I long had a dream of living in Italy. Well, show me an Anglo-Saxon who hasn't and I'll show you one whose dream is to play golf for eternity in Naples, Florida. Know what I mean?
Now that I've been in Italy a lot -- a lot -- in all seasons of the year, including the winter when everyone pulls down the blinds and hovers around a kitchen stove to keep warm, still wearing a bulky sweater or a quilted coat, I can tell you that I'm not so sure about this...
It isn't just that the houses are cold and it costs a fortune to heat them.
It isn't just that you aren't really accepted because you're a foreigner and you lack the family and lifelong contacts that are essential to getting by in this country.
And it isn't just that the dollar is so pathetically weak that you'd like like a pauper unless you are trust-fund rich.
It's that there's nothing to do in nearly every city and town of this country. Nothing. No family, no lifelong friends? Forget it. You're going to spend a lot of your days sitting in coffee bars by yourself, reading your Blackberry or the London Times from last week. The towns roll up the sidewalks soon after dark. You'd better like horrifically bad TV with the same hosts recycled a dozen times a week, or you'd better find a good dealer.
Unless you have a family and lifelong friends, in which case you can never escape them and talk about something new after 20-30 years. Or:
Unless you can afford to live in Rome, of course. Now I know why all roads lead there. The Pantheon! Jesus, I love Rome! Roma Aeterna!)
That said, I must admit that I don't miss New York City or the USA. I do miss my own bed and my own computer.
I love Italy but with now-opened eyes.
Maybe I'd be happy here if I bought one of those woolen caps like the old men in Ireland wear (and in Italy) and wore a too-short lined raincoat and drove a teeny little car. With my cap on. And if I went up to traveling Yanks and said, "I used to live in Akron, Ohio! Do you know Natale Sofferenza?" Then my whole life could revolve around lying in wait for Americans and boasting about America's superior air conditioning...
Interesting. When I moved to southern France (close to Italy) 19 years ago from Canada, it was supposed to be a 3-year intermediate step before moving back to the home country. I am still here!
When you have lived elsewhere, somehow the dream of going back is best kept at that, a dream... Italy's politics (left or right) are revolting, the health system is backward, and RAI makes Libyan TV look slick (I leave my comments on the Berlusconi channels to your imagination...) - so as long as you are healthy, you don't care for TV and you are not inclined to vote what TV orders you to vote, Italy is paradise and you would want to go there as often as you can, but then... go home! :-)
Posted by: Mike Tommasi | March 19, 2008 at 07:59 AM
win the lottery, then live in rome.
there, ive solved all of your problems.
Posted by: Mo | March 19, 2008 at 08:22 AM
Ken is completely with you, Mike. He says France is much easier to live in. I'd agree but...my French sucks.
Posted by: TH | March 19, 2008 at 08:29 AM
There are enough foreigners living in Italy already and they've made life expensive and brought backwards values to us. Vai a casa.
Posted by: matteo | March 19, 2008 at 09:19 AM
Ho meritato il tuo dispiacere, Matteo. Giusto. Ma due cose ...
1. Tanti Italiani mi dicono le stesse cose che ho dette io, eccome.
2. Valori arretrati ne avete abbastanza Made in Italy.
Finalmente, amo l' Italia quanto New York. Ma anche l'amante dev'essere criticata ogni tanto.
Posted by: TH | March 19, 2008 at 10:46 AM
Good post Therry.
To live in Italy you have to be equipped. Patience equipped, smartness equipped and a thick bear hair on your stomach.
Than you can mangae living in italy.
;-)
Bye, Fil.
Posted by: Filippo Ronco | March 19, 2008 at 07:51 PM
Whaaaaat is this! *gasps*
There is nothing to do BUT drink lots of wine and write about it... is that not living?!
No, no, you're quite right, the television is abysmal, every day my heart jumps into my mouth as I'm nearly knocked down by a speeding moped, the bureaucracy is something else but, the food, drink, people, pace of life and scenary ALMOST make up for it.
If your job was to live in Florence and drink wine all day you could live with it though right? Envy.... me..... Never!
Posted by: Sarah Newton | March 20, 2008 at 10:46 AM
Matteo sono daccordo che diffusione dei valori "defficenti" non arrichiscono l'eccelente cultura Italiano. Ma due cose..Primo questo e una realta sociale della globalizzazione e non e la colpa degli stranieri abitano in Italia. Secondo..Possedendo una cultura cosi ricca, profonda e forse piu bella del mondo, perche voi Italiani non limitate diffusione dei questi valori soppratutto tra giovani e invece promuovete i vostri valori tradizonali? Perche tutti ragazzi sulle strade sono vestiti come gli hip hop singers???? Secondo me anche quello "non me ne frega" attagiamento e una realta sociale in Italia e contriubisce al tuo disagio.
Posted by: Feridun Onurmen | March 20, 2008 at 11:41 AM