Bend, Oregon. Italy has some beautiful natural sights, but there really just is no place like home. As a child, I remember how agonizing the wait for Christmas was, counting down the days until Santa delivered the trivial things on my wish list like velvet socks or a charm bracelet. Now, as an adult, I […]
Being one of the lucky ones, my American health insurance covered me abroad so I was never forced to buy traveler’s insurance or Italian insurance. The main deterrant for me as a student was the cost. However, after receiving a permesso di soggiorno for work purposes I decided to take advantage of the free health […]
Quitting your job is much different in Italy than in America. During high school and college I often changed jobs as I moved to new cities and desired different skills. The process of leaving my position was never more difficult than submitting a letter or speaking with my boss in person about my intention to […]
Well, do you really need to do anything in life except drink water, eat, and pay taxes? Probably not, but doing other things can certainly help you make more friends, get a better job, and live a fuller life, and learning Italian is one of those things. I have met many people along my journey […]
If you’re looking for information on how to get your permesso di soggiorno, I’m afraid this isn’t the right page. However, getting your residency in an Italian city is another important part of the bureaucratic process. Having a certificate of residence in an Italian city allows to you sign up for the national health care […]
First things first, getting your haircut in Italy is probably going to be expensive and it’s probably going to take at least two hours. Granted, I did get highlights and a full-on haircut, so if you’re going in for a simple trim you probably won’t have to clear your schedule for the day.
Unless you are being paid in nero (under the table), opening a bank account may be on your list of things to do. I walked into the bank with my head held high, assuming I would leave the building in an hour with a checkbook and a debit card in hand but, alas, I left […]
Thanksgiving is a wonderful time of year. It’s a time for family, friends, and food. However, being away from home for the holidays isn’t always easy, especially when you have to spend half of your day trying to find canned pumpkin. Anyway, just because you are living in a foreign country doesn’t mean you can’t […]
Enjoying an aperitivo with my classmates from Academya Lingue Living in a new country can be challenging, especially if you don’t know the local language. Once you get past the initial shock and get settled into your new environment, you might start craving some human connection. Luckily, there are some great resources out there for […]
Okay, usually it isn’t THIS crowded in Bologna, but the Pope was in town for the day Italy is a beautiful country with amazing people, delicious food, and spectacular sights. It’s not difficult to embrace the warm culture and inviting, friendly people. While I love their smiles and enthusiastic greetings, there is one cultural difference […]
The juxtaposition of a modern technology store with an ancient building is quite an interesting sight, but I digress. If you have become a recipient of the “Your account has incurred approximately $389127891.00″ in international data charges” message, then welcome to the club! Every day hundreds, if not thousands, of expats all around the globe receive […]
Narrowing down your possessions for a long trip can be difficult. The phrase “only pack the essentials” is very subjective. For you, the essentials might be t-shirts and face wash, but for me it more closely resembles boxes of Kraft macaroni and cheese and a jar of peanut butter. Apart from advising you to bring […]
