No matter how organized you are, or how many times you’ve lived abroad, you’re never fully prepared for the culture shock that hits you when you first emigrate. Even moving to a relatively familiar country like Italy will involve an initial period of helplessness and solitude as you come to terms with your life as an expat.
When it comes to assimilating into, or at least coping with, the culture of a new country, it varies for each person how much time it takes before you feel like you’re at home. But if you take care of five essential preparations before your move, you’ll be able to hit the ground running when you arrive in Italy, making the whole process that much easier.
1. Visa: Make sure you have your visa squared away before you enter the country. While citizens of the United States and certain other countries outside of Europe can stay in Italy for up to 90 days, you will have to apply for a specific visa—whether for study, business, or work vacation—if you wish to live there on a long-term basis.
2. Wardrobe: Once you’re settled in Italy, you will want to go about blending in with the locals, and in order to do that you will need to dress well—possibly better than you’ve ever dressed in your life. First impressions are crucial in Italian relationships, and both men and women are expected to present themselves with class and elegance. This includes brand-name clothes and shoes, high-quality accessories, and cologne or perfume, plus makeup and jewelry for women.
3. Meals: Italy is understandably proud of its culinary history, and as such, much of their culture is dedicated to the gioie de la tavola, or “the joys of the table.” Meals in Italy are a ritual experience, to be shared with friends and family, and they are surrounded by a culture of etiquette and rules. For a start, if you ever have the good fortune to be invited to a family dinner, think about taking a gift for the hostess, such as a bottle of wine or a selection of Italian pasticcini cakes. Then be sure to compliment the food enthusiastically and often!
4. Gestures: Learn to talk with your hands. In Italy, entire conversations can be had without even opening your mouth. There are hundreds of gestures and facial expressions—ones of appreciation, exasperation, scorn, and sarcasm—that can subtly change the tone of the conversation, leaving the uninitiated baffled as to what’s really being communicated.
5. Language: The most fundamental preparation you can make for your trip to Italy, more important than all the rest of these, is of course to learn Italian before you go—you don’t need to be fluent, just to demonstrate that you’re willing to make an effort to learn your host country’s language. It will show that you have a great deal of respect and interest in their culture, plus give you an advantage in traveling, communicating, and going about your daily life there. It will help you appreciate your new home and make friends faster, and plus it’s considered by many to be the world’s most beautiful language—so why wait? Contact us at LanguageTrainers.com to get our expert advice on what Italian course would be best for you, or try our language level test and see for yourself.
Anna Snyder represents Language Trainers, which provides individually-tailored language training on a one-on one or small group basis worldwide. Language level tests are a free educational tool provided by Language Trainers.
FrankCanada says
You people make me laugh. Canada is a horrible place with drug abusing uninterested people. Waiting to die, is not my cup of tea. I imagine england is the same, from the footage of the 2011 london riot, and street beheadings that no one has the imagination to get alarmed about. Italy is the in a better position than any country in the world at the moment. The people that are leaving Italy are just German lovers, who will die working in a volkswagen cafeteria like all the pathetic jerrys. Italy will rise like nothing you have seen before. Goodbye ole blighty it was nice knowing you
Jim says
Frank, i dont know if you are actually living in Italy, but i too once had flames of optimism for italy versus the hollowed-out selfish consumerist society of where i am from, sydney, and what i observed/percvd in the US and other anglo countries. But after a few years in italy, i broken-heartedly admit a void of hope and that i have never seen a people talk and talk and talk and talk and talk and talk and talk and talk and talk and talk and talk and talk and talk and talk and talk and talk and talk and talk and talk and talk and do nothing and talk and talk and talk and talk and talk and talk and talk and wildly gesticulate and do nothing and talk and talk and talk, fck can they talk!!
Rita Kungel says
It seems that CJ has had a very nasty experience with his Italian life. I do agree that living in Italy is not at all the dream that many Americans/Brits have. Having lived here for almost 7 years, I am constantly telling my US friends and contacts who gush about how wonderful their 2 week vacation in Italy/Tuscany was and how lucky I am to live here, “It’s a fabulous place to vacation, but living there is a totally different story!” I have been fortunate because I came here with a spouse who had a well-paying job with the European Union and we have been able to make friends with other Europeans and learned to speak Italian fairly well. But I have had many disappointments and disillusion with my experience here and it has been difficult in many ways. Living in Florence I think is especially difficult as the people are jaded with the number of expats who move here to live out their Tuscan dream. We lived here for 4 years before we were invited into a Florentine home for a meal, with the exception of our landlords who are Italian/Romanian. In sum, I would not recommend anybody thinking to live here without considerable income, a social network, knowledge of Italian language and culture and a hell of a lot of patience.
Alex Roe says
Hi Rita – very sound advice on your part with which I 100% agree. Living in Italy is not always plain sailing unless you have lots of money and even then things can be complex.
Italy is indeed a fine place for a vacation but I’d recommend anyone considering moving here to think twice and the situation is worsening. Finding work here is likely to be hard if not impossible and even if you do, pay levels are often derisory or you’ll be asked to register for VAT – which is something to be avoided unless you understand exactly what you are letting yourself in for.
People’s experiences of life in Italy vary considerably – I know some who get by fine and others who find life here a struggle. I’m certain there are easier places to live.
Best,
Alex
jim says
CJ is spot on. Unless you have an independent source of substantial income forget italy. its collapsing. or maybe if you marry into the italian caste class you would be ok, with some property, contacts and support. but to make it on yr own… ouch, just put a belt around yr neck and hangyrself, because thats what you would be doing moving to italy.
Alex Roe says
Hi Jim,
Yes, CJ is right on the money. Italy is going downhill and unless you do have a very substantial source of income or are rich, it’s not a good country to live in. The lack of meritocracy and short sightedness are other factors which make Italy an extremely difficult place to live – just ask all those Italians who are leaving Italy – the good food and lovely landscapes are not enough to keep them here.
Unless you plan a move to Italy very carefully and have some cash for the many rainy days, go elsewhere if you want to try life abroad.
The situation may improve one day, but for now, Italy is spinning round in ever decreasing circles and fast heading for the plughole yet it does not realise it. Italy desperately needs good, honest, government, but it has not got it and looks as if it never will.
Yes, I’m being negative, but Rita would probably agree and so would many others.
Holiday in Italy – but only think about coming here to live if you fully appreciate how hard live in Italy can be.
Best,
Alex
From the continent says
Not difficult to guess ! Please don’t go away, Italy needs you critical sensibility .
From the continent says
Thank you for the lovely Christmas greetings, C.J. Could you please tell us from what country you come from ? We are all desperate to know where in this planet the heaven is placed…….
thank you
CJ says
From Italy of course.
Don’t you recognise it from my description ? Or do you wear rose tinted sunglasses all year round ?
CJ says
Welcome to ‘The Banana Republic of Italy’ !
I can think of a few better ones that those above.
Before you even think about moving to this Banana Republic consider these facts;
Fuel prices are extortionate.
Car insurance is extortionate.
Crumbling infrastructure, inefficient services, judiciary who are both incompetent and biased, high prices (because everyone here tries to rip everyone else off), huge pot-holes in the road and inefficient repairs, non payment of wages (up to 2 years on occasions), high tax, extortionate garbage disposal charge with garbage piling up in the streets, incompetent management, Police who care little for the law they are meant to uphold, and the list can go on.
As for the people ? It’s made quite obvious that they’re racist.
Anyone coming here from ‘rip-off’ Britain, think again ! I’m already plotting my escape from this s*** hole. Can’t arrive soon enough.