREE prescriptions? well thats not the
case in italy and nor is the set rate for prescribtions, you can easily end
up in a situation were you are paying a large part of your income on medicines.
no i do not live in italy, but a large part of my elderly family does. and the
one think that comes across as a cross bear is the cost of drugs.

this year my parents both spent the summer in italy and sardinia, my mother
had a fall, to cut a long story short, now she is back in the uk, she is trying
to get over £120 back from the nhs.this is for medicines, and they were
pain killers [i think] as she cracked her wrists and ankle and spent between
2 weeks and 6 weeks in plaster for each injury. and i presume she was prescribed some sort of strong painkillers.

yes we have the same care cover, but no it can be a hell of a lot dearer than
here for a large amount of drugs, that you MAY need in the future

yes we do not to get the information correct, all the information.

if you really read my reply properly I don't think I could have made it plainer that I WAS talking about our Personal experience which may be of use to some people.

1) My husband is retired (early retirement at 62 ) and I am his dependent
2) We are now resident in Italy
3) Check with the UK DHSS for advise on your particular situation

And despite what you keep saying I only pay 4 Euros per item for my regular medication...FACT not FICTION. :cool:

I would need to ask more questions before coming to an answer.

My gut instinct is option 2, with the facts given so far.

You are now in my mind, I sign on the 17th too!

I dont know what else to say.

and prescriptions are not automatically free for pensionsers in the UK, only for those on a low income

Wow! Isnt this forum great - so much information - and I mean that in a good way - I love this board

[QUOTE=alex and lyn]if you really read my reply properly I don't think I could have made it plainer that I WAS talking about our Personal experience which may be of use to some people.

1) My husband is retired (early retirement at 62 ) and I am his dependent
2) We are now resident in Italy
3) Check with the UK DHSS for advise on your particular situation

And despite what you keep saying I only pay 4 Euros per item for my regular medication...FACT not FICTION. :cool:[/QUOTE]

yes you could have made it clearer, you give the impression that this is the
same situation for everyone... which is not the case FACT not fiction.
this in itself could lead to people getting the impression that it is always
cheaper there no matter what, which is mis leading.
certain types of diabetics is quite high in elderly italians, its a medicine
that has been around for years, i cannot be sure if this is why it is cheap,
nor is it any of my bussiness. i can only report what are the gripes of many
elderly italians, who i will bow to their experiences as they have long term
knowledge of the system.

did you get out of bed the wrong side this morning? Alex and Lyn made their situation perfectly clear. Maybe you're just envious of people who can retire early.

Sorry - if I have confused the issue by saying option 2 - I meant Kym's option

keep the house and rent out

again - I want to ask more questions -

but assuming the worst - little rent is better than upping your rent - to what you (personally think it could go for)

I want to ask more questions....

...my medicine is not for diabetes ...that is controlled by diet only at this stage. My medicine is for blood pressure which I had to pay the normal prescription cost for in the UK(forget now what it was ) and only pay 4 Euros for here .....and I am only 56 so didn't qualify for free prescriptions in UK.
I am sorry, Giovanni, if this offends you but there it is . Why on earth would I post important facts like this if they were not FACTS. :confused:
This post was started by someone intending to come to Italy permanently and I answered as someone who lives here permanently...BUT is retired.
Hope this clarifies for everyone. :)

[QUOTE=Technically Blonde]did you get out of bed the wrong side this morning? Alex and Lyn made their situation perfectly clear. Maybe you're just envious of people who can retire early.[/QUOTE]

being as you do not know me, that answer comes as spoken like a true brit.

so just to put you straight, i have been going to italy since 1965 when i was
2. i have spent 4 full summers there as a teenager. have stayed in sardinia,
torino, aosta, firenze, foggia. and our main address is close to where puglia
meets molise and campania.
have also visited, naples, roma, verona, several of the lakes, pisa, sienna,
lucca. and more.
still need to do venice and the dolomites.
have the use of an appartement in sardinia [ anytime] have seen the changes that have taken place in italy mainly since the mid 70s on wards.

i do not speak proper italian as such, but will always pass as italian when i
do speak.

what am i envious about?
oh i am sorry you want a rosey picture painting and nothing else.
being as you are true brits and seem to know everthing about other peoples
lifestyles and culture, i should listen and learn.. give over....

already stated love italy a dam site more than others love the uk, as home is
where the heart is..and its funny how people can love somewhere when they
have very little contact with the place, bar holidays. yet we scorn if a
teenager says they are in love after only a few weeks....

yes i may have got out of the bed the wrong side,but you make the mistake
if you think we are playing on a level playing field... as we are not..

Hi Kym,
sorry cannot give you any advice on your predicament, but only positive thoughts.
I now I am not alone in wishing you and your children all the best for your future, try and take one day at a time and keep thinking those positive thoughts.
Take care
Francesca

[QUOTE=rebelinleather] but if you live permanently in Italy and are a straniere i.e. from another country even from another EEC state, either you fall under your company's insurance scheme and are covered, or you arrange this privately yourself with a society in Italy, only naturalised Italians who have paid into their health through taxes etc can benefit without this.[/QUOTE]

I'm really sorry but this is just not true! I am 33, not dependent on any benefits, no company or private health insurance and resident in Italy. I went to the local ASL with my "Certificato di Residenza" and codice fiscale, chose which doctor I wished to be registered with and that was it - very very simple!! I've been to see him once and didn't pay. But if I have to have any treatments, prescriptions etc I'll have to pay exactly the same as Italians.

This thread seems to have made things very complicated when it just isn't. I don't know if the confusion comes from the fact that some people may be referring to people that are resident here and others not and the fact that certain treatments, medications etc would be paid for in Italy when they're not in the UK.

Wow, just returned to read all this thread. Giovanni, I take it that you are the same as me, ie have our families in Italy and as for me I live there too. Giovanni tells it as it is and so do I, however if all others are OK in this thread, then fine, that's very good and I am happy for you all. Please return here though, the first time you hit a brick wall please. Enough said now, let's end the topic and move on, peace and happiness to all.

Giacomo.

[QUOTE=rebelinleather]Lesley please trust me, "don't think you know", be sure of the facts, these people will have problems if they become seriously ill and are not covered. We had an Englishman who worked for our company here in Milan, a few months ago he was made redundant, but wanted to stay in Italy teaching English, he needed a doctor and was told that he couldn't have one without personal insurance, fortunately the company sorted it out for him and paid the costs of treatment, but it could have ended up far differently without this. All people wishing to start life in Italy, in fact anywhere in Europe must check this out, it is vital for their piece of mind.[/QUOTE]AS has been said, if you are a legal resident of Italy you can get on the SSN. If you do not have your documents from another EU state, all you have to do is sign up and pay the fee. The year is Jan to Dec. so if y ou sign up in September you will still pay for the full year but then in January you will need to pay again. I have a couple of articles about this on my site, one a personal experience and one, the the background information. [url]http://www.expatsinitaly.com/arrival/ssn.htm[/url]
[url]http://www.expatsinitaly.com/itow/judith_medins.htm[/url]

Hi guys I would like to appologise for my original posting. [B]The first one [/B] It seems to have opened up a hornets nest and from reading the replies. There is a sense of friction and confusion over something completely off the track. Please dont argue! I didnt mean to cause such chaos. But thank you to everyone who gave me advice. I enjoy this forum I am going on a new journey in my life and it is nice to seek advice from people who have the same love of Italy as I do. I feel like you are all coming on the journey with me, but I have to listen to arguments at home and would like just escape for a while. Please dont argue over what's [B]fact and not [/B] I suppose each region in Italy will be different and each medical case will be different. [B]I will finish on a positive note I finished the first phase of my TEFL course at the weekend and passed the course MY certificate looks lovely
I now have the second stage to complete. One step closer and little steps and I feel more confident I am going to suceed.[/B] :p

[QUOTE=kym]Hi guys I would like to appologise for my original posting. [B]The first one [/B] It seems to have opened up a hornets nest and from reading the replies. There is a sense of friction and confusion over something completely off the track. Please dont argue! I didnt mean to cause such chaos. But thank you to everyone who gave me advice. I enjoy this forum I am going on a new journey in my life and it is nice to seek advice from people who have the same love of Italy as I do. I feel like you are all coming on the journey with me, but I have to listen to arguments at home and would like just escape for a while. Please dont argue over what's [B]fact and not [/B] I suppose each region in Italy will be different and each medical case will be different. [B]I will finish on a positive note I finished the first phase of my TEFL course at the weekend and passed the course MY certificate looks lovely
I now have the second stage to complete. One step closer and little steps and I feel more confident I am going to suceed.[/B] :p[/QUOTE]

Kym, I have not read past the first page of this thread, and have skipped to this one. I want to congratulate you on your success in the TEFL course, and on the steps you are taking to achieve your goals. Good luck and please do keep us posted!

[QUOTE=rebelinleather]Wow, just returned to read all this thread. Giovanni, I take it that you are the same as me, ie have our families in Italy and as for me I live there too. Giovanni tells it as it is and so do I, however if all others are OK in this thread, then fine, that's very good and I am happy for you all. Please return here though, the first time you hit a brick wall please. Enough said now, let's end the topic and move on, peace and happiness to all.

Giacomo.[/QUOTE]

It is one thing 'telling it like it is', quite another being blunt to the point of rudeness and being condescending/insulting of other peoples' experiences and advice.

There is a trend where some posters are concerned of being antagonistic and I would ask that, if this is not deliberate, that they please think twice before posting - it is not in keeping with the ethos of this board to slate other posters. We are here to offer advice, share opinions, and yes, occasionally disagree, but this can be done without getting nasty or swapping insults.

Many people's experiences & circumstances here in Italy are different and therefore we would all have slightly different ideas of what the correct procedure is on almost any topic.

I agree with Sano completely. I can't understand where all this agression comes from.

I am sure that Rebelinleather and Giovanni's history with Italy is much deeper and goes back further than mine. However, it does not mean that they would know what the rules are for a non-Italian. Just as I would not have a clue what someone who has just arrived in the UK would be entitled to. Why would I know? I have never been in that situation. I could guess......and my relatives could guess....

We can all only talk from our own experiences. Mine is that I am resident in Italy but not retired, have registered with a doctor at the ASL after presenting my documents. I have visited the doctor and my husband has visited the hospital. We paid for nothing except the prescriptions. That is part of being an EU citizen. My contributions in the UK are accepted here. When we submit out first tax return next near here in Italy I fully expect to contribute to the Italian system. :)

[QUOTE=kym]......I will finish on a positive note I finished the first phase of my TEFL course at the weekend and passed the course MY certificate looks lovely
I now have the second stage to complete. One step closer and little steps and I feel more confident I am going to suceed. ... [/QUOTE]

Many congratulations, Kym!! You're on the right way! It must be such a boost to your system having successfully completed the first stage! We're all proud of you! :)

Keep up the good work...

Stephanie

Hi Kym,
I am just echoing Stephanie's last reply with many "congratulations", you have every reason to feel proud of yourself. Keep those positive thoughts in your mind and keep your certificate on view, so it is there to remind you when you feel the blues coming on.
Hope this helps, take care for now.
Francesca :)

a step for the future, well done.

Dear Kym,
I would certainly suss things out by going over for short periods first but obviously it's up to you. The children would probably soon make friends in school but what about you? I spent time in Italy and ended up on my own there. It was Ok but very hard to get into the system. I ended up coming home and go over regularly for holidays. I taught TEFL and as a qualified teacher found the wages terrible. Since the euro people are finding the cost of living high and are certainly not as well paid as we are for anything. if you are not fluent you can feel very isolated especially if you have no support network. I know this is very negative and I am only going from my own experience. I recently weighed up the options of taking a reasonable job over there that I was offered but decided to stay here for stability etc. and go over for holidays. On the bright side I made some lovely friends before I left and we still stay in touch.
Good Luck
Carolyn