Living in Italy as an Expat - an Insider's View

Поділитися
Вставка
  • Опубліковано 28 вер 2024

КОМЕНТАРІ • 77

  • @hubertinepankhurst1161
    @hubertinepankhurst1161 9 місяців тому +9

    Great video! It would have been even more helpful if you had been more specific and given more details about the issues you experienced.

  • @andrewdiprose
    @andrewdiprose 5 місяців тому +4

    I'm sorry about the Long Covid. I know an Italian around 40 years of age who struggles with Long Covid but it came after his vaccination

    • @saarsoleares
      @saarsoleares  5 місяців тому

      I’m sorry to hear that Andrew and yes, our long Covid also started after 3th vaccination- still unsure about what caused all of this, just profoundly grateful we got through it 🙏🏻

  • @mediterraneanworld
    @mediterraneanworld 10 місяців тому +3

    Good thing you were not in the USA with a major health emergency! Bureaucracy is daunting when one is both unfamiliar with it and in a position of weakness - I find little difference between the complexity of doing things in the USA and Italy - you have to know the rules first and understand how offices work, what to do and not to do.

    • @craftbrewer4032
      @craftbrewer4032 10 місяців тому +4

      both countries are complicated but in the USA the healthcare system can and will bankrupt you if you can't afford high monthly insurance premiums

  • @dls300
    @dls300 Рік тому +2

    Beautiful photography!

  • @catzee4720
    @catzee4720 3 місяці тому +1

    Hello, great channel and inspiring. Can I ask what was meant by family reunion and family staying together from the Italians, and why it was hard for you American husband? I am American, my grandparents are from Italy and my father but they all deceased and want to return to my heritiage

    • @saarsoleares
      @saarsoleares  3 місяці тому +1

      Thank you so much ♥️. That is so exciting you want to go back to Italy. Let me explain: we had seen and read that Italian laws favor making it easy for families to stay together in Italy, but in our case we did not find it easy at all to immigrate to Italy based on my EU status. In fact: our lawyer told us that it is the most difficult one out of all the immigration cases 🤷🏻‍♀️. For example: coming to Italy as a student or working for an Italian company seems to be a lot easier. I needed to be registered first before my husband could “join” me and that already took a year, then his joining me was dependent on all kinds of laws and we needed forms that were hard to obtain and no one knew where or exactly what to get. The offices and organizations did not know what to do with us and send us in circles . It took us over 1,5 years to get it sorted and I am sure that if we did not hire a lawyer we would never have figured it out. That’s why: if you are considering this move , don’t try to do it on your own - hire a lawyer! it’s truly the only thing to do and I wish we would have done it from day 1! Wishing you lots of luck and aside from all the confusing bureaucracy Italy truly is magical 🍀🇮🇹🍇

    • @catzee4720
      @catzee4720 3 місяці тому

      @@saarsoleares Thank you so much for explaining. You are very sweet. I do hear that the bureaucracy there is really tough. Last time I was there I got two parking tickets with my rental car and I still haven't paid them because I can't figure out how. I have called, been to website etc. I guess I will just pay when I am back but you are right a lawyer is only way to go it sounds. Thank you so much again and love your channel. Glad your husband is doing well again too. Do you still live in Italy? Or you left. I haven't seen all your videos yet

    • @SamanthaJackson
      @SamanthaJackson Місяць тому

      Most Countries in the world don't allow staying more than 3 months without burocracy sorted out. I have friends living abroad (and working) for more than 10 years and they STILL have to leave the Country every 3 months to renew the staying. So it is not an "Italy" thing. Also, for an italian (ot any other nation really) is waaay more difficult to stay in the U.S.A., the issues you mentioned are way harder the other way, cause the U.S. are so scared of people going there to stay.

  • @tonymoretti2347
    @tonymoretti2347 4 місяці тому +2

    Why not fly back to America for health care?

    • @chronic2023
      @chronic2023 3 місяці тому +1

      $$$$$$$$

    • @Thomas-fu8vp
      @Thomas-fu8vp 2 місяці тому

      Americans have spent 100’s of billions of dollars on Europe’s defense over the last 80 years .

  • @MichaelLambert1
    @MichaelLambert1 4 місяці тому

    Charming 😊

  • @monyk3383
    @monyk3383 6 місяців тому

    Hi, i love your video, thank you for your advices, I’m Mexican/American my husband is German, and we were planing to move to Florence or Valencia in a few months, we thought will be easy as he’s European, but as much as I love Italy i may now choose Spain.

    • @saarsoleares
      @saarsoleares  6 місяців тому +1

      Thank you so much for sharing ♥️ . They are both amazing cities , wishing you so much luck with your new adventure! 🍀🌈✨

  • @mackenzie1512
    @mackenzie1512 Рік тому +1

    Hoi Saar, ik volg al een tijdje je mooie filmpjes over Italie simpelweg omdat wij ook sinds 1,5 jaar in la bella Italia wonen. Wij zijn onze zoektocht naar een plek 4 jaar geleden begonnen en zijn via Frankrijk en Spanje uiteindelijk toch in Italie beland. Mijn man is een stuk ouder dan ik en daarom is toegang tot goede zorg voor ons ook erg belangrijk. Vooralsnog ben ik het altijd die iets mankeert maar op alle plekken waar we gewoond hebben was contact leggen met zorginstanties en het vinden van een huisarts een prioriteit. Onze ervaring is dat het rond de grote steden makkelijker is wat betreft afspraken maken en ook het personeel lijkt er vriendelijker te zijn, wellicht omdat er niet zo'n drukte is als in een grote stad. Tijdens ons werkzame leven zijn we altijd in Italie op vakantie gegaan en hebben toen de grote steden en al hun pracht bezocht. Om te wonen hebben wij gekozen voor het midden van Italie, Umbria, in een klein bergdorp met alle voorzieningen, 10 minuten van Terni en 40 minuten van Rome. Ons bevalt het kunnen opzoeken van de drukte erg goed. Hopelijk gaat alles nu beter met je mooie man en mochten jullie ooit deze kant op komen dan zijn jullie van harte welkom. Blijf die inspirerende content maken en blijf vooral gezond! Lieve groet uit Montefranco

    • @saarsoleares
      @saarsoleares  Рік тому

      Hoi! 💖 wat een leuk en lief berichtje - dank je wel! Het klinkt alsof ons verhaal erg overeenkomt, wat leuk om te lezen . Ja wat is Italië toch prachtig en ook ingewikkeld- ten minste voor ons in deze situatie. Het is heel fijn om te lezen dat er betere zorg is bij jullie en hoop dat onze situatie in Florence een uitzondering is, want we zijn ons echt rot geschrokken van deze situatie met de gezondheidszorg. Het heeft ons beeld van “oud worden in Italië” wel veranderd moet ik zeggen. Dan waardeer je ineens de efficiëntie van Nederland zo veel meer 😃. Ik zal zeker jullie dorpje eens opzoeken - het klinkt prachtig ! En wens jullie heel veel geluk met “la dolce vita” 💖🦋

    • @mackenzie1512
      @mackenzie1512 Рік тому

      @@saarsoleares Hoi Saar, dank voor je antwoord! Het lijkt er op dat onze situaties inderdaad veel overeenkomsten hebben. Ik begrijp dat jullie een druk leven hebben en ook de normale dagelijkse beslommeringen kunnen soms al tijdrovend zijn maar ik vroeg mij af of jij het wellicht ook leuk zou vinden contact te houden. Daarbij denk ik echt niet aan dagelijkse mailtjes of telefoontjes hoor maar soms is het voor mensen die hier niet wonen moeilijk voor te stellen dat zo een mooi land als Italië toch zijn obstakels heeft en dan kan het wel eens prettig zijn te delen. Voel je ajb niet verplicht, het is slechts een idee. Lieve groet, Anouk
      ps ik heb na mijn Covid vaccinatie ( waar ik ontzettend tegen was maar omdat wij moesten verhuizen naar een andere plek, helaas noodzakelijk) een wat ze noemen " vaccination injury" opgelopen. Eigenlijk is het een vorm van long Covid en nu ruim 1,5 jaar later voel ik mij nog steeds niet de oude en lijk constant kleinigheden te mankeren. Ik vroeg mij af of jullie die ervaring ook hebben.

    • @saarsoleares
      @saarsoleares  Рік тому

      @@mackenzie1512 tuurlijk, laten we contact houden! Op mijn website saarsoleares.com vind je mijn contact gegevens ♥️. Jeetje : dat lang Covid verhaal is ook ons verhaal en ook na de derde vaccinatie! Heb je mijn Long Covid video gezien? Daarin vertel ik ons verhaal ! 🦋♥️

    • @mediterraneanworld
      @mediterraneanworld 10 місяців тому

      around Terni is wonderful - I worked on a program for several summers in Amalia and the are offers great propoerty values and good lifestyle!

    • @mr.archivity
      @mr.archivity 4 місяці тому

      Come to visit Acquasparta if you have time. Around 10 June the Renaissance festival will begin

  • @hughjass6928
    @hughjass6928 Рік тому

    🤌

  • @Learnitalian360
    @Learnitalian360 7 місяців тому +2

    ইতালিতে ভালো থাকার জন্য এবং নিজের অধিকার বুঝতে ইতালির ভাষা শিখুন 🇧🇩🍀🇮🇹

  • @brendam5356
    @brendam5356 Рік тому +5

    Buongiorno Saar so sorry to hear your husband’s health hasn’t been the best blessings to you both having family stay is the perfect potion for healing 🥰🙏I’m so grateful your sharing the pros and cons in Italy and yes life seems to sort itself out in the end even amidst change illness so happy you and your love can go out enjoy nature your lovely surroundings sending you all the blessings and well wishes from your devoted follower in New Zealand grazie mille Amore💖💖😘😘👌👌🌟🙏

    • @saarsoleares
      @saarsoleares  Рік тому +3

      Dear Brenda! I am so grateful for you, thank you so much for being so loyal and supportive - it means so much 🥰

    • @brendam5356
      @brendam5356 Рік тому +1

      @@saarsoleares Piacere mio and your videos bring me so much joy sending love and blessings 💖

    • @lindathomas9844
      @lindathomas9844 Рік тому

      Sorry to hear that you have both had a tough time.Glad to know things are improving.Take care both

  • @danielefabbro822
    @danielefabbro822 4 місяці тому +1

    Yeah, Italy is not easy to foreigners... But it's truthful. You can live here but it will not be easy. Apart for burocracy, it's not easy to just change culture. There's a lot of issues that comes in that way that can sometimes be impossible to win over.
    Nonetheless it's possible. Definitely is way harder become Italians than just becoming citizens of any other countries in the world.
    You know? Things that values a lot usually cost a lot. 😉
    Good luck, be happy. Wish you guts the best. 👍

  • @frankpullia6889
    @frankpullia6889 9 місяців тому +12

    Sorry for all your troubles. It would have helped if you had provided details on the problems you encountered. Items like Visas could have been investigated from abroad before coming to Italy. That would apply to any country anyone wishes to move to. Same with health care. What were the good things (free) vs. the so-called health care system bureaucracy. Long COVID issues would be challenging anywhere, and it appears more daunting on top of all the other issues in a foreign country. You mentioned that eventually, some health care intervention helped. Details would help tremendously put things in perspective and make your video more informative. Sorry, but I only got generalities which do not help much..

    • @Donna-d8z
      @Donna-d8z 8 місяців тому +1

      Shes an EU Citizen so your nonsense about visas doesnt apply

    • @karenorozco8917
      @karenorozco8917 Місяць тому

      @@Donna-d8z her husband is from USA

    • @brosisparty4194
      @brosisparty4194 Місяць тому

      @@Donna-d8zbut her husband is not, the bureaucracy is like that all over Europe ,but hey… you get what you pay for !
      Not much for health care,I know …being there done that!!!!😊

  • @olgakalita4396
    @olgakalita4396 Місяць тому

    Do you know that your name means “island” in Estonian? :)

    • @saarsoleares
      @saarsoleares  27 днів тому

      wow I had no idea, thank you so much for sharing that with me Olga!😍

  • @joyce2077
    @joyce2077 7 місяців тому +1

    Thank you 🎉😂❤

  • @dls300
    @dls300 Рік тому +1

    Saar - how did you learn to speak Italian so fluently?

    • @saarsoleares
      @saarsoleares  Рік тому +6

      I learned by “throwing myself into it” here in Italy and online ! There is a great online teacher here on UA-cam called “Italian with Lucrezia”, she is the best. Still not completely fluent though, but I am still learning . It’s such a beautiful language ! ♥️

  • @zagdankrzysztof7162
    @zagdankrzysztof7162 7 місяців тому

    Very nice only if something happens to you who look after you, because Italian has social care.

  • @dls300
    @dls300 Рік тому

    Beautiful! However, I thought that you were being scammed! I said to myself, "that's not Saar!" But, I figured out that it is your daughter. Also, I love your dog! What is her name? I lost my 16 1/2 yr. old Border Collie, Lucy, last June.

    • @saarsoleares
      @saarsoleares  Рік тому

      Thank you so much Debby 💖 hahaha yes it is my daughter and I understand the confusion . My dog’s name is Sammy , he’s a boy ☺️. He’s a total character! . I am so sorry to hear about Lucy 🥲 that just never gets any easier does it? they should live to be 100 years old ! Sending love from Florence ♥️

  • @lospopularos
    @lospopularos Рік тому

    and one more question: do mosquitoes bother you a lot?

    • @saarsoleares
      @saarsoleares  Рік тому +2

      Yes! They might be one of the worst creatures in the world 🙄🙄🙄

  • @lospopularos
    @lospopularos Рік тому

    I'm sorry to hear about your health-related problems. I got vaccinated but I am not sure if the vaccines protect us fully. I also live in Italy but so far managed to avoid getting infected. Would you have any info as to whether or not the vaccines prevent us from getting sick? Thank you for your very informative video!

    • @saarsoleares
      @saarsoleares  Рік тому +4

      Dear @lospopularos, thank you for watching my video ♥️. The vaccines are a difficult issue and I am not sure what to think of them since we got very sick for a long time and were fully vaccinated 3 times. So my best guess is that they don’t protect us fully - of course there is no way of knowing what would have happened if we got Covid without being vaccinated. So the issue remains a mystery to me. I sometimes even think that the vaccine is what made us so sick. But again - it’s all speculation. Just happy we got out of it again 🙏🏻. Have a great day ! 💖

    • @lospopularos
      @lospopularos Рік тому +2

      @@saarsoleares Thank you for your honest answer. Unfortunately, I share your opinion (and I'm not the only one, it seems). I am now a happy new subscriber to your channel and looking forward to your illuminating input. Cheers!

    • @doulava5293
      @doulava5293 10 місяців тому

      I would never get an experimental medication of any kind in my body!

    • @masterpep7218
      @masterpep7218 3 місяці тому

      "Long-C" is a euphemism for V-injury. Time to wake up, before you put yourself in the grave with more poison than your body can take.

  • @ok-ct7yr
    @ok-ct7yr 9 місяців тому

    Nice

    • @ok-ct7yr
      @ok-ct7yr 9 місяців тому

      Considering moving to Florence after 7 years of Thailand. Thanks for your insights

  • @glorgau
    @glorgau 9 місяців тому

    Bureaucratic problems. Any specifics?

    • @saarsoleares
      @saarsoleares  9 місяців тому +3

      Honestly- too many to mention and on all areas : housing, immigration, health insurance, finding a doctor, getting or filling out any kind of government form or contacting any organization, getting an appointment at hospital. It really is a mess. An example: as a eu citizen I had a dutch health insurance, which meant that with an S1 form I would be able to easily register with the local health office and get my “tessera sanitaria”. You really need this in Italy because doctors outside of the general health care system not only are expensive, but also can not perform many medical steps and they refer you back to the general practitioner- which you can only get if you have a Tessera Sanitaria. It took me a whole year to get the health insurance because of bureaucratic nightmare, whilst having a health crisis. Then, once I got it, finding a GP that is taking on patients was next to impossible, because the GP can only take on a certain amount of patients and in Florence there is a shortage of available GP’s. To simply reach them is already a problem because no-one picks up the phone. There are many steps involved and filling out of forms , confusion and waiting, just to get a GP. Then when we finally got one - he randomly threw us out again because he discovered he could not take new patients after all. This is just one of many examples. But I do believe that , even though Italy is famous for their nightmare bureaucracy- it does matter a little where you are in Italy. We got super unlucky on every single angle of the process. Still, just be prepared and hire a lawyer when moving to Italy ! 🇮🇹

    • @anastasias.9378
      @anastasias.9378 8 місяців тому

      This is so, helpful! As someone who also has had long Covid complications, I can only imagine the lack of energy available to deal with all this...let alone get answers for the long Covid within a medical system. I am applying to a school in Italy as an EU citizen living in America and your comments/video inspire me to take action from abroad as much as possible if this opportunity opens. Feel free to be in touch for any long covid recovery tips and tricks. @@saarsoleares

    • @ClaudioCappelli-ip5ej
      @ClaudioCappelli-ip5ej 4 місяці тому

      @@saarsoleares
      Ma lo sai che noi italiani in Olanda, impazziamo col sistema assicurativo della sanità olandese?
      Credo che se cerchi su Internet, potrai trovare qualche video in proposito.
      In parte mi sembra che non sei stata fortunata.
      In parte credo invece che ognuno sia abituato al "suo" sistema e faccia fatica a capire come deve muoversi diversamente.
      Da quanto scrivi, quest'ultimo punto a me appare parecchio evidente.
      Per esempio, normalmente il medico di famiglia lo devi chiedere alla ASL che te lo trova in un secondo (essendo che l'ASL sa bene quali medici di base hanno o non hanno capienza).
      Non devi essere tu a cercarlo!
      Se poi qualcuno ha un problema veramente grave e immediato (ad esempio un infarto, ma faccio gli scongiuri per chiunque!) ti accorgerai di come tutto improvvisamente funziona.
      Altro che negli USA!!

  • @GH-zy2dh
    @GH-zy2dh Рік тому

    I like to understand what you said about Italian bureaucracy toward Americans ? is it harder being an American living in Italy, what are the negatives?....Thank you for taking the time

    • @saarsoleares
      @saarsoleares  Рік тому +5

      Hi There ! Thank you so much for watching my video ♥️. It’s not necessary harder being an American , but we applied for immigration of my American husband based on joining family (since we are married and I am an EU citizen). We thought it was the easiest because all the information online states that Americans have the same rights as EU citizens if they are married and it should be fairly simple. But this turned out to be not true at all and our lawyer said it is the most complicated. Also my husband has been in the EU already for a long time so he did not have the typical situation with the stamp of entry into the Schengen area, which is more common. Because our situation was not as common, everything became a nightmare. But honestly, I have heard many similar stories with bureaucracy here - the system itself does not work and the rules keep changing so fast that the organizations can’t keep up . The same experience we had with the medical system, there are good doctors, but getting an appointment or even getting health insurance was extremely slow and complex, hospitals over crowded and not enough doctors available. I am really hoping that is just our experience and that outside of Florence things are different, but it seems to be a bigger problem in Italy. I would say : if you are in good health and not dependent on Italian systems in terms of health or work and once you are passed the immigration part; .life in Italy is amazing and people are helpful and friendly ♥️. I am still in love with this country! , the beautiful landscapes, the pace of life and the quality of life is so good and I adore Italian culture and of course… food 😄 . I think it all depends on what your priorities are in life and what your specific situation is. I hope this clarifies and I am happy to answer any other questions you might have about moving to Italy! wishing you a great day! 🍀

    • @GH-zy2dh
      @GH-zy2dh Рік тому

      @@saarsoleares Thank you Saar, that was very kind of you taking the time and answering my concerns, I have hears similar stories about what you said and I just wanted to confirmed them from someone that is there and went through the system. I hope that your husband doing well and enjoying life with you. i hope that we can stay in touch....

    • @lucianomezzetta4332
      @lucianomezzetta4332 11 місяців тому

      Italian bureaucracy treats EVERYBODY badly. It is infamous for having one of the most corrupt state bureaucracies in the world.

    • @mediterraneanworld
      @mediterraneanworld 10 місяців тому

      I think much of your problem with the healthcare system is perhaps not alreayd being inserted into it before the crisis struck. You can also mix public and private - you can use the Misrecordia for all kinds of specialists at very low prices to see a doctor and get treatment - if it is something more serious that can then be transferred through your GP to that national system. I don't know how long you have lived here and also yes having friends does moake things somewhat easier but often Italians don't know how to access and work the system for non-Italian - meet an immigrant who has lived here long term and they are a goldmine of information! @@saarsoleares

    • @k-mixxx7927
      @k-mixxx7927 3 місяці тому

      ​@@saarsolearesthe medical system is like that all over Italy. My main reason that I still didn't move to Italy (from Germany). I had my in-laws there for many years since 2009. There it was already crap, but in the meantime it got so bad... They also don't have the system anymore with a doctor here and there. They moved it to only hospitals, that's why they are so crowded. Because you can't just go and see a doctor around the corner (outside a hospital).

  • @robcig
    @robcig 2 місяці тому

    I spent six weeks in Italy and saw the bureaucracy first hand. When we visited relatives there, they all said the same thing. Australia is a first world country, why do you want to live here?

  • @MrNoncredo
    @MrNoncredo Рік тому +1

    just call yourself an expat, is the right term "immigrants", or are only those who come from a poor country considered as such?

    • @saarsoleares
      @saarsoleares  Рік тому +7

      Hi there : we are expats because we have not come to live in Italy permanently- which is the definition of an expat. The definition of an immigrant is someone who moves to another country permanently. It has nothing to do with income . Hope this clarifies.

    • @lucianomezzetta4332
      @lucianomezzetta4332 11 місяців тому +1

      You do not have to be poor to be an immigrant. Look up the meaning in any dictionary.

    • @MrNoncredo
      @MrNoncredo 11 місяців тому

      @@lucianomezzetta4332 c****o vuoi?

    • @chronic2023
      @chronic2023 3 місяці тому +1

      Inevitably there is always someone in the comments section that doesn't understand that not every foreigner who lives in a foreign country is an immigrant. For example, if a person is working in a country on a work visa that will expire in two years, he or she is NOT an immigrant as he or she has no intention on making the foreign country his/her home. I wasn't an immigrant in South Korea when I was teaching there for 2 years and I sure as H€LL had no intention of immigrating to Iran when I taught under contract for a US company for 1 year there. I was an expat.

  • @tic-tacdrin-drinn1505
    @tic-tacdrin-drinn1505 Рік тому +4

    To endure bureaucracy, you have to be willing to WAIT.
    The worst aspects of bureaucracy are not the rules, which - admittedly - could sometimes be simpler, but the bureaucrats who themselves do not always know the rules correctly.
    Anyway, I don't think that for a non-American in the USA everything is the easiest when it comes to these things.

    • @gabrielesantucci6189
      @gabrielesantucci6189 7 місяців тому

      Esattamente! Prova ad avere bisogno di cure in USA ad esempio e se non sei coperto da nessun tipo di assicurazione, ti si mangiano anche la casa minimo o ti lasciano morire!!! Prova ad aver bisogno di un ambulanza, ti può costare dai 5000 dollari in su! Per non parlare del costo di cure e medicinali!!!!!Meglio mille volte la nostra "burocratica" sanità della loro!!!