{"id":6710,"date":"2017-05-24T15:25:04","date_gmt":"2017-05-24T13:25:04","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/rickzullo.com\/?p=6710"},"modified":"2021-11-22T13:24:19","modified_gmt":"2021-11-22T12:24:19","slug":"americans-living-in-italy","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/rickzullo.com\/americans-living-in-italy\/","title":{"rendered":"Americans Living in Italy"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"fontana<\/a>I came across a discussion a couple weeks ago\u00a0in a Facebook Group called Americans Living in Italy<\/em>. There was nothing terribly remarkable about this particular thread\u2014its themes were common in this debate: the frustrating challenges of American expats dealing with life in Italy<\/strong>. I guess if anything made this post somewhat unique was that it was mostly civil, and the insults were minimal from both sides.<\/p>\n

However, it also carried a bit more credibility, for a few reasons. First of all, the post\u2019s original author was a disillusioned Italian-American\u2014BUT he grew up speaking Italian with his native-born Italian parents, so he was not totally clueless when he arrived (like I was). Secondly, he lives in The Veneto, so the Italian stereotypes<\/a> associated with \u201conly\u201d Southern Italy are not valid. Third, he has a good job; a rare condition among American expats in Italy. Lastly, although he used the caps-lock more than necessary, his tone was generally balanced, and he seemed sincerely interested in helping fellow Americans avoid a catastrophic, life-altering decision.<\/p>\n

I\u2019ve been back in the US full-time for a while now, which I think gives me some perspective on this debate. For what it\u2019s worth, I\u2019d like to offer some humble advice to my fellow Italy-obsessed Americans thinking of making the leap, and suggest some tips on how to do it right\u2014because I think it CAN be done right<\/strong>\u2014where you fully enjoy the fantasy while acknowledging the uncomfortable realities that you\u2019re forced to confront when transitioning from tourist to expat.<\/p>\n

Preparation is the Key<\/h2>\n

This is common advice, but so often it is ignored, even when repeatedly encountered by several credible sources. Why is it ignored? Well, let\u2019s just say that the romance begins to lose its appeal when you start giving credence to logic and reason<\/strong>. So much more fun to throw caution to the wind and\u2014make the leap!<\/p>\n

\"permesso<\/a>But no, as appealing as that sounds, you\u2019ll actually enjoy your experience a lot more if you first do a little tedious check-listing.<\/p>\n

Number one is getting your visa in order. Don\u2019t even let yourself daydream until you\u2019re well on your way to acquiring this \u201cHoly Grail.\u201d I\u2019ve written a few posts about the Schengen Visa and the Permesso di Soggiorno.<\/a> As boring as it is, get the paperwork done fully and correctly before you sign the lease on that Tuscan villa.<\/p>\n

Doing the paperwork will force you to address the number two item on the list: your finances. Do NOT make the mistake of assuming that you\u2019ll find work in Italy<\/strong>. You won\u2019t. You can teach English, yes, but I\u2019ve actually had some readers ask me if they\u2019ll be able to advance their career in Italy! Ha! Unless you\u2019re an uber-skilled scientist (or better, a soccer player or supermodel), you\u2019re not offering any skills that 10,000 out-of-work Italians aren\u2019t already offering. And they speak the language<\/a>. And have connections. And (unfortunately) will probably work for less money than you.<\/p>\n

So that leaves you with the following general options:<\/p>\n

    \n
  1. Be an underpaid Au Pair or English teacher. Actually, it\u2019s not bad. I taught for a couple years, and it is fun. Just barely pays the bills, but it\u2019s fun.<\/li>\n
  2. Get hired by an American (or possibly Italian) company before<\/em> you go. This doesn\u2019t happen often, but opportunities exist with some U.S. companies doing business in Italy<\/a>.<\/li>\n
  3. Create your own (virtual) job in the U.S., and take it with you to Italy. This usually involves some sort of freelance online activity like web development, graphic design, writing, etc. This path offers the most possibilities, and if you want to go this route, I can work with you<\/a> to help.<\/li>\n
  4. Live off your pension or other passive income. If you\u2019re in this category, then don\u2019t worry, you\u2019ll be fine.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

    (*Note that options 1 & 3 are technically illegal with an Elective Residency Visa.)<\/p>\n

    The next obstacle is healthcare coverage. Yes, Italy has \u201cfree\u201d healthcare for its citizens<\/strong> and residence, and as an expat you can also opt-in to the system for annual premium. But it\u2019s also worth checking out expat insurance, as it is generally better coverage and much cheaper than equivalent coverage in the U.S.<\/p>\n

    With respect to the author of the Facebook post, he\u2019s way off base on this one. He argued that U.S healthcare is better. Sure, you can always find isolated examples of bad (or good) medicine anywhere. But the ultimate measure of the quality of healthcare is\u2014wait for it\u2026wait for it\u2014the health<\/em> of the people living under a given system (and the percentage of their income sacrificed to achieve it). By that standard, there is absolutely no contest. It\u2019s not even close. Italy\u2019s healthcare system<\/a> is light-years ahead of the American one.<\/p>\n

    Americans living in Italy<\/h2>\n

    Even once you\u2019ve cleared the above bureaucratic hurdles, you\u2019ll still have the culture shock<\/strong> to deal with. A sciopero<\/em> (transportation strike) might make for an amusing travel story from your vacation, but it\u2019s no fun when you\u2019re trying to get to work in the rain.<\/p>\n

    I talked to Damien O’Farrell<\/strong> about this in Episode 38 of my podcast. He’s a mobility expert in Rome, and he helps expats with transitions. If you’re serious about this adventure, you’d be well-advised to consult with him first.<\/p>\n