3607 HI from the wannabe Italian-London

:) Haven't quite got there ourselves yet, but go for it girl, and good luck:)

Hi Marlene, welcome to the forum.

My advice is to just go for it!!

I am moving out later this year after a while 'just' talking about it and then thought s*d it lets just do it, what is the worse that can happen? We are also moving out with young children :eek:

If you don't do it you will regret it forever thinking if only........ If it doesn't work out, come back after a year or two, it may have cost you a few quid, but what a hell of an experience.

So no more talking, I expect to see you there later this year!!!!!!!

You know it makes sense.

Chico

Hi "mama",

Just go for it! Or you'll start loving us and our Country or you'll hate all is Italian (joking, I hope). Anyway it will be an experience you'll never regret what ever you'll feel after that.

You must be prepared to face things you don't understand, but when (and if) you'll accommodate yourself to the Italian lifestyle you won't bother too much.

I really hope you'll enjoy your stay.

I agree with everyone else, just go!! Rent out your flat and have your family check on it and if all fails in italy you still have home to go back to. It wont fail and you will love it I bet!

I have just become a holiday rep in Italy and its my first step towards living there permanently - I am giving myself a few years working as a rep to better my italian and then Im off full time to live there too!

Buona fortuna!

Hi

Four years ago we started our quest to have a place in Italy. 2 Years ago we nearly did it when I got cold feet and said "no, lets spend the money on renovating our house in England" well we did the renovations but it didn't get rid of the itch for Italy.

To cut a long story short we bought a place last year and it was the best thing we ever did, we are now planning to live permanently in Italy by next year.

Go for it

Hi. We took the leap 18n=mths ago and no regrets. OK, some things are difficult to do - driving licence, permesso, etc but in doing it you find out a lot about the people you will be living with and your Italian improves rather quickly! The culture we found fairly easy to grasp - a domani for the most part but as we are retired who cares? Make the leap and let it happen. We have found there is always someone to help, including sites like this one. The very best for your future over here - soon!:) Where are you hoping to settle?

We did a lot of research but in the end you need to make the leap. We are not full time in Italy - living in the UK for work and then going to Italy whenever we can. We can't wait to go full time!

Yup, go for it!! We're not there yet - and won't be for a good number of years - but there's nothing wrong with planning... :)

Take the plunge but look out for help when you need it!

S

"Make the leap" is all very well... but what's so far stopped us from going permanently - is the problem of earning a living. We have a young family - the job situation in Italy doesn't seem so great right now.

So here's a question for Italy Forum folk who [I]have[/I] made the leap. What do you do to earn money, and how does it compare to what you were doing before you left?

Mike

I want to understand Italian life before making the leap...

or at least - Italiano profundo...

I want to get the jokes first..!

Hey there you guys...:D

Thanks so much for your support,kind words & inspiration....sorry it has taken so long to reply!

I am still terrified but probably just gonna go for it! I have 2 weeks off in June so will try & get my fiscali done. I am thinking about maybe looking for some work as a housekeeper,hopefully with live-in accomadation. I have a friend in Tuscany who is going to introduce me to friends. You never know.

My pals in Genoa have invited me to live with them till settled but they live in the mountains....(guess who has a huge fear of heights!!)

still haven't started Italian lessons...from next week though. Have told my boss & everyone else I am planning to go. I did tell him however after an additional work offer...It wasnt sneaky,just wanted to out it!

Chico thanks for your kind words you seem to have Things fairly organised...or maybe not!! ;) It will be challenging with the kids but hey..Italians love bambino's so much. Good luck to you & your wife. Your message was great!

Once again cheers All of you...will keep you posted.

Marlene x

I am also planning to move to Italy later this year, I will be moving in with my Italian friend in Florence, but I was wondering what I have to 'tie up' here in the UK before I go. I'm not really planning to return. Also I am aware of the 'permesso' that I have to get, but what do people do about healthcare? Is it necessary to have private insurance and so on....how do I find out about all these things before I go? I will be looking for work of some kind, but the situation isn't too urgent as I will have money from a divorce settlement....but even so, I will need to work eventually. Any advice is [B]extremely[/B] welcome!

Hi Hiedi, Have found some links on health care that may help and one on recidency but there are more in here somewhere.

You are more likely to get work with the help of your boyfriend, as has been said it is not easy getting work in Italy, especially if you can't speak Italian very well. There have also many posts on this subject too, just need to use search and click in posts rather than thread it brings up more relevant posts.

Sounds fun your new life! ;)

[URL="http://www.italymag.co.uk/forums/general-chat-about-italy-italy-magazine-forums/45-italain-national-health-service.html"][FONT=Times New Roman][SIZE=3][COLOR=#800080]http://www.italymag.co.uk/forums/general-chat-about-italy-italy-magazine-forums/45-italain-national-health-service.html[/COLOR][/SIZE][/FONT][/URL]
[FONT=Times New Roman][SIZE=3] [/SIZE][/FONT]
[URL="http://www.italymag.co.uk/forums/general-chat-about-italy-italy-magazine-forums/95-useful-info-health-permits-etc.html"][FONT=Times New Roman][SIZE=3][COLOR=#800080]http://www.italymag.co.uk/forums/general-chat-about-italy-italy-magazine-forums/95-useful-info-health-permits-etc.html[/COLOR][/SIZE][/FONT][/URL]
[FONT=Times New Roman][SIZE=3] [/SIZE][/FONT]
[URL="http://www.italymag.co.uk/forums/health-safety/1458-visitors-health-care.html"][FONT=Times New Roman][SIZE=3][COLOR=#800080]http://www.italymag.co.uk/forums/health-safety/1458-visitors-health-care.html[/COLOR][/SIZE][/FONT][/URL]
[FONT=Times New Roman][SIZE=3] [/SIZE][/FONT][FONT=Times New Roman][SIZE=3] [/SIZE][/FONT]
[URL="http://www.italymag.co.uk/forums/general-chat-about-italy-italy-magazine-forums/895-residency-application.html"][FONT=Times New Roman][SIZE=3][COLOR=#800080]http://www.italymag.co.uk/forums/general-chat-about-italy-italy-magazine-forums/895-residency-application.html[/COLOR][/SIZE][/FONT][/URL]
[FONT=Times New Roman][SIZE=3] [/SIZE][/FONT]

Hi there,

I go into the site regularly but only to here all your stories and concerns where abouts in Italy are you thinking of settling, I am moving over by September of this year with an 11 year old and have at times thought what am I doing but come on what are giving up in Britain the way things are ......just do it

Alison

Hi again Alison, We have brought a tiny little Trullo in Puglia, as a holiday home at the moment but would like to move over one day. To be honest we origonally thought of moving over sooner but earning an income, especially as we do not speak Italian well enough yet, we have decided to wait. I think with most things in life there are risks but if we never took them how boring life would be! You go girl and enjoy your new life, make it work for you and your daughter/son. :D

Dear trullmartinafranca

Thank you for your links....they will be very useful. I am intending to do a TEFL course once I am in Italy (not having been put off by the many depressing comments on these forums...or is it fora?!) I have al most finished a preliminary course already so the intensive one won't be so much of a shock! We will be living in Siena to begin with, so maybe I will find some private tuition work with all those students. Who knows... I have been studying Italian for 3 years now, so really I think the best way to improve now is to go there. I used to be a Radiographer years ago...but I don't know if I should retrain while I am still here in case I could find work in that line in Italy. Has anyone else had experience of working in the medical field? As far as I am aware the qualification should be recognised there but presumably one would need to speak reasonable italian to find work. I also have a degree, but understand that I have to get it translated into italian....it's all so confusing! It's all quite scary really, but as everyone says, if you don't do it you will regret it for ever....at least I have my italian man to help me!

[SIZE="3 "]

Well Alison you echo some of what I think about moving...as I said in the original post...How scary is it? I do have support in Italy but then you do not want to rely too much on friends. Initially you may have to do this with your partner. It is not a state we are going to be in forever relying on others for help but it is neccasary.

I have faith that most of us that are gonna make the 'Leap' will find our feet in time. I feel we have to all be very realistic about making the change. It will not be easy,it will be easier with knowledge of the language, of course...something I have not yet given ENOUGH time to!! :(
There will be posts on the forum that may say things we dont want to hear. There will be valid points,realistic views & some moans.

We make of them what we will,they are the experiences of 1 or many...they are [U]all [/U]valid. lets just keep them in our minds,if we need to draw on them. The transition for your child may not be easy....It will also be an adventure though. Contact with friends in England,email,calls etc will help the home sickness.

I dont know where the hell I will end up myself...Genoa maybe Tuscano. I have no reasons not to go but to be plain honest....I want my hand held!!!:D
Sad but true..When I was 14 I moved to New York with out my parents. This feels like that,terrifiying.
I am hoping to maybe get work as a house keeper,maybe for expats,if not Italian family/couple. Its a start...I am a counsellor by profession but noit looking at that at all for a while. Thats for when I become fluent & I WILL!:D
Anyway good luck to you and any others planning to go this year like me.

Stay positive we will be OK.... Its NOW OR NEVER! I think we all know that!

Ciao for now Marlene

This time last year I thought about it seriously (after years of just thinking of it as a nice idea). Last summer, went to Assisi and started to look around. Discovered south Umbria and made the decision to buy a small place as a first step. Returned October and found a house. Deposit paid in December. Bought proper in February. Instructed architect. Will be finished and ready for occupation in July. Currently not in a position to live there full time but long term plans are good. The people are wonderful and the pace of life is so relaxing. As one nonna to another - do it!

hey Jacki..... Good for you! The process has begun at least, you are doing things in a cautious way. I hope you didn't have too much of a headache with all the red tape. :o

I fear I will still be bleeting on long after others have taken the plunge. :D Thank you for being supportive. It is refreshing to share with like minded people. Is there an oppotunity to chat on line on this site?? or am I just thick...getting older I have a thing about not seeing things, right in front of me. Not good huh!!

I get excited when I see links from this site to my email address... So well Done to the forum! Anyway Jacki thanks again....Being a Nonna is great by the way(Wouldn't you agree?)

Best wishes Marlene

Marlene et al..

We do have a chat room on this Forum.. sadly it's underused these days. When I return from Naples.. I may get it up and running again with a quiz or something. :)