Going forward, my ItalyWise blog will be dedicated primarily to the Italian culture and language.
I know that already I’ve presented quite a bit about the culture and language. But I feel as though I’ve only begun to scratch the surface. AND, I’m increasingly concerned that many people considering making Italy their home don’t realize how inextricably the culture and language are intertwined and how knowledge and competency in both are essential to a rich experience here. Too many people, in my opinion, come to Italy and tote along most of their homegrown habits and don’t do the work (yes, it can be exhausting) to learn and reach a competent level of the language and integrate themselves into the Italian ways of life.
My ItalyWise blog no longer will include immigration issues.
This means anything relating to obtaining visas, permessos, and citizenship. I am not an immigration expert and much has changed since I landed in Italy eight years ago. The lion’s share of inquiries I’m receiving are about a myriad of issues pertaining to immigration—so much in fact that I’ve taken a step back, realizing I’m out of my depth in a topic for which people need expert answers. Believe me, I know the frustrating experience of trying to find thorough, clear, and dependable sources of information on this most fundamental aspect of moving to Italy long-term. I feel your pain.
The same goes for working/business issues in Italy, personal finance, and tax issues. For the latter I offer one simple piece of advice: Employ the expert and indispensable counsel of qualified accountants in both one’s home country and in Italy.
Leaning into the topics that bring me joy.
Don’t hit me for borrowing from Marie Kondo, but I AM taking much of her advice to heart. I’ve stubbornly resisted saying that I’m retired, but not anymore. I’m ready to indulge myself with the topics for which I have the greatest passion.
My ItalyWise blog will include more about the Italian language.
I’m working with an Italian language expert (and native speaker) to provide even richer content. And should you be desirous of making a beeline to real competency in speaking, writing, and reading in Italian, this teacher will be available for one-on-one online instruction. Stay tuned!
And, be sure to check out my ItalyWise YouTube Channel to get some language pointers!
More food, wine, and daily living.
This means loads of food and wine posts. I’ll be hitting every cantina and enoteca that I can in order to help point you to the best wines. I’ll be seeking out the best food artisans—people whose love and passion for their craft are their driving force.
I’ll be diving more into the more interesting aspects of Italy’s history, and its long and winding road of development. I’ll even delve more into the Italian government, though one can get whiplash trying to keep up the mercurial political loyalties of Italians.
Everyday living (including getting a driver’s license and navigating the healthcare system), customs, and mindsets remain worthy of copious posts.
Personal musings will continue.
Moving the entirety of one’s life to Italy, as does any major life change, can take a person on quite the journey of self-discovery. On the ItalyWise blog, I write about my experience not only as a public and therapeutic form of journaling but also as a way to share what other people might be in for. In writing such posts I don’t expect everyone to relate or to say that my experience is universal. Maybe a small part of what I share will resonate with you and help you to know that even a person who is thriving in Italy has had to surmount some obstacles while landing in some potholes along the way.
Lastly, and certainly not least, my art and photography.
I love speaking through my painting and with the images that I capture with my camera. Expect loads more!
A housekeeping note
I will be moving the aforementioned topics that are going bye-bye to an ItalyWise blog archive section. They will be housed there for reference only with the disclaimer that much of the information contained in the post may be dated.
Thanks for continuing on the journey with me!
More italian culture/language notes is music to my hears! Sto imparando adesso!
I’m working on it with enthusiasm!
I admire you for cleaning house; lightening the load. You are correct about immigration and tax issues. People really do need to consult the experts. It can get very complicated.
I am interested in obtaining a minimum of B1 Italian language proficiency because I do hope to obtain citizenship in the not too distant future. And this is the new requirement—since about 2018. So please increase language learning on this site. Much appreciated.
Grazie!
Thank you, Pamela, for your encouraging words. I’ll definitely be ramping up the language component, including helpful resources! Jed
Wonderful that you made the choice to follow your “Joy”! I look forward to your joy filled adventures!
Thanks so much, Michele. Hopefully, my joy will inspire others!
Sono pronta!!!!
Tammy, it’s always great to hear from you! I’m excited to learn more heavily in this direction! Bacioni!
Bravo Jed! I think that this will be a great enjoyable focus for you and all of us! I remember as we were buying a home in Umbria 13 years ago and would run into others who were doing the same thing … at first virtually everyone said the same thing “I really have to learn the language now!” … but then we found that quickly people would break into two distinctly separate groups … one group became the “I found out I don’t have to learn the language much … yippie” (this was the group who concluded that they could find enough expats to hang around with that they could figure out how to get things done and exist by speaking English with English speakers) … the second group however was even more passionate and became the “I can’t wait till I can speak the language better/fluently” and this was the group that figured out early on that without both curiosity and language skills that one can’t truly experience the culture nor have the relationships with the locals that are so, so rich in Italy. We spend about 20 weeks a year in Italy and we have so many more in-depth relationships with people in Italy now than we do in the U.S. … We still love the USA and our friends here, but for us the cultures are so different between our life in the USA and our life in Italy … in the USA, people are always on the go … in Italy, we way that people have time for other people … in our village, we don’t call each other on the phone, we sit with them on the bench in the piazza or we knock on their door and go up for a coffee and a visit … we don’t start our days in Italy with a long list of things to do, we start are day going down the bar for a coffee and see what’s going on that day .. who needs a hand with something, and the serendipity that happens after that is unpredictable and magical … Anyhow, as you know Jed, you are going to focusing on the essence of Italian life … they aren’t “observations” that you’ll be sharing with people but “experiences” that make Italian life oh so magic for those who invest the time to learn the language to the depth that allows the true human connections with magical people. Thank you .. I look forward to following your posts …
Ciao Marty! I LOVE what you wrote and how you so eloquently articulated the importance and benefits of participating FULLY in the culture. Un-rushed conversations over coffee and meals are goldmine of resonate experiences. Italians are so aware and appreciative of expats who’ve taken the time to learn the language and culture. I hear, time and time again, how they see this as proof of respect—-so important to unlocking the doors to a beautiful, integrated life. Thanks for writing! Jed
Great post Jed!!
I greatly look forward to the topics you will be writing about.
Quite looking forward to hearing about Liguria.
Best, Robin
As always, Robin, grazie mille for cheering me along! 😘
My husband and I moved to Italy in November 2020 (during the worst of winter and the “pandemia”). No regrets!
I hope we get a chance to meet you someday.
We will continue to delight in reading your blog.
Hi Marina, Congrats on making the move and for the tenacity you surely must have displayed to do this in such a challenging year. Thank you for your encouragement and I, too, hope we can meet one day. Let me know when you find yourselves in Liguria! Jed