It’s not hard to understand that living somewhere and vacationing somewhere are two very different experiences, so I wanted to share with you what Everyday Life in Italy is really like. It’s here that I learned to truly appreciate the value of slow living, long dinners with friends, and the importance of community.
EVERYDAY LIFE IN ITALY
How I Got to Italy: Study Abroad and getting my masters
If you’ve been following my Move to Italy Masterclass, or even if you’ve been following my Italian life via this blog or Instagram, you’ll probably know that I first came to Italy as an exchange student. I didn’t land in a world-famous city like Florence or a picturesque beachside town.
Rather, I found myself in a little town called L’Aquila, about an hour from Rome. L’Aquila is a small, medieval college town that is filled with life and art, known best for its hearty food and cool temperatures. I lived right off the il corso, the main street. In the early evenings, people walk up and down the main street, per fare la passegiate, which is literally just strolling, and saying hi to friends along the way. Once a week, I would head over to market in the main piazza for incredibly fresh and affordable produce. And then of course there were the dinners with all the new friends I had made. So while it may have been Venice or the Amalfi Coast, its authentic Italian charm had me hooked.
Not long after I finished my semester abroad, I began searching for ways to get back. There was just something about the way Italians made time for actually living – and of course, the food.
That opportunity to come back, came in the form of a scholarship from Rotary International. First stop, was Florence for an intensive Italian language course. It was a requirement as part of the Rotary scholarship. At the time, I thought it was absolutely unnecessary, since I already spoke the language. However, it really did help cement my language skills and bring it to a whole new level.
Me on one of the modern trams in Milan
Next stop, on my journey? Milan!
I could go into a whole different post about Milan. Living here was so unlike my other two experiences. But still I loved it.
Milan has lots of the culture and history one associates with Italy, but with an outward looking, cosmopolitan mindset. Plus, it’s just hours away from just about anywhere someone could possibly want to go. In Milan, I pursued my master’s degree in Marketing (taught in Italian) at the prestigious Bocconi University. And, I was blessed to have the opportunity to work in some of Italy’s most famous companies, like Gucci.
A local fishmonger
My Real Story About Moving to Italy: Slow Living
Having these three different experiences of three incredible Italian cities/towns, I was able to see that while Italy’s regions are so different, they also share a few vital common threads – a love of food, an appreciation of history & culture, and a shared understanding of the importance of family & friends.
Safe to say, I studied in Italy thanks to a college sweetheart, but I stayed for the food, the community, and the appreciation of good conversation over a quality meal.
Day-to-Day Life in Italy
Like I said, I came to Italy love, and I stayed for the lifestyle. Day-to-day life in Italy is a completely different experience to day-to-day life in the US!
Of course, most people still go to work Monday to Friday (even if I don’t do the 9-5), and they relax on the weekends, but the pace of life is completely different. Plenty of Italians still take 1-hour work lunch breaks (I’ve heard down south it’s even more). An hour is just enough time to actually enjoy a meal and to go for a walk. And of course to make time for another espresso. All of this is light years away from what I know most Americans do, which is eat their lunch at their desks.
Weekends involve trips to the mountains, the lakes or the sea. Sunday lunch is almost always an event! Especially, when you have extended family who lives nearby to enjoy a traditional Italian meal.
Plus, most Italians get 4-6 weeks of paid vacation every single year!
It’s actually quite funny (or at least I think it is). My husband who up until recently had a 9-5 job, would get all anxious every two-three months, complaining that he needed a vacation. It’s like he had an internal alarm clock, that would sound “time to plan our next vacation”.
Perhaps one of the most notable differences between my experience of day-to-day life in Italy versus how I lived in the US is the way we shop. Italy does have big supermarkets, but Italians pride themselves on understanding quality, and supporting the country’s rich history of artisans and producers.
For me, doing the groceries rarely means a once-weekly trip to an overwhelming supermarket. Instead, I make time to visit my favorite fishmonger, my favorite butcher, or our local farmers market. (Plus, let’s be honest, here it’s still really easy to shop that way. One of my favorite fruttivendolo (a fruit and veggie stand) is literally less than a 5 minute walk from my house. The twice weekly open air market, 10 minutes from my house. And the covered market, that’s 10-15 minutes away too (but in a different direction).
But really, the best part? As you get to know your vendors, they’ll really take care of you, only selling you the sweetest peaches or the best cut of meat. I can call and say “I’m in a rush, can you set “XYZ” aside for me.”
Plus, this doesn’t just apply to food, either! Italians love to have their persona di fiducia, or the person they trust, whether that be a tailor, a cobbler, or a plumber. (Yeah, people still regularly use/have those tradesmen!)
And it doesn’t stop there, partially because of how the city and stores are setup (with lots of small businesses with big glass window fronts), partially because I’m outgoing, and now partially because I have a toddler that likes to stick our house keys in every keyhole he can find, I’ve gotten to know just about everyone in all the neighborhoods I’ve lived in. Whether that be the real estate agent, the seamstress, or the florist, I feel like I’ve been able to form a bit of community wherever I go.
Living in Italy: A Life Well Lived
I suppose my Real Story About Moving to Italy started like so many others – I came here to study, and I found myself never wanting to leave. Since then though, I’ve met so many other expats who’ve moved to Italy for work, for love, for a year to see what it was like but who, 18 years on, couldn’t imagine living anywhere else. For me, I put this down to the day-to-day life in Italy – the relaxed lifestyle, the way living life is prioritized. There is always time to stop for a coffee, to amble slowly down the street, and to say hello to a friend.
So many people tell me they wish they could move to Italy like I have.
If you’re one of those people, then you need to know that you can make that dream a reality!
Right now, you can sign up for the FREE WORKSHOP I’m hosting entitled “How to Move to Italy” (lol - right to the point!). I’ll share info on mistakes many expats make and some of the best suggestions to get you ready to move.
Sunday, November 1st. 2020 - at 11:00 am EST
Click the link below to register. But note, seats are limited!
(You’ll know how zoom works by now. Only so many people can get in…)
Have you moved to Italy and you’d like to share your experience? Sound off in the comments below! Or perhaps you have a question about My Real Story of Moving to Italy. Either way, I’d love to hear from you and read your comments.
