4023 Buongiorno, amici!

Hi, there!
Found this forum by very lucky chance, just as I was in despair about finding others in a similar situation! Other lovers of Italy, some of whom want to move there...hurray! :)

I'm 40, a specialist nurse, and planning to move to Abruzzo to live with my boyfriend (a native), probably in the New year, if I am sorted out. This is a fairly recent development, so my Italian language skills are limited in the extreme. I, like many others here, have e-mailed the Vice Consulate for help with getting a language tutor, and have enrolled on a local course. However, until my language skills are better, I have no intention of even thinking about pursuing my career in Italy - I am planning to spend the first few months doing any job that I can, to earn a few euros, and concentrating on studying Italian. If it takes years to do anything other than serve coffee, or work as a cleaner,then that's what I will be doing!

I am still waiting to speak to someone at the Vice Consulate about how you actually move to Italy - the paperwork, the documents... ARGHH! The person that deals with this is on holiday for 2 weeks, so I must possess my soul in patience.

Any advice would be gratefully, and humbly received - I have as much time as I need to wrap up my life here before leaping into the Beautiful Land!!

Thanks for listening, folks...I hope that your dreams are also realised, as I am praying that mine will be...

Blessings,
She-Wolf

Category
Introduce Yourself - Piacere Conoscerti

Ciao She-Wolf

I lived in Italy for several years previously before moving back to the UK for personal reasons. However Italy has always been in my heart and after many years including moving to Spain I now find myself yearning once again for La Dolce Vita. I found the easiest way to learn the language was to immerse myself in the Italian way of life. Listening to Italian on the radio, watching Italian television and reading childrens comic books (word association with pictures). Try and speak the language, even by making mistakes, and asking who you are conversing with to correct you. It's a very British thing to be afraid of making mistakes, but this is the only way you will learn. My motto is; don't be afraid, take the plunge, make mistakes, ask for help, you won't go wrong.
Auguri e buona fortuna,
Genna;)

Hi She-wolf
I'm kind of in a similar position....I'm moving to Italy (near Florence) to be with my italian friend...I have been learning the language for 3 years but now I need to be there to improve really. I haven't a clue what I will do for work...I will have some money from my divorce but need to work at some point. Like you, I would do any kind of work just to make a few euros. I am wondering about the paperwork too... I know a lot of it can be done there, but it's all the tax, pension etc stuff that I wonder about. Let me know how you get on....strangely, my dentist didn't bat an eyelid when I said I'd be living there when my next 6 month checkup is due.....he said, fine, just make an appointment at a suitable time!! Where abouts are you moving to? I used to be a radiographer years ago, but would need to retrain....haven't a clue if there's much demand for them in Italy though.

Thanks, you sweet girls!
Good advice all - Genna, I try to do what you suggested - I read the news websites in Italian, and try to gain the sense of what the message is without always charging off for the dictionary. After all, when I have learned other languages, the meaning is implicit, rather than overt! I listen to Italian teaching CD's, and on-line guides...but I find it frustrating that when I have a question, they can't answer me back! ;) Good idea about the comics, I will ask my other half to send me some. Because I work very long hours, I think I might have to try getting up half an hour earlier, to study - after a stressful 13 hours, I'm too wired and tired to be effective!

Heidi, it's nice to know that there are others around me who are in a similar position! My boyfriend is on the hunt for a job for me, he knows I would be happy just with any old job for a few hours a day, so that I can study Italian, get to know the local area, and contribute to the family exchequer! Although he doesn't want me to work at all, I am old enough:rolleyes: to realise that leaving my home, family, career etc, will be a difficult enough transition, without feeling like a spare part with no cash. I feel that the best way for me to gain social contact would be to get a job, anyway. Heidi, I will let you know how I get on - sharing of information is always a good idea! I will be moving near to Pescara, in Abruzzo...yummy!

As to the 'codice fiscale' - is this like a National Insurance Card in the UK? All you guys here talk about it, but I don't know what it is, and my boyfriend can't understand what the equivalent would be here. How do you go about getting one, is it a horrendous process? I wish there was a a book or something that explained step-by-step what I needed to do, and how to do it! What other documents would I need?

Bless you both, and may our paths to Italy be smoothed!
All the best,
She-Wolf

code fiscale... contact the nearest italian embassey or consulate in the uk, if the embassey ask for welfare section ...ask them to send you the form to apply for this code fiscale... fill out form..either take it or send it back... you will either need to take your passport if visiting or a photocopy i guess if doing it by post... they will issue you a number virtually staright away... eventually you will get a plastic card with it on

or the agenzia entrata in pescara... go with your friend in pescara... get in the queue for EU citizens with passport in hand and fill out the form with the helpful official... they will issue you the numebr straight away

its the equivalent of your UK NI number but is used much more frequentley here... much beyond the sort of social welfare / taxation purposes of the NI number..

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[COLOR=blue]As to the 'codice fiscale' - is this like a National Insurance Card in the UK? All you guys here talk about it, but I don't know what it is, and my boyfriend can't understand what the equivalent would be here. How do you go about getting one, is it a horrendous process? [B]I wish there was a a book or something that explained step-by-step what I needed to do, and how to do it! What other documents would I need?[/B][/COLOR]
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[LEFT][COLOR=black]Hi She-Wolf,[/COLOR]

Welcome to the forum.

There is a Sunday Times/Cadogan guide to Working and Living in Italy (written by Kate Carlisle) which I found in my local Tesco of all places. You will find everything you need to know about the moving process and what to do before and after you arrive. Naturally, information on the [I]Codice Fiscale [/I]is given. It is very clearly written.

The ISBN number is [COLOR=red][B]1-86011-130-0[COLOR=black].[/COLOR][/B][/COLOR]

If you can't find it immediately, you can order it from your local bookshop.

There is also a similar Sunday Times/Cadogan guide to Buying Property in Italy written by Monica Larner and John Howell). The ISBN number for this is [B]1-86011-879-8[/B].

Although the Living & Working in Italy guide was printed in 2004, the pace of change is very slow in Italy,:D so there shouldn't be too many variations to the advice given in the book.

[B]SIMON.[/B] :)

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You are all so lovely and helpful! :)
Loads of good ideas foaming through my brain-pan, it's simply wonderful!

Adriatica, I am waiting for the woman at my local Italian Consulate to come back from her holiday - I think that the staffing there is only part-time, so I won't get too twitchy about it, unless she's been back for a couple of weeks and STILL hasn't e-mailed me! I will pop in on my day off anyway, but that won't be for another 10 days or so. That's the long hours of our wonderful NHS for you! Thanks for helping to demystify that issue for me - any help, advice and information is gratefully and humbly received!

I've found the books you suggested on the internet, Simon, many thanks for that! When I log off, I will be ordering them, and booking my next flight to Italy... I have a line on a possible job when I arrive, which I will need to update my CV for, and will meet the director when I fly over at the end of July. It all sounds quite hopeful, but I am keeping myself well under control - I don't want to tread too heavily on my dreams...or elevate my hopes, until I have something definite.

I've just spent a week with my heavily-regimented, routine-driven sister:( , who cried every time I mentioned leaving the UK. Considering she has only managed to come the 300 miles to see me once in the past 10 years, whereas I have been down to her twice in the past year, I think she having a bit of a reality crisis. My family have been so marvellous, so happy for me, so excited...I'm sure it will wear off, once I start asking them for help in clearing out, and selling all my furniture;) !

Thanks again, sweet friends, I do appreciate what you are doing for me,

She-Wolf :)