2246 new year...new world!

Hello,

Happy new year to you all.

My name is Tim Gregory, a New Zealander who is presently one year into
a great experience literally 'up' into the rest of the world...and I
think I may come to this forum with a slightly different background to
most.
Firstly, I have not moved to Italy for a 'lifestyle change' but more a
'life/experience starter' given that I am only 23 and do not boast too
many significant experiences just yet. Secondly, I will not be owning
a villa in the south in the foreseeable future (but of course I would
love to someday) so forgive me if I don't have much to contribute on
that topic -

I am however a lover of all things Italian, and here in lies the
connection with all you guys.

Background: I first visited Italy last summer to visit some friends I
had made during a university exchange program in Copenhagen. Their
home town of Bolzano I loved and this served as a excellent entree to
the south, special in its own way but not quite the full course
Italian experience (although I must say a very unique and interesting
setting in the Alps). Moving down - from Venice, to Florence and the
surrounding hills, and onto the colossus that is Rome - it was all
completely inspiring and even more satisfying after years of classics
lectures schooled far away in NZ.

As I finally departed the shores of Bari (continuing onto Croatia) I
vowed to return to Italy but for the next time to experience Italy
from the inside.

For the six months between Italy summer and Italy winter I have been
working for an international firm in Singapore that produces creative
based product for the media. I have somehow managed to convince their
Italian counterpart that despite not speaking Italian there is enough
work for me to do in English for a six month internship come training
starting late January - whilst I develope my Italian of course. This
development has all come quite late in the piece, and I am now
hurriedly trying to work out a place to live in Milan or (the office
is very close to the central station) within the Lombardy region. All
I need is a modest room. I would really like a homestay experience
(for the Italian, language, culture and hopefully cooking) and so
would be more than happy to commute from a town of Lombardy if need
be.

I am now back in Bolzano having just enjoyed my first white Xmas. I am
on the computer 24/7 trying to think of possibilities for living in
Milan + Lombardy and would very much appreciate any advice from those
who have been there and done that. I am open to all possibilties/ideas or offers.

Thanks for taking the time to read my piece. I look forward to hearing
from you.

Ciao,

Tim