Thinking of moving to Italy? Watch this first.
Вставка
- Опубліковано 3 лис 2021
- I HAVE SOMETHING IMPORTANT TO TELL YOU...
Welcome back to Dramatically Expatic! Today I have a very unusual topic for you... you know I'm not someone who'd be doing videos like pros and cons of living in Italy, but if you're considering the move here, there are things you should understand first. Moving abroad (or moving to Italy for that matter) is a serious step and I want you to realise something before committing yourselves to expat life... Watch this video 'till the end to find out more!
Support me on Patreon to find out all you need to know about studying in Italy: / dramaticallyexpatic
Get 30 days of FREE music to use with your videos from Epidemic Sound: www.epidemicsound.com/referra...
Join Canva to earn FREE premium elements and create the best designs: www.canva.com/join/cnv-pqh-fqt
Want to know more about living in Italy? Join our lovely Instagram community here: / dramatically.expatic
CHECK THESE OUT TOO:
Life in Italy, costs&tips | • STUDYING & LIVING IN I...
What I wish I knew before moving to Italy | • What I wish I knew bef...
Top things I love about living in Italy | • TOP things I love abou...
Moving to Italy without speaking Italian | • Moving to Italy withou...
Study abroad in Italy | • Study abroad in ITALY ...
Trying Italian street food | • Trying ITALIAN STREET ...
The ugly truth about living abroad | • THE UGLY TRUTH ABOUT M...
How to save money in Bologna | • How to save money in B...
ABOUT:
Hi! I’m Valeria and I’m an expat in Italy. I’ve moved here (almost) on a whim when my plans in Paris got ruined - without speaking the language and totally unprepared, but pretty sure this is gonna be an adventure of a lifetime! Moving to Italy has definitely had its ups and downs, but I love discovering Italian culture, Italian people and, of course, Italian food. Here I post regular travel vlogs, tips on expat life, moving to Italy, personal growth and self-esteem as an expat woman living abroad.
If you enjoyed this video, please don't forget to like and subscribe for more! Also, let's get to know each other: tell me in the comments where in the world are you at the moment!
Thank you for being here and may you have a wonderful day!
For business enquiries: dramatically.expatic@gmail.com
This video is about: moving to italy, living in italy, living abroad, expat life, expat life in italy, pros and cons of living in italy, moving to italy in 2023, moving to Italy in 2024, what I like about living in italy, what I don't like about living in italy, cons of italy, pros of italy, pros and cons of italy, italian lifestyle, slow living in italy, finding happiness abroad, being an expat, expat in italy, how to move to italy, should I move to italy, what is it like to live in italy, what is it like living in italy, being an expat in italy, what is it like to live abroad, what is it like to be an expat, my experience of living in italy, what I love about italy, top things I don't like about italy, what to know before moving abroad, what to know before moving to italy, what I wish I knew before moving to Italy, moving abroad, life abroad, my story of moving abroad, why I chose italy, should I move to italy, what should I know before moving to italy
I am Italian and have worked abroad for many years . Every country is different from the others but I've learned that if you want to feel good about yourself and with others you have to learn to adapt to the place you live in and accept its advantages and disadvantages simply because the perfect country doesn't exist.
What is the rent like I want to just pick up and move to where my family is from I don't speak the language will I be able to get a job easily
Carissimo... quali sono i vantaggi per un giovane qua in Italia? Parliamone sinceramente.
@@MP-ut6eb tutto dipende, come in ogni fase della vita ....(lavoro, localita', eta' ecc...)
I am Algerian north African berber and algeria and italy are close to each other's we share the Mediterranean sea 🌊. But still I prefer ALGERIA over italy in terms of culture language and religion. And even if algeria is a developing country
@@malikaabizar8318 how are Berbers treated in Algeria?
Happiness is something to be found in yourselves, not in a country.
Ciao bro
True, absolutely.
Italy is a racist place.
Sometimes being in a very different environment provides the brain with enough distraction so that the person can ignore debilitating thought processes and move towards a better form of self-governance.
Environment does help...
I lived in Italy for 30 years.
I wish I never left.
The most kind, wonderful people and a beautiful country to live.
I moved to italy from the UK, and honestly Italy made me sooo happy from peace of mind perspective, less stress, more calm and tranquility, many many nature reserves to go and detox at. But i am married to an italian so maybe the road was already set for me as I didnt need to struggle to do everything by myself. But you are right, Italy doesnt check all the boxes. I had to give up my high paying job in the UK to come here. Ever since then I struggled to find a decent paying job in italy that accepts me as a fluent english speaker. From economic perspective, italy doesnt fulfill that need. the UK certainly does. So now im moving back to the UK to earn money with my family but spend it in italy instead. Luckily its just 2 hours flight away and my husband owns his home in Italy so we can come back whenever we like!!!!!! But I love Italy in every sense of the word and very saddened by the economic situation
Italy is good for holidays and pensioners,
It's like you can enjoy it only as a tourist
Maybe you're just a healthy, rational person who doesn't look for the grass to be greener. You know how to make the best of a situation and actually think like an adult.
We're all saddened by it especially the inequity between the Rapacious North and Beleagured South.
@Dnpe l'Italia non è solo Milano 🤣🤣🤣🤣
I innerstand you....I lived in London for 30 years and moved back to Italy.....I totally regret my decision and now after Brexit it' s almost impossible to return.....enjoy the best of both worlds guys 😃
I’d take anything bad in Italy over getting shot in Chicago. Sometimes moving can bring happiness.
💯…
💔😢, love from Canada
Hahaha fellow Chicagoian,I just went to Italy and coming home gave me depression
Exactly
You can thank the liberal voters in Chicago for that
She does not mention the spiritual and non material benefits of living in Italy. I am British and lived there very happily for fourteen year. Coming back to England was depressing!
Which city you lived in ?
Curious, why did u go back to England?
OP is a bot...Italy is a very material place just ask Valentino, Versace, Prada, Armani, Dolce & Gabbana, Marni, Iceberg, Missoni, Trussardi, Moschino, Dirk Bikkembergs, Etro, and Zegna...
Can you list the spirituality benefits of living in Italy please?!
Brava bischera che un tu sei tornata indietro allora se l'è deprimente l'Inghilterra.
I've been living in Italy now for 8 years, from the UK. Like everywhere, some things drive you crazy but if you're prepared to go with the flow, it's a fantastic country to live in.
Thanks , which region do you live in ?
I’m looking at Turin but the Brexit 90 in 180 days is a major obstacle.
Did you speak italian when u moved there?
@@CinCee- if you don't speak italian i suggest you to avoid the south, in north and central Italy a lot of people speak english
@@timhanser1943
@@giulioborghi651 even if you speak italian i would avoid living in the south . Just a tip from a fellow north italian . North italy is basically another country compared to the south . However i do suggest to go south for vacations ( tbh you could go everywhere in italy , i love the alps ❤️)
I'm from the Philippines and I've been living in Italy for 6 years and I can honestly say that I 100% prefer it here. I love the Philippines but Italy gives me peace and happiness
Edit (June 30, 2023): A lot of people are commenting saying that “oh yeah it’s cuz Philippines is a third world country” well no sht sherlock. I am not talking about it economically, I was talking about the OVERALL life. There are obviously some pros and cons about it, this is just my personal preference. Philippines might be poor but it is rich in culture, the people and traditions. And besides you can even see comments from people from US, UK etc that thinks the same as me, they prefer Italy rather than their country so it’s not about how rich or poor your country is. It really shows that some people have poor mindset to talk sht like that and damn it’s 2023 already, y’all still exist? Smh
So sweet
From where we're you in Italy,
As an Italian, this is so nice to hear. Thank you for loving my country... uhm, no, OUR country, so much ❤
@@andreag7408 omg graziee 💗
hello ate peachy, would you mind to have a little talk about moving to italy? i am planning to move there soon in the incoming years.
I disagree. IF you're struggling with depression or anxiety, your mental health is your priority. You should talk to someone about it. BUT living in a different country that has a complete different culture, is also a way of dealing with it. It forces you to explore and adapt to your new environment and can make you forget your negative thoughts altogether. You'll be too busy. ''Will I get a metro card or bus pass? Where can I get language courses? Which cities and places do I want to see? Which activities do I want to do? Which communities will I join? What gym will I join? What work am i going to do? What's the best way to meet locals here? What are some goals I'd like to achieve while I'm here?'' Living in a different country can actually be therapeutic. It's an exciting adventure. What if living abroad IS the missing piece of the puzzle? What if suddenly you '''found'' your people? You're starting with a clean slate. A new chapter of your life. Sometimes, all you need, is a change. A change in environment, a change in friends, a change in partner, a change in your work, a change in culture, a change in how you look at the world. Don't try to understand your thoughts with your thoughts and feel bad about yourself. It doesn't help at all. You must have noticed that. So stop thinking and do stuff. Just get busy with taking action towards (whatever!) goals and that's what will produce positive emotion. Get some projects going. I moved to a different country 3 times, so I'm talking from experience. Think of your life as one with different stages. Sometimes you had a shitty stage, no problem. Leave that behind and enter a new stage of your life. Whatever you do, keep going.
3 different countries? Chasing after the wind…how exhausting
@@sofiabravo1994 3 different countries enriches the tapestry of life and broadens the mind. Chasing the wind? Phaph!!!
@@kippykippyphoebe9203 You said it very eloquently. I guess some people have really different perspectives about life, because ''exhausting'' is the last word I would use to describe my experiences. It actually energizes and excites me. I'm an explorer by nature and going to places I haven't been, meeting people whom I don't know, doing things I haven't done, that gives me pure zest for life. (!) And I'm actually, preparing to move to Bali, Indonesia in a few months! I work remotely from my laptop so I can live anywhere. I'm not exhausted by that idea. Maybe the flight will exhaust me, could be haha.. Enriching my life with new experiences and people... very exciting! Living in the same town or city, waking up in the same house, hanging out with the same people, going to the same places... ouff.. that sounds exhausting to me. And terrifying!
@@Kyoto99952 absolutely agree. Go live your best life, embrace the unknown, eat healthy gorgeous food, sleep well under the stars and gentle lapping of the sea, be spiritually emotionally physically guided. Walk your path. This is the very thing money can’t buy. Move with grace through your stages, give, receive, ebb flow. Do you. Leave those who exhaust themselves be exhausted. Personally, I find the wind refreshing! Blessings and kind courage to you my friend. Life indeed is for living.
I was very close to ending up in prison, had no goals, i was chasing money filling my old traumas with materialism, drugs and women. Almost completally losing myself.
And one day it just hit me i felt that young exploring kid full of energy who got lost in the woods, that kid who was out all day and didnt want to go back home, that kid who i still am. Then i deleted all social media broke contact with my old "friends" and booked a ferry to estonia, and walked to italy and to sardinia (where im originally from).
Backpacking trough europe healed my mind and made me realise so many things. I found my self again learned to balance my good and bad and got back my sanity. Thats why i completally agree with you. cheers mate!
I really liked this video and, as an Italian man, I would like to add just a small personal remark.
I think she nailed a very important and often neglected aspect of the phenomenon.
I used to really like videos on UA-cam made by foreigners who decided to relocate in Italy, but as time passed I started to notice a trend that somehow upsets me.
Many people seems to embrace a very "hedonistic" image of our country: Italy is the land of good food, fancy wine, aperitivo, beautiful landscapes, cities full of monuments and art, sunny days and genuine, simple personal relationships. A new world with increased quality of life and less stressful life.
This is actually true, we have all of those things, but if someone comes here with a mental image of our country based only on the stereotypes I have listed above, he or she will soon discover that they are just a small part of what shapes our everyday life here. Simply put, Italy is not the cheaper version of a Californian dream life.
Many foreigners list the pros and cons of our country and usually the pros are exactly the stereotyped things they projected on Italy, while the cons are all the real aspects of Italian everyday life that diverge from that image.
Yes, our country is messy, chaotic, complicated, sometimes challenging. Things don't always work and our culture can be quite a shock if explored in depth.
But understanding (not necessarily accepting) those non-stereotyped aspects of Italy means that you are serious about your intention to merge with us and share our common experiences.
Otherwise, you'll end up being a dissatisfied tourist, that feels betrayed by a country that turned out to be quite different than expected...
Living in Italy is not a year-long holiday into the world of "La Dolce Vita" and refined pleasures.
Of course this remark does not apply to every foreigner living here and is not a criticism: it is just my way to kindly express my perplexities about that simplistic and hedonistic view of Italy.
Sicuramente.
Una volta faro visitare, probabilmente dopo guerra mondiale...
You put that very diplomatically! Thank you for your perspective.
This is very well expressed. I visited Rome and am a tan woman. I am seeing reviews of sisters from the diaspora that are giving their experiences that go beyond the pale of your perspective. I had 2, at the most, experiences that did not deter my visit overall. I would love to go back!! Yet, given the most recent experiences, it makes me think heavily about if I need to be treated so badly.
Otherwise, your articulation is very balanced.
You're damn right
Like the American Dream!
I fell in love with Italy because of the people. You are more friendly and more open to strangers than this country (USA) and I especially loved the Italian grandmothers , who adopted me in every village I went to. I love people and it a blessing to find people that were like me. I will return one day and I hope to be as happy as I was before ( 1981) thank you and have a beautiful day. Ciao 🥰❤️
how old were you?
Sorry Folks, but as Italian I must warn Youu!!! We have 4 different seasons, , that means the sun doesn' t always shine here!!!We don' t even sing opera all the time and we are neurotic like everyone else.and trust me if you want a decent life you must have ymoney !!! So if you pursue happiness, find it in yourself and then come here!!! Good vibes to everyone
👍🏼👍🏼👍🏼👍🏼
Agree
What?!! Not singing opera all the time?!! 😊
Oh the geographical cure!
I just wanted to find out what it’s like living in Italy but this girl is just giving a psychology lesson!
lol
Exactly
Coming from someone who has fulfilled his dream of living abroad. This girl is speaking words worth millions if you get them. Most accurate advice ever.
Same but also tired of the USA lol
If you want Italy to be like the states don’t go. If you love the adventure of learning a new culture go. It’s just that east! Make and effort to learn their language and be open to laugh at yourself.
The most important thing to remember: other countries do things and think in different ways than you were raised in. Your way is not always right it’s different. Your old way is not better or you would stay there. It’s not your job to turn your new country into your last country. Love the differences!
When in Rome; do as the Romans do....
Esatto!
In my case, there are many things I didn't like about my country's mentality (Italy) and so when I moved abroad (Czech Republic), after a while I began to feel more fit in there than I was in Italy, like I found my true homecountry.
I believe that talking about Europe, Italy is one of the countries whose lifestyle and mentality is the hardest to adapt to. Indeed even though I was born and raised in Italy, after 27 years I felt like I had to leave in a way or another, mainly due to the occupational and economical situation. It just felt easier moving abroad and start a new life in a random EU country whose mindset is more aligned with the one other EU countries have.
When I began feeling like an adult with adult lifestyle expectations, things like sun, pasta, coffee, friends and family where not enough for me to give up a career, my dreams, my willingness to travel and to have a family myself instead of living my parents due to my unemployment situation.
So, I think you may feel more at home in other countries than in your own. If your homecountry culture doesn't seem right for you, you will adapt to differences easily and start enjoy them soon.
@@hellboy0189 in many ways I feel more comfortable in Italy than my own country. So I guess it works both ways.
@@chatalaine yes, I guess so
My personal experience. I lived in (South) Italy for a year 10 years ago, and a few other places since - currently UK. I learnt Italian in high school so language wasn't that much of an issue. I love my home (beautiful Budapest), but, man, that was the happiest year of my life - with all its difficulties - EVER. Just in comparison, the UK is a miserable place, the location and the atmosphere matter more than you would think.
I second your comment
I agree the UK is miserable but good for work. I live in York but this is nice
I lived in Italy for 4 years and loved every minute of it!
How is it going now?
I respectfully disagree. Life is what you make it no matter what country you live in. Fact. If a move to Italy or any other country is right for you and you plan well, then do it. Life is short.
I feel like thts kindof what dhe was saying
You clearly didn't even bother to watch her video
@@Literallywhateverahhhhh yes but very badly and ina way that could put many off who might be needing a change of scene and to get away froma toxic environment or one that is just not good for them.
She made it seem you had to have your whole life together and love eberything about your country before moving to another one.She could make someone feel hopeless and like there is no point.Very negative message
@@upendasana7857I agree.. I had to flee domestic abuse and Italy saved me by giving me space
@@upendasana7857 I agree ,it is obvious that living in any country want make anyone automaticly happy . People do not move abroad becouse they are not happy in they countries but for many different reason ,cost of living ,life style etc .
I am an Italian living in Italy, and I live in the same city of your video (the beautiful Bologna), and sometimes I think that moving abroad to another country different from mine would be a solution to all my problems... But when I see video of foreigners thinking that living in Italy is a solution to their problems, I immediatly change my mind.
Nowadays anyone may narrate same as you have just did.
Same shit everywhere.
Buon giro in tue paesi!
trasferirsi non risolve i nostri problemi. sono nato e cresciuto a Bologna e mi sono trasferito a Ravenna circa due anni fa, e quando vivevo a Bologna pensavo di trasferirmi da qualche altra parte perche' non mi piaceva molto. dopo due anni che vivo qua' a Ravenna ne ho le palle piene e sono dannatamente nostalgico della mia citta' e delle mie amicizie. i problemi non esistono nella realta', ma nella nostra mente e per risolverli bisogna imparare ad addattarsi ed a non essere pignoli sui lati negativi di un luogo o di una situazione. (cio' non significa non ribbellarsi quando ce n'e' bisogno).
english translation: moving out doesn't resolve our problems. i was born and grew up in Bologna and i moved in Ravenna about two years ago, and when i lived in Bologna i pondered on moving out somewhere else 'coz i didn't like it very much. after two years living here in Ravenna i had enough of it and i'm desperately nostalgic of my hometown and my friends living there. problems don't exist in the reality but in our minds, and in order to resolve them one must learn to adapt and not to be fussy on one place or situation's cons. (that doesn't mean we shouldn't rebel when there's the necessity). (p.s. pineapple doesn't belong on pizza!!)
Well said Stef :)
From US and if I can send my kids to school without worrying they'll be shot I'm sold.
Italy is the most BEAUTIFUL Country in the World!! No its not always SUNNY...but Italians are warm and friendly. Why?? FAMILY!! They love their Moms, Dads....sisters and brothers. I came to Milan as a Model in 1985..and NEVER left!!
I had a bad experience in my country 3 years ago. I waited this long to heal, and I am ready now to explore Europe. I'm making my base town in Italy. Yes, I read and heard over and over, that you need to be whole to move to another place and relationship. The Chinese say...."Where you go; there you are."
So proud of you
I'm very proud of you and happy that you're moving on ❤️ Wish you the best of lucks in Italy ❤️
That's an amazing saying. I will quote that Chinese expression often :D
We had a similar story and when it came to starting fresh we preferred an Italian adventure - it even sounds romantic if it fails! Lots to get used to but you wont be transported into to your dream future on a feather bed.
i had a 9 years bad experience i was so depressed and i am moving to italy the end of this year
Italy is not only beautiful,but the people really are caring ⛵️
😂😂😂😂😂😂😂
Dude im italian we are not
I cannot wait to pack it up and go. I want to find myself laughing at how unfamiliar everything is and find myself so immersed. My home country has nothing left to offer me and I have no familial ties, I cannot wait to grow roots as I please.
Good luck 🤞
In which country are you planning to move?
Roots don't grow as you please in a place where you're a foreigner. They will grow or not grow how the locals and the system decide. Just be aware of that.
The best is actually if we stayed in our own countries and fought to make them better for their natives.
With the dismay at this level I’m guessing you’re a fellow American? Good luck. Italians seem welcoming. I also feel the same as you and can see a better life for myself. Just need to get as good at the language as possible save more and ship out. See ya there comrade lol
I lived in Italy for years. And return often. It’s absolutely beautiful and I loved every moment. If you can’t find happiness in a place like Italy, you’re just not happy. Period.
💯
Italy is a beautiful country, but it comes with many problems just like many other countries. Before you think of packing up and moving abroad to Italy, visit the country first many times, have long stays there so you can get a feel of what you will be faced with day to day. If you are thinking of moving abroad from the US, accept that conveniences and sense of urgency will go out the window in Italy.
That's probably everywhere throughout Europe.
@@beautifulone5509 Not at all
That lack of sense of urgency is exactly why people want to leave the usa and go to Italy
@@SangheiliSpecOp that is correct!!! Escaping the sense of urgency is also escaping the rat race in the US
@Enrico Amatori I definitely don't want it, everyone has it here in the usa whether they want to or not because its all about money here over every other aspect of life
This is why people experience major culture shock. I’m American who has lived in a few countries. Your mindset definitely has to be open to assimilating into new cultures or ways of living. Thanks 😊!
I used to think this. I still follow the first rule of travelling. But now I realise that most people are wannabe-Westerners. My time in India was utterly jading, for example. In Uttar Pradesh for example I found the most money-obsessed materialistic capitalists - other than the Polacks of course - that I've ever met. On the other hand, some countries with their own cultural pride, historical influence or traditional way of doing things were less obsessed with globalisation and certainly warranted at least some of the respect that one has as an idealising intermediate-level traveller. Authenticity is everything.
Living in Italy can be very different depending on the region, in some places in the countryside there is a high quality of life, in big cities a lower quality can be found, depends also on your personal background, how creative you are, for example, it is not that simple to talk about life in Italy in a short video.
She makes a very strong point. An unhappy person would be the same regardless of what the surrounding can offer. I do love Italy above and beyond any other country in the world and have considered moving there many times. The question I grapple with time and time again is what happens when the novelty wears off and I start feeling homesick and missing all the familiar things I am accustomed to and know in my own country. Los Angeles is my home and I know how to go places, find everything I may need, be with friends and family and be comfortable. However, being in the design industry and appreciating the arts, architecture, amazing cuisine, and warm, kind, and energetic people of Italy, have made me think that I would be happier there. Well, In my retirement I have opted for traveling there every year or two enjoying this amazing country for a short while and coming back home to what I know until the next trip. I do appreciate her honest view of Italy...Well done.
@koros8 If you ever want to talk with an italian, here I am!
It would be a plesure for me to help you!
@@marilenabarsanti6939 di dove sei?
@@begina1447 Versilia, Toscana
Happiness comes from within. Yes your situation/ location / lifestyle can help but it’s not everything. As an old saying goes: ‘money cannot bring you happiness’ (but it can make you comfortable in your misery). Italy is beautiful but you would have to be prepared to make a move there work. A three month ‘immersion’ stay will happen for me, then I’ll take it from there 👍
Absolutely agree! Immersion stay is a fantastic idea to get the taste of Italy - I wish you a wonderful stay! ❤️
Trust me anything is better than South Africa right now. I would love to live and work in Italy. Yes like every country it has its problems but this is definitely a HUGE improvement from SA.
You are right o e hundred percent. South Africa is on it way to an implosion. The crime, work ethic, services and the list goes on are deplorable. You'd probably be better of in the Ukraine. So so so sad what's happening to SA.
So few people take in the psychological factor when moving to a new culture. We all arrive to new countries with our old cultural ideas. It's tough going through the 'breakdown' period where you're always comparing your ways with the new ways.
You will be confused often by the new social rules and behaviours. You will try to cling on to your old standards thus making your life even more difficult.
You will often say 'back in my country they do/don't do it like this'. There's a desperately uncomfortable period of transition which should ultimately lead to the acceptance of your new situation.
This has to happen, often painfully. Prepare yourself for feeling frustrated by how systems work differently.
Prepare yourself for misunderstandings due to lack of fluency in the new language.
Prepare yourself for realising that you need help more than you ever did before.
Prepare yourself for feeling awkward and inadequate.
Prepare yourself for how much you'll miss the 'ordinary' things of your old culture.
Prepare yourself for people being ignorant towards you because you're a 'foreigner'.
Prepare yourself for being let down because the new people don't play by your standards.
Prepare yourself for how difficult day-to-day things will become because you don't yet understand how to flow with the new culture. Prepare yourself to not being able to recognise one familiar brand of product for anything you need (it took me forever to find a similar product to Dettol).
Prepare yourself for all the medicines that you can and can't buy over the counter.
Prepare yourself for the invitation from other 'foreigners', like you, to form a b*tching circle about how horrible the new people are (please, please avoid that at all costs, it will ruin your experience).
Prepare yourself to make new friends who you have little to nothing in common with.
Prepare yourself to be utterly overwhelmed.
Once you get through that uncomfortable period (which may take years for some) then prepare yourself to enjoy your new, wonderful life.
If you're the right person for Italy, it will make you happy in a general sense. Of course negative life experiences are available to you everywhere and it is not realistic to think you'll have a life free from these in any country.
Aha!
Well said! I like the focus you used to build that - by the sounds of it pretty based in experience - list of major considerations.
When looking for videos on moving to/living in Italy I get tired of the romanticized "tourist" mindset of life abroad videos. They are good for inspiration but I want the realities of living abroad.
When I decided I would like to move to Italy one day the first thing I tried to do is look at it from a realistic perspective and not from the tourist mindset. The bureaucracy, the cultural differences, costs, potential loneliness and finding new friends etc.
The most important thing is to have a pretty good salary
I moved to Canada simply because I fell in love with an old farmhouse and room to breath. I've never second guessed that decision. She makes very good points about moving for the right reasons.
and here I am, a Canadian wanting to go to Italy for retirement!
Speak for yourself. Italy is amazing place to live!!!
I don't think you even watched the video
Thanks for sharing your depth and wisdom. The advice, Certainly deeper than most other channels, may not be something that everyone wants to hear, but something that everyone certainly needs to take into account.
after living in China for 5 years (loved the first 3 years, but now im so over everything) being in the wrong place can certainly make you unhappy. Italy is my favorite country, but for now I need to save money so I can make living there a reality in the future!
Wishing you the best of lucks with your goal to live in Italy!
Non te lo consiglio l’Italia fa schifo
@@francescocarluccio7714 why
@@memelocks7066 tutti se ne vogliono andare restano solo gli immigrati di colore
@@francescocarluccio7714 perche'??? Io sono iraniana e considero di emigrare in Italia tra anno prossimo per studiare fashion (la laurea magistrale). E' italia meglore di Iran o No? mi guidi per favore.( mi scusi per non parlare l'italiano bene, Io sto imparando)
Refreshing to hear honesty for people moving. Thank you very much. I sincerely wish you much success.
Thank you very much! Your words mean a lot to me ❤️
Italy So beautiful..
Please give me Italy Visa.. ❤️❤️🇧🇩
First of all Most of your points can be applied to any country not just to Italy, second you have to also have a knowledge of base country which person willing to move out from it. Loving your own country has nothing to do with moving to another country, most of the time situations, reasons are much more complicated than just moving for the sake of sun.
Italy can be a difficult place to live so all other countries. Happiness is an inner experience that's for sure but environment will have strong impact on most of the people who can actually feel something, not talking about potatoes here.
Every country has its flaws. These sunny countries are a blessing for people who are sensitive to cold.
I am sorry but even though I can at some level agree with the statement "a country won't make you happy, happyness comes from yourself", I honestly believe a country can make you happy or unhappy, so this statement sound more like a slogan to me.
I am from Italy and lived also in Poland and Czech Republic.
Living in Italy to me was very depressing, especially once I graduated and find out it was just impossible for me to get a job, getting an adult lifestyle, planning my future, having children, travel and basically enjoy my life. So, living in Italy for me was definitely a source of unhappiness at the point I left for Czech Republic.
When I went there I was depressed and time after time my happyness level increased daily to the point I didn't want to leave. Later on due to the pandemic I lost my job and moved to Poland and to me the life in there was very depressing, so I moved again in Czech Republic and now I am satisfied with my life and daydreaming about my future half of the time.
So, due to my experience I believe a country sure does make you happy/unhappy but it depends on you which country suits you better and also your problem may not be just country related and so moving elsewhere will not be good enough.
Hello, i'm from an asian country thinking of studying and eventually working in Italy. If i may ask, why can't you find a job, build a family, etc? Is finding a job that hard in Italy?
@@xoho3462 plenty of Italians lives abroad because:
1) it's that hard to find a job in Italy
2) with the Italian salary you can only make a living if you live with your parents (you probably heard about "mammoni", people in their 30s or 40s living with their own mother)
3) we have major economic and political issues and these with negative impact in daily life and mood of many Italians.
Honestly life in other european countries is much brigher and enjoyable, in my opinion trying to find a job in Italy and to make a living there, a carrer and so on is a huge waste of time.
Talking about building a family, there are many Italian men married with foreign wife and very very few Italian women married with foreigners (there is a statistic of it and the results are impressive).
So, you can enjoy Italy as a student but my advise to you would be to move somewehere else afterwards especially if you are a man. Foreign women get to eventually end up in a nice situation by getting an Italian husband, but for foreign men deciding to stay in Italy is just the wrong thing to do.
@@hellboy0189 i see, thank you so much for the wonderful insights. Can i ask, what other countries do you suggest as an alternative for a better work prospects? And is it common/ do you think a student graduating from Italy would face a hard time searching for jobs in other EU countries?
@@xoho3462 Actually I live in Czech Republic and many foreigners (including Italians) are here. I know many people who are studying at the university in Prague while working full time for a multinational company, here the unemployemnt is very low, there are plenty of job opportunities, salaries are good (but not high) but the main issue is increasing cost of living due to covid and war (issue that is common in the whole EU).
Better countries would be probably Austria, Germany or Scandinavian countries but in one case you need to speak German and in the other you need to cope with cold weather and I honestly don't know too much about Scandinavia.
To me Czech Republic is the best due to affordable cost of living, quality of life, finding a job being easy, salaries being decent and English knowledge being good enough to find a job but if you speak German or French you surely have better options.
She is so right!! It’s all about how you feel and your attitude. I agree that their are pros and cons in every country. I like to look for the positive and so many dwell on the negatives thinking other places are better. I lived in Italy 3 years and went to school in Florence one summer. I will always think of the positives!
Thank you for making this beautiful video! Definitely needed to hear this. People and circumstances are the same no matter where you go, it’s just in a different time zone and language ❤
I don't expect any country to be perfect and I know every place will have its downsides. But, I really don't agree that I need to love my own country to be able to love other countries. And I don't think I need to be happy with my country first. I understand that some people are just unhappy anywhere but I think those people are rare. I'm not expecting perfection. I don't care about long lines or anything more minor. But, there are some basic things I would like that my country doesn't offer. I want to live somewhere safe without mass shootings almost daily. I want to live somewhere where I can actually have a family/give birth and if I have some medical problem I won't die or go to jail. I want to live somewhere with decent healthcare and where you won't lose your house or have to declare bankruptcy if you have a medical emergency. I want to be able to send my future children to school and not have to worry about them dying or having to buy them bulletproof backpacks. Violence is a huge reason I want to leave my home country. Healthcare and the loss of women's rights are huge factors as well. I want to live somewhere kinder without all the hatred, racism, sexism, etc. etc. I realize you can find that everywhere but it's really getting extreme here. I really don't even care about food or any of that. And there are always little inconveniences everywhere. That's fine. I just want to feel safer and feel some sense of community. It would be cool to afford dental care too but that isn't as important as escaping all the mass shootings etc. I don't mind having to learn a new language and culture. I just want to feel safe and like I can breathe again. I want to build a family and I can't do that here.
While its true that no place can make you happy.. I do like being in Europe because people can actually have intelligent conversations, cities are walk-able, which increases my happiness.. nice architecture, because the horrible architecture in the U.S. is depressing, lower cost of living compared to the U.S.( especially if you want walkability in the U.S...NYC, SF, Boston, etc.) makes me happy, Also women I can connect with in a meaningful way.. I think there is less focus on work, that makes me happy, the Italian energy and food, which is not the same in the U.S... (The U.S. has bad Italian food).. this makes me happy..
I love Italy. Lived here for years
No other place for me.
Incredible how meaningful, honest, straightforward, but still mannered, AND informative + original, this video has been. Youve earned my Subscription. 👍🙌🙌
When my problems are related to insecurity, violence, lack of justice in my country, I moved to Italy and now I'm happy
This woman is very wise . In italy there are major cultural and weather differences between North and South. Architectture and food is great throughout the country . The North is bordering with other european countries . Big cities are chaotic of course.
Yes, if you have fears an anxiety, best face them and be honest with yourself and work on them before moving to another country.
The irony that the backdrop (Italy) in this video is beautifully cinematic, Italy is amazing.
Wow this is the first time I watched a video about moving abroad that is not biased and on point. Specially on part about what's your real reason on moving. Thank you for this video. 🙏🏼
Coming from an Italian, it really depends on where you're coming from. There are definitely better and safer places to live in but it's 100% possibile to be happy here and you can do way worse. It sure has its flaws but there are many things to love too
Im coming from Japan, ive always loved Italy, visited it 2 times and now going to live there, got tips?
@@rurumaekawa8944
Hi there 👋 I’m Italian and I live in Rome. First thing that I would suggest is to start learning a bit of the language. You can speak in English in bigger cities, but a little Italian would take you a bit far and it might get you new friends more easily. Which city will you be living in?
There are pros and cons in every country. I've been living in Germany for all my Life and I really can't complain but there are dramatically underpaid people here too. I have an Italian familiar background and an old house in Sicily which needs to be renovated. Maybe one day I will move in.
Bin auch in Deutschland geboren, mit italienischen Wurzeln und kann ganz gut italienisch....irgendwie zieht es mich umso älter ich werde umso stärker dorthin.
@@Lugaru90 Con me è esattamente lo stesso!
Much better video than other - thank you for sharing!
What a fantastic point of view! My wife and I are experimenting with locations for our next and possibly last great adventure, Florence offers many wonderful things that we love here in the states and yet it's far far away from our home. I will absolutely use our upcoming vacation there to consider all that you've explained. Most grateful for your time :-)
Thank you for the video. I feel this was more philosophical vs. informational.
I'm quite happy with who I am. I desire a MUCH slower pace of life with loving people. This video actually reinforced my desire to move to the homeland of my parents.
In fact, this video was not created with the aim to dissuade people from moving 😊 I'm sure you're going to love Italy!
@@DramaticallyExpatic oh of course and again thank you. I didn't mean to imply any intent on your part. I just found it more philosophical than informational. 😊
@@alfonsocarnucci3982 Italy is Byzantine territory 😂😂😂 555 ad was good year 😏 come on restore new rome
I partly disagree with your first and last point. Moving abroad won't solve inner problems all by itself, but the thing is - if you live in a country where people are sad, introvert, depressed, then an environment has an impact on you, and in such places it is harder to change. Furthermore, studies have shown that if someone moves to a new place then the possibility of a change is greater. Moving abroad has been one of the best life decisions as I transformed in ways that would not be possible in my home country. And on cost of living - Italy has great tax break incentives (75% - 90% of income being exempt from income tax) to people moving to Italy. Most realistically, it is more beneficial to remote workers. In such a case (or even someone finding good job in Italy), compare paying very low tax or huge taxes in nordics or central Europe and you quickly can see how the income can be increased by just moving to Italy. Not to mention incentives by the Italian government funding the renovation of your house.
Taxation is very high In italy...
@@Sezfluffy By default yes, but if you return to Italy or move there you can apply for tax breaks. ‘Brain return’ is the term.
can come across as tax dodging
@@disturbedjester8154 nope, I am paying 9% flat tax while living in Sicily and it's all official.
Thats why I love traveling the world and come back home,its good to be around people you love and know a big chunk of your life and when you are bored just go anywhere in the world enjoy learn then come back.
I lived in Italy 11 1/2years. Loved it.
BS.
Moving from one state to another literally changed my life and genuinely made me happy. Acting like moving to a region, country, city, etc that has activities and lifestyle options that are conducive to your lifestyle won't improve happiness levels is the dumbest take I've ever heard.
I moved from a north-of-the-Alps-country to Italy. It was like moving from heaven to the Inferno. My recommendation is do not do that!! Ive lived in 7 other countries and my standard of living is by far the worst in Italy. La dolce Vita is an absolute tourist construction that doesnt exist. Things dont work here in Italy. A country cant be livable just from a dreamy stereotype, great food, beauiful land, art and historic treasures. It really doesnt make life any better here.
I wished everyone had been as honest as you are. Thank You.
Your making a good point.
Thank you for the amazing advice!
I'm so happy you talked about Expats. I have watched a lot of Expats YT videos and a lot of them complain and complain about the people of that country. How sad! They were not happy with their own country and now they complain about the country they have expatriated. You are so right you have to be happy with yourself before moving to another country. You can't expect the people of that country to make you happy. Thanks for the video..Hopefully expats will see your video and clearly get your message. Love from the USA!💓🤗
I am Italian and I have never lived in Italy. I feel so sad living here in Belgium so please….BAAAAAASTAAAAAAAAAAAA !
Your video is amazing. Thank you for that ❤
This is the video I needed somehow thank you so much ❤
nice documentary, very wise and well structured. The speech is also valid in the opposite sense. Many Italians have study or work experiences abroad and hold prestigious roles in various sectors of commerce and science and despite having the ability to live abroad they always return for long periods, despite traveling is beautiful not everyone is willing to give up. to our own traditions and before leaving the homeland we must find out if we are predisposed to do so.
I was stationed in Sicily for 3 years with the military at Sigonella. There’s pros and cons to living in Southern Italy, but it was honestly a very positive experience for my entire family. I loved the food, people, weather, sights and attractions, and restaurants. I disliked the Sicilian driving habits, bad quality of the roads, and the Sicilian lack of respect for public waiting lines and personal space.
Living in Italy wasn’t a perfect experience but i enjoyed myself much more than living in the United States. But you will start to miss little things in the United States like American food options (Chick Fil A, Five Guys burgers, good angus steaks, etc). Part of my happiness was related to our income. I was receiving an American service member paycheck which was far superior to the average Sicilian income. So we lived comfortably. Don’t move to Italy if you’re going to be broke
Thanks you mentioned the last point. Without a more than decent salary you can't enjoy Italy and will get miserable hating the government, the burocracy, the corruption and the many uneducated people
Sicily is a whole different world (especially in economic terms) to Bolzano, Trento, outskirts of Milan, etc. I would say the best place in Italy is actually in Switzerland: Lugano. It's perfect.
@@DavidColex you’d be almost right in your statement, but you’re mistaken by claiming something outside Italy still belongs to Italy when it doesn’t.
@@Army_Retired Well, the people are the same, they even use the same Lombard accent as in Lombardia. It jusg shows how different from the south northern italians are when given a different (better) enviroment.
@@DavidColex Oh God NO, Lugano is such a boring town, ESPECIALLY if you're Italian (like me)
Very logically and reasonably put. Thank you for sharing
Thanks for this video!
This is the video that was missing so far. Very rational, wise and well put: the best advices one can give to any potential expat across the globe. Brava!! 🙌
Thank you! I'm glad you liked it ❤️
You may or may not feel 100% happy in Italy, but I wouldn't want to live anywhere else in the world.. and I'm from beautiful Australia.
Much love from Abruzzo
🗻🦌🍷🌰🍸🍝🥗☕🧀⛱🌊🐟🍀
Fair enough!❤️
very good resume of thinking of making the big step of moving to Italy or any other country.thanks for your reminders.
Thank you for this super honest video!!! You’re awesome.
We are responsible for our own happiness. I agree with a lot that you've said. We cannot expect people, places or material items for our happiness; that definitely comes within. I'm from the States and I ADORE Italy!!!! The life style, food, culture, arts, people & language. I feel whatever country you decide to visit/live learn some of the language. It's so rude to expect another country to speak your language. And pack your patience, the bureaucracy can be very slow. So take that time to smell the Roses and be grateful for where you are.............Ahhh Italy ❤
I agree, and have a soft spot for Italia too.
The poster talks about expectations too though, and that's such a big part of it. The more shallow my expectations, the more I've been satisfied with visiting or living in a place. For visiting, I chose Sicilia for the architecture, and my God was I satisfied! Because I chose something as materialistic as architecture, other things, such as the gentleness of the locals, the scenery, and the climate, seeped in and made for a warmer impression.
At the same time, as a tourist you have the luxury of selecting places, and upon your own criteria. The one place we went that I didn't select, Agrigento, is one of the worst shit-holes I've ever been to in my life. That's in Sicilia too, but certainly would not be a place that you would love if you went there! It just reminded me of the inaccuracies of idealising a day-to-day reality and a nation of different settlements and influences.
I live in Australia & my parents were Italian immigrants. I have travelled to Italy many times the longest periods being 6 mths. I absolutely loved it & now that I’m 60 I wish I had moved there in my younger days. Everything about Italy is beautiful & I love the people. Now that I’m 60 although Australia is a very expensive place the rights & benefits we are given here is very good. Number 1 healthcare is fantastic & quick. When COVID hit the amount of many the gov gave us to help us was a great amount. If you don’t Wk or can’t work you are paid fortnightly. With health issues you are given all rights & care. Everything is solved quickly & where ever u go you don’t have to wait long. You receive money for having children & for maternity. You receive money if you buy your first house. There is plenty of opportunity to find work & earn good money however the cost of living is expensive. Wheather you rent or buy a home it’s very costly. If you have a disability or health issues all your medication is very cheap & other healthcare. You receive a pension at 65yrs & then you have all the rights you could possibly have. Once again I still would love to live in Italy but now with all the benefits in Australia I don’t i know if I could do it. One of the biggest factor is Australia being so far from the rest of the world. It’s a disadvantage & me having to be far from my children I couldn’t possibly do it I want to be close to them.
i'm going to study abroad in a university in rome soon and i plan on staying, settling down in rome after graduating the university i'm going to go to. this video really helped me understand what i'm preparing myself for, thank you.
@B Mack yes, it will but it helped a little bit
is your family loaded with money? Then you will enjoy Italy after your university experience. If not forget Rome with a standard miserable italian salary
@@danielebasile3957 trust me, here in poland the salaries are not great either...
This seems to be a very interesting place, I hope I can visit sometime in the future. Seeing and sharing places like this is why I love traveling and make videos so much! And please keep up the great job! Subscribed!!
For an iranian resident like me Italy is like a heaven coz the situation goin on here is quite like hell, u mentioned chaotic and nosy u have no idea how much chaos, noise or sometimes fights I hear everyday and every night in here where I live, u have no idea for buying a normal bread or printing some university papers I have to wait in line it might even take more than 1 hr, apart from that, the dictator government here which doesn't count women as humans and treat everyone with violence and the useless currency that we have where the cheapest car is like 900 million Toman in our currency, where that I couldn't succeed to get a damn job in 5 years coz everyone reject me and my resume not paying attention to the master degree I worked my ass off to get, the dry and polluted air, and lemme not continue coz u can't take it bro, so whatever u have explained abt Italy is a heaven in my eyes it even made me more eager to get the hell outta here, I've already been in hell don't scare me of fire :)
I don't think it has to be black and white. Some things WILL make you happier when you make a change. Some things will be better simply by moving and giving yourself a new start. We are not always doomed to repeat the same mistakes. Making a big change CAN give one a new start and a new beginning. That all being said, it's going to take work. Sometimes the grass is really greener on the other side of the fence. And sometimes we have to appreciate what we have right in front of us :)
A very true reality. I agree with you 100% on moving from one country to another. If your not happy from the beginning your new country want make you happy either.
Awesome and brutally honest. Truly appreciate it and you are absolutely correct ❤
A lot of sensible and useful perspectives..And speaking as someone who moved to the U.S in 1999 from London,it was a cultural shock!..And I can't put enough emphasis on the difference u have to learn quicky,that after a month or so ur not on vacation/Holiday.. This is something permanent!
I get you. Lived in Milan many years. Thanks to an Italian who took me to his country, courted me by taking all over Italy, married for many years but living in many other countries in the interim, so all was easier which I didn’t realise. Every country is beautiful with its pluses and minuses.
Oh ya… traveling with a native is completely different. I had a similar experience but with a Colombian partner bringing me under their wing. It’s like a fast pass and get out of jail free that way
She is right! sadly.
Italians try to marginalize foreigners as much as they can to my experience, i.e. if you are skilled or have top degree, you will not be given the right job (if they give you a job). Foreigners, especially those coming outside the EU, are a second-person in many standings. Women here, very rarely date any foreigner. Studying here and getting a degree here, you must prepare to leave the country afterwards, since there wont be a job for you. Italians CANNOT see someone a foreigner doing better than them, just look how many companies or parliament members, mayors are non-Italians, and compare it to, say Sweden or Norway (let alone US or UK), where Italians too are holding the power.
Italians themselves have flooded every job positions across EU, especially in Germany. So just imagine ...
If there is an opportunity, a good deal, you WONT get that.
Italian numbers that you see from GDP, to inflation, wages, etc. ARE ALL FAKE. Italy's economy is a heck of wreck!
On the other side, Italy is like heaven on earth if you got the money from non-Italy sources and you wanna enjoy life immortally.
Thank you for opening my eyes!
The things that you are talking about is something I can relate very much.
I thought you were going to say about what it's like to live in Italy, but you didn't. There are no job opportunities and that's why the younger generation moved to London, if they didn't find a job what make you think you can. Brutal but honest.
exactly. People please consider moving to Italy only if you are getting an high salary
Love this video! I live in Italy too and what she is saying is so true!!
Very insightful content, thank you.
This is something everyone should hear before moving to any other country, and your wisdom and honesty have just made me like Italy even more!
Try this, go up to a stranger in London and say, "good morning". They will think that you are either mental or are going to attack them. Try this in Italy and you will make a friend. I know because I have tried it many times. Italy to me is like going back in time to a place where people are respectful and friendly, they don't barge into you when you walk down the street etc, they are proud of their local food and areas. I'm not saying it is without fault but compared to the U.K. it is worlds better. Oh and as you are in Bologna, pop into Tanburini and see Nicola, he will give you a drink on me :-)
I was born and raised in Bologna, where you were shooting the video, and to be honest, even if I have moved abroad seven years ago, sometimes I still miss my city, even though I'm happy here in Malta
Capisco che può provare nostalgia di Bologna, è una bellissima città, mi piace moltissimo!
@@christined.8807 Si. È vero. E ha un'identità che è spesso impareggiabile. Forse chissà, un giorno ritornerò stabilmente la, essendo la mia città, nonostante ormai mi sia rifatto una vita all'estero da sette anni.
@@enricomonti156 è giusto viaggiare se è quello che il cuore ci dice. Io non potrei mai lasciare Bologna, sento troppo la nostalgia
@@andreabianchi6156 anche a me manca Bologna dopo sette anni che me ne sono andato, anche se torno sempre ogni tanto. Però viaggiando ho trovato il mio porto sicuro
@@enricomonti156 è giusto. C'è chi sta bene in viaggio ed è più spirito libero. Sono contento per te. Io sono più ancorato a casa. Mi piace molto viaggiare, ma non posso stare lontano troppo a lungo o sento la mancanza
I lived in Switzerland, Italy and now in the USA. I can tell you Switzerland and Italy were much better to live than the USA! I am thinking of moving back to Europe.
Kudos to you on such great insightful wisdom!
thanks for sharing these 💞
Don`t wait until you`re perfect , you`ll never get there . we`re all imperfect . explore your Dreams , you`ll be fine .
Moving to another country to be happy never works. To some degree, it can, but in the end, you will have a normal day-to-day life with a job, if you find one, language barriers, making new friends etc. Nothing is easy about it. So thank you for talking about such an important topic. You can find happiness in a new country, but you need to be realistic :D
THANK YOU.
I am unsatisfied with Belgium, its weather and ugliness. So I ponder settling in southern France or Italy.
But you reminded me of the things one must consider, in addition to just the sun and art. This is not a holiday. It's my life!