I know that this question has gone around and around a few times on the forum but I thought I would ask again for my own specifications.

My husband and I will be visiting Italy and looking around at different areas as to where we want to live. What is your favorite place to live in Italy? And why? Where would you suggest a good place to live in the beginning...granting..my husband works in IT and would need to work (but possibly may be working in London when we first move and forced to be away during weekdays) :(

I'm not to fussed about myself working but if I did I would possibly want to teach English or work in community work if I could as that is what I do at the moment! :D

We are also concerned about the colour of my skin. I have read heaps about discrimination and racism...any comments? :eek:

Our Italian friends have given us much advice as well as where they think we should live..which is helpful since they know what type of people we really are..but I believe they are a bit bias in some ways to suggesting their own home town(does that make sense)most advise otherwise we have been given was to live in the North because of a better opportunity for my husband, but for some reason I have an interest for Tuscany...but have been warned to that the south is harder to live in if you have dark skin..is this true or speculations! I hate to generalize..just wondering where the truth in this lies!

We are mostly drawn to the countryside as well as beaches..as we live on a beach at the moment. The areas we are most interested in at the moment are Genova, Tuscany and Bologna. Anyone in these areas?

It would be helpful to hear from people who have dealt with some of these issue upon moving or even the long term visitor...

ps....anyone run a B&B..I'm interested by that as well!!!

Pheeewww ! Feel like I have asked a million questions! :p
ciao!

Hi Jessabella

My wife and I are in Tuscany by the sea and love the area. It really depends on what you and your husband are looking for in terms of social life and work (would your husband be able to work from home if he's in IT?).

The south is probably cheaper for property, although the north has more employment. If you want any specific info for around this (Livorno/Cecina) area please ask, and if I don't know, I'll try to find out. Others I'm sure, will help with the north and the south.

I haven't seen any evidence of racism at all (certainly not for skin colour, as any prejudice on the news seems directed at other EU countries whose expats are seen to be responsible for comparitively more crime in relation to their percentage of the population). I'm surprised about the advice you have been given about the south - I worked for an Indian in the UK who owns a house in Sicily, and he said it was the only place in Europe where the residents were darker skinned than he was, and he had no problems at all.

If you are able to visit for a while, I'd narrow your search down to as few different places as you can, then spend as long as possible in each to see what you think.

Good luck!

( Note I added a Title to Markymark post Because I think the suject is important )
Razism in Italy : I think we should make a full thread out of this subject since I assume there are several opinions - Anyway when I grew up I always heard Italians critisizing Americans for being razist however Italy had no black so it was easy just to critisize. Now I believe there is some level of razism.
It might not be the skin color however: If you are black professional you will be treated as a professional ( I think ) - However there are many blacks immigrants now with no real job and they are not treated equally - So if your husband is a black IT professional I don't think there will be any more issue in Italy than any other country. For me each society has its own level of razism against minority so I cannot say Italy it will be 100% razism free ...but I think it will be no worse than any other place in Europe and after a while I assume you will integrate pretty well. I am not politician so I tried to be honest in my answer !

My two cents from traveling in Italy recently. My wife and I traveled in Venice, Rome, Naples and through Pompei with another American couple who happen to be black. I can honestly say as tourists, I witnessed no discernable discrimination or racism.
James

( Note I added a Title to Markymark post Because I think the suject is important )
Razism in Italy : I think we should make a full thread out of this subject since I assume there are several opinions - Anyway when I grew up I always heard Italians critisizing Americans for being razist however Italy had no black so it was easy just to critisize. Now I believe there is some level of razism.
It might not be the skin color however: If you are black professional you will be treated as a professional ( I think ) - However there are many blacks immigrants now with no real job and they are not treated equally - So if your husband is a black IT professional I don't think there will be any more issue in Italy than any other country. For me each society has its own level of razism against minority so I cannot say Italy it will be 100% razism free ...but I think it will be no worse than any other place in Europe and after a while I assume you will integrate pretty well. I am not politician so I tried to be honest in my answer !




Thanks for the comments..although my husband is not black..he is as white as it gets:D
we were just worried about my skin colour...I think the only place in Europe I haven't seen any racism is in London..but then again I was only there for 6 weeks!

all advice is appreciated!

I'm married with an american black woman.
We are actually living in the US and we didn't spend a lot of out time togheter in Italy.
My wife lived in Italy off an on (she studied there) for about a year before we moved to the US. When I told her about this post, she said that there is racism in Italy...there's racism in every country...but in Italy it's not about skin color, it has to do more with the country that you emigrate from. A black professional will assimilate more and be more accepted than say someone from Albania, or a Rom. Of course, this may be different in other regions...my wife lived in Florence and Milan, and she has traveled to many other areas in Italy.

I'm married with an american black woman.
We are actually living in the US and we didn't spend a lot of out time togheter in Italy.
My wife lived in Italy off an on (she studied there) for about a year before we moved to the US. When I told her about this post, she said that there is racism in Italy...there's racism in every country...but in Italy it's not about skin color, it has to do more with the country that you emigrate from. A black professional will assimilate more and be more accepted than say someone from Albania, or a Rom. Of course, this may be different in other regions...my wife lived in Florence and Milan, and she has traveled to many other areas in Italy.

Tell youre wife I said thanks for her comments! I agree there is some sort of racism in every country..although Ive only been to 5 other countries...there are various factors!

I’m living in Sicily since 2007 and I must say I think people around here are less racist then in Tuscany for example. Maybe it has to do with the fact that a lot of Sicilian families had to emigrate because of the poverty. Most of them weren’t really treated in a warm way in Germany or US.
I live in Balestrate ( a nice town on the see, 45 minutes driving from Palermo) and I work in Palermo at ISMETT. This hospital is part of the UPMC Pittsburg and we have a lot of American colleagues. They seem to be doing well here, enjoying the good weather and food. Palermo is a town full of life, with a lot of things to see and to do, good schools and warm people.
So I will suggest finding a job in Palermo and rent/buy a house close to the see.

Thank you for your suggestions.. I will have a look at the area!

I lived in Italy for 2 years many years ago with 4 black roommates. Traveled with my black friends all over Italy and Europe.
My friends and other black people I knew in Italy were free to marry Italian women. Many black service men married Italian
girls during and after WW 11. Franco Harris the great running back for the Steelers has an Italian mother that is black father
met in Italy. I saw Italian women even prefer black men. Can't believe it would change for the worse now.

In France there were famous American black singers of the 1920's 30's and 40's who lived
normal lives in France while America had seperate drinking fountains for blacks and whites.
France for example and probably Italy have never had laws against interracial marriage.

This is what the U.S. courts said about interracial marriage in the 1950's:

"Almighty God created the races white, black, yellow, Malay and red, and he placed them on separate continents.
And but for the interference with his arrangement there would be no cause for such marriages. The fact that he separated the
races shows that he did not intend for the races to mix."
Notice how they use God and reglion to justify their reasoning.

They also thought that different races had different types of blood
such as black blood and white blood. We know this to be bull sh*t now.

The American Melting Pot? Miscegenation Laws in the United States ...Laws prohibiting miscegenation in the United States date back as early as 1661 and .... Ultimately, the Court found the laws against interracial marriage ...
www.oah.org/pubs/magazine/family/cruz-berson.html - 29k - Cached - Similar pages

Mr. and Mrs. Loving (1996) (TV)I've known about the Loving case since I was a child, and I had some doubts ... with other users on IMDb message board for Mr. and Mrs. Loving (1996) (TV) ...
www.imdb.com/title/tt0117098/ - 47k - Cached - Similar pages

Mr. and Mrs. Loving (1996) (TV) - IMDb user commentsMr. and Mrs. Loving on IMDb: Movies, TV, Celebs, and more. ... So the Supreme Court was not being asked to "create" interracial marriage in the Loving case. ...
www.imdb.com/title/tt0117098/usercomments - 45k - Cached - Similar pages

dear jessabella

i think your fear of racism in italy is unfounded..
i too have the same fear as you before i came to study in Europe, so far i have lived in France, Spain and Italy (and now back in Italy)..and never had any big problems ..
in france though, i had some skinheads showing me the 'middle finger'insult but my french friends told me to just ignore it..

i think it really depends on how you treat the people around you, if you mix with the local and respect their culture, i think there will be no problem..

Thanks Ronald..you have helped me to feel better about our move...and thank you villa as well..you are always helpful!

Just my two cents! I am a black American male who lived in Italy for 3 years (1998-2001). I lived in Gaeta and Formia, which are two little towns on the coast between Naples and Rome. I cant remember one occasion where I felt discriminated against or out casted. To be honest, I found the Italians to be much more understanding and compassionate than the average American. I met and married my wife there. I had no troubles with being an interracial family there. I get more stares now that I live in the states than I ever did there. The only negative thing that I did see was that the Italians did not care for the Albanians or the gypsies. I think most of this was attributed, right or wrong to the perception of increased crime when they where in town. I remember when 9/11 happened that I could not walk down the street without someone stopping me and telling me how sorry they where for our loss. Well I can go on and on about my experiences there, but I hope this helps you some.

Tommy

Purchasing a home in Italy is different than purchasing a crackerjack box found in another country. A home in some :)countries has built-in obsolescence; a home in Italy is like purchasing a life. You are not purchasing a temporary cardboard box; you are purchasing a life, a lifestyle, something that lasts forever.
So you want to move too Italy, fantastic! you made the right decision. Italy is Life and Life without Italy is boring! I know you feel the same way, so I sold everything and moved to Italy. It was the best decision I had ever made… with no regrets. There was no way I was going to continue living on this planet without an injection of Italian culture and lifestyle. I love everything Italy has to offer food, climate, culture, religion, family, fashion, shopping, design, music, cars, movies, architecture, romance, sea, mountains, history, beauty the list goes on and on….
Italy was the first civilized world from the beginning of the Romans to a never ending beautiful race and I hope that all races come over to live in Italy.
Italy is one of the most enchanting countries in the world and possibly the most alluring of all, with more than its fair share of ravishing landscapes and stunning towns. As a location for a holiday, retirement or permanent home it has few rivals, and in addition to a wide choice of properties and generally good value for money, it offers a fine climate for most of the year. After having decided to buy a home in Italy, your first tasks will be to choose the region and what sort of home to buy. If you’re unsure where and what to buy,
Let me help you!
Salve
Frank Tarsitano
www.italysouth.org
The South of Italy: Villas for Sale & Rent

Hello Jessabella,
I am a black American Female living with my family in Tuscany. My husband is Italian, so I may be able to give you some pretty good information. Okay, some of the bad points. One of the things that shocked me the most was the number of black prostitutes in Italy. Because of our culture in America, we tend to feel ashamed when we witness things like this. However, you will get over it really quick. One of the things that I cannot stand and I believe it is caused by the color of my skin( I am lightskinned) is the problem of Italians staring. I notice that they don't seem to stare at some of the darkskinned Africans, they are a dime a dozen. However, as soon as the honey colored ambiguous other arrives, there is the ultimate curiosity, head to foot looks, and dirty looks. It drives me absolutely crazy. However, on another note, when I am with my son and we are casually strolling along in places like Rosignano, we have less of a problem. It leads me to believe that Mixed race couples Black female/white male combinations are not very common.
Outside of the staring, there are quite a few people from Brazil, Africa, Peru, Cuba and other places. As far as being comfortable is concerned. Make sure that when you arrive, you purchase a Combination washer/dryer or you may feel like screaming when you have to hang clothes out on the line to dry. As Americans, we like things convenient and fast, many of the Italians prefer to line dry so don't freak out!
Makeup: make sure that the foundation you use is available for ordering online. The darkest color foundation you will find is rose tint beige or light tan. Colors darker than that are virtually nonexistent. Flori Roberts delivers, and if you are desperate you can take a drive to Florence for Mac.
Clothing: Look out! I am a size 2 in America. I am 5'10 and 135 pounds. Yet, in many instances I have to purchase large
sizes.
Hair: If you need to purchase a relaxer kit, you also have to go online or have them sent. My recommendation is to have at least a two month supply of products available prior to your arrival. If you bleach or dye, you should not have a problem with basic brands like Revlon. There is a site called Afrocare that delivers to Italy from the UK. So register now! As far as stylist are concerned, the only black stylists are usually ones from Nigeria. However, sometimes their perception of hair may be different than what you expect. However, they are the ones to go to for braids and what not. Most of them are located in Livorno.
Clothes: One of my sons comments was, "mom, who put the glitter on the buffalo?" Depending on your style, you may have to search to find regular economical clothes, you will really feel comfortable in. Of course there are the world famous high end lines available but being a tourist and living here are two different animals. Most of the time, some of the French stores, have the hooks!
Books: Barnes and Nobles delivers
Language: Cyberitalian has an interactive course. Also, put a translator on your laptop that you can use to communicate until you have a command of the language.
Church: Almost all catholic, One historic synagogue and one Kingdom Hall in Rosignano.
Housing: Pretty descent housing prices. We live in Quercianella (please move here) and when we arrived, we lived in Rosignano Marittimo. I loved it there!
Once you arrive, you have one week to register with the questura at the police station, if you forget, you are taking a risk. You will need to obtain a permesso di sogiourno. I would read about the requirements.
Goodluck!

Miz,

Thanks for your suggestions and information...most helpful...although some of it does not apply to me as I am from Australia and the culture is very different than the US. Some of the things you speak of is very much the same here in Australia. I am lucky that I do not need to worry about hair stylist as I am the only one I trust in that area...:) since I change the colour and style so much to suit my crazy moods...I usually order professional products for hair and skincare online or in the salons.
I am use to the stares from people because of my skin colour..it doesn't bother me I suppose..Its natural here as they know I'm not African nor aboriginal either but curious to know where my parents are from....
We are looking to purchasing a flat in London next year as well so we will be traveling to and from the UK quite frequently so I should be able to keep myself stocked up and shop for clothing at leisure when I am there...However it is very disappointing about the sizing..I did expect that I would need to shop for clothing in the UK as my style is very different than most. I am a size 14 in Australia...I think that is a 10 or 12 in the US...so I figured there would be some sort of issue with that..
At the moment I am studying Italian (when I'm not being lazy)...and I plan to study an intensive course for 6 months in London before we migrate..so the hope is to speak a good bit of Italian before I go..as I would not want to move to Italy without speaking Italian...
where have you settled...please send messages more about the region you have decided to migrate to and why as I am very interested.

grazie ancora

I have been to Italy only one time in my life,that was two years a go,so i can say that i haven`t seen beautiful places like here.I was in Perugia,Assisi,Fano,Roma,Firenze,La Cascata delle Marmore Trieste.It was wonderful

My husband is a native born resident of Leghorn (livorno) who kidnapped me from New York. (smile)As I have stated before, I loved Rosignano Marrittimo. It reminds me of my childhood home in Long island, New York. It is very clean and cheery looking; the perfect suburb. However, there was a problem finding housing there because a lot of people like to spend summer vacations there. We had to move as a result of expecting a new baby! Currently, we live in Quercianella. It is also beautiful but because I am so far into the pregnancy, I have not been able to explore it and grow accustomed to the environment. Nevertheless, this area is also along the beach BUT there are a lot of trees! Loads of them, it is even more beautiful than Rosignano. This area is very quiet and perfect if one just likes to meditate and observe nature. I don't know how you feel about this but I have never seen more beautiful squirrels than I have in this area! I am serious! Some of the squirrels here are sable brown and some are red. In America, they are usually garden variety gray.
If you are into biking, or running there are loads of people in this area who have similar interests. Roberto Carvali has a couple of nice cafe's in the area. The medical community is very large here if you are in the field. My husband is a registered Nurse and I am a Registered Echocardiographer.
Also, for some reason I thought you were also American, I am sorry for my assumption in the previous post. I am also glad, you have already experienced the "stare" phenomenon. I am a actually American Indian, black and Irish. So although I am used to the curiosity, I am a native New Yorker and that is a problem because of the culture.

It is interesting that you mention the squirrels. My daughter-in-law's parents visited us from Poland last year and they were fascinated with our "garden-variety gray" squirrels as they had never seen any that color. I guess "garden-variety" is all relative to what one is used to.
Ha ha!

oh wow..squirrels ...I am so very excited as we do not have squirrels in Australia..I have seen many from living in America and well they are freaky..hahah..but I cant wait to see the Italian ones..sounds beautiful. It is defiantly hard to pinpoint a place to move in Italy..especially when you have not visited before.. I know that next year will be full of adventure after the next...whilst trying to determine the best area to settle. Hopefully we will bump into some of you fine people from the board...
ohh and CONGRATS on the new buba...when are you due..are did you have the baby already?
ciao

Hi jessabella......
Can't help with lots of your questions, but have been doing alot of research on the teaching English aspect, as that is what I'm aiming towards ..... there seems to be alot of temporary work around, (particularly in Verona, for some reason??), but check out a couple of TEFL websites to see what's currently available - I've found Cactus and i - i relly helpful.....they've got some good telephone advisors too.

Good Luck....hope it all works out!!

Vivien

Oh JEZZY dear, the color of your skin is a dark golden bronze delight--in Europe racism is not so-- no one cares about your skin, just give them your lovely smile.

Its the states that have this ever-dwelling shadow lurking--its only of their empty habitual thinking of past mishaps in history and all that brainwashing their unhealthy fathers passed to them--

One of my best friends was a black woman named MONA LISA. I lived with her for a year In Atlanta. She took me in when I had no place to go. I miss her. I wish I could find her..I love her like a sister--yes" that's what I said a sister everyone.

Then one day she allowed me to enter into her world, she told me how the world treated a woman like her. Like her? This world, it was so dark, so cruel --I needed to see this--because I cared for her. I saw how this thing called 'racism' really did breath, have a life of its own and how distructive it was. I would never have allowed sweet Mona to feel this way if I had the power.

All this for the one question you posted. Its because it ticked in me that feeling again that Mona had--'you dont know what its like to have to worry that your skin is the wrong color.'

I was happy she had skin--I didnt want to be a friend to a tinwoman.

I worked in Naples at the U.S. NAvy base there where there is a very large American population, a lot of them black as well as in Sigonella, Sicily. There is also an Army base up north , so in these areas the locals are used to seeing blacks, although as someone stated there are those who come in from other countries and placed in situations of human trafficking, i.e. prostitution.
A very good friend of mine in Naples(Lago Di Patria), she was a large black woman, liked to go for walks in the evening by herself, she would come home and tell me that she was propositioned by some young Italian men. In her humor, she asked why those crazy young men would be interested in a fat ,sweaty black woman!? They had to be pozzo!
There is predjudice everywhere. My oldest daughter has adopted a wonderful little boy from Ethiopia. Do we get stares when we take our grandson out, absolutley , but they will get over it and I hope you will too.

Life is too short to worry about it. Enjoy Italy for all it's worth!

Dan

Hello Jessebella! Please excuse my absence. I am nesting now. My little girl is due on July 5 and I am both nervous and happy. I am actually nervous about giving birth in a foreign country. I hope that doesn't sound bad. I realize they have some of the best doctors in the world in Italy, the system is just different than what I am accustomed. I am also having these fears of having my baby switched which is irrational but it actually almost happened in America with my first born. When my son was born he was very blond and very light skinned. In all actuality, he looked and still looks the spitting image of my father. However, I am considerably dark skinned. The mix up came when I left my bundle of joy with the nurse so that I could shower. Well, there was a shift change so when I approached the desk, there was a nurse who decided to match me with a golden brown baby. When I protested, she said oh well there are no more B----. Before she could get the words out, I had to embarrass her by saying, "Yes, You do that white looking baby right in the corner is mine!"
Just imagine! So now I am re-experiencing the fear again. Anyway, when are you going to move to Italy? Have you decided on a locality? I am really starting to like Quercianella. We have been here since March and it is really pretty and I am finding that it is diverse. Just a promo for my town.

A black friend of mine is the only black set builder in all of
Hollywood. Says it's really hard to get into. Is he bitter, yes. Do I blame him, no.

See this movie. It's really good.

The Great Debaters

The Great Debaters is a 2007 film directed by two-time Academy Award winner Denzel Washington and produced by Oprah Winfrey's
Harpo Productions. The film is based on an article written about the Wiley College debate team by Tony Scherman for the '97
Spring issue of American Legacy[citation needed]. Denzel Washington stars alongside Forest Whitaker, Kimberly Elise, Denzel
Whitaker, Nate Parker , Gina Ravera, and Jurnee Smollett. The screenplay was written by Suzan-Lori Parks and Robert Eisele.
The film was released in theaters on December 25, 2007.

The film, loosely based on a true story, revolves around the efforts of debate coach Melvin B. Tolson (Denzel Washington) at
historically black Wiley College to place his team on equal footing with whites in the American south during the 1930s, when
Jim Crow laws were common and lynch mobs were a pervasive fear for blacks. In the movie, the Wiley team eventually succeeds to
the point where they are able to take part in a debate with Harvard University.

The movie also explores the social milieu of Texas during the Great Depression including not only the day-to-day insults and
slights African Americans had to endure, but also a lynching. Also depicted is James L. Farmer, Jr. who, at 14-years of age,
was on Wiley's debate team after completing high school (and who later went on to co-found C.O.R.E., the Congress of Racial Equality).
According to the Houston Chronicle, another character depicted on the team, Samantha Booke, is based on the real individual Henrietta
Wells, "the only female member of the 1930 debate team from Wiley College who participated in the first collegiate interracial debate
in the United States." Melvin B. Tolson also happens to be a major African American poet whose papers are housed at the library of Congress.

Villa, Jessabella began this thread in order to gauge responses about racism in Italy for a potential move to Italy. She is from Australia. As far as racism in America is concerned, being a light skinned black woman who is in her thirties. I was born way after slavery and the Jim crow era. I was also born in New York. It is a part of history. I learned about it but there was no reason for me to internalize hatred based on something I personally did not experience. However, as a woman who was in a technological field in which one there weren't many people period because most people hate physics and I was one of very few people of color, I have personally experienced racism. However, I can't raise a fist and proclaim hatred of whites because I have had incidents with both whites and blacks. I grew up in an all black community and because I did not look like the other children, I was spat on and fought everyday. I went to an all white college and had epithets screamed at me from cars. I served in the military and was ostracized by my black peers because I was socially, "not black" enough and by my white peers because they assumed that I was the embodiment of long held stereotypes. This is why I am in Italy. Now grant it, things are not always peachy keen here. I get intrusively stared at every time I leave the house. However, it is very common for not only light skinned black women but also blond white women to be stared at in Italy and yes, that is uncomfortable. Especially if they assume that one is a Russian or Brazillian prostitute and one is subjected to being followed and cat called. However, that is more of an ethnic bias. It can be frightening. However, I too made an assumption that she was American as well. As far as the bitterness of your friend, it only kills you. One can remain angry at the system, angry at individuals and angry at God for creating ones color, However, when it is internalized it, it will eventually express itself. I found myself becoming very bitter in America and I began to experience daily headaches. My neck would freeze and I could not turn my head. I was easily distracted and I began to lose interest in interacting with others. Some people externally express internalized bitterness and they turn on those around them. Thus, an expression of violence within communities and outwardly to innocent people who happen to look differently. Some of the movies today are made with the intent of garnering an emotional response. Although it is history, what good is presenting a movie about racism, slavery, Jim crow, etc when the many potential viewers have not healed from internalized hatred. What ends up happening can be likened unto a PTSD flashback, and people tend to relive the moment by way of being re-traumatized.All it takes is one hint of something that reminds one of a personal incident and sometimes people lash out at others without realizing. Historical lessons about life need to be presented by impartial educators so that they may encourage dialogue and ensure learning. This is the reason for America failing to move beyond it's race problem. All of these emotional rants and presentations are being presented to a public who has not learned to value differences and think objectively.

[QUOTE=jessabella;10485]oh wow..squirrels ...

Squirrel, that was one of the first Italian words I learned, scoiattolo, I don't know why but it sort of rolls off the tongue.

Wow, that's different. The first word I learned was schifoso which is another word for nasty: That sort of rolls off the tongue as well.

Villa, Jessabella began this thread in order to gauge responses about racism in Italy for a potential move to Italy. She is from Australia. As far as racism in America is concerned, being a light skinned black woman who is in her thirties. I was born way after slavery and the Jim crow era. I was also born in New York. It is a part of history. I learned about it but there was no reason for me to internalize hatred based on something I personally did not experience. However, as a woman who was in a technological field in which one there weren't many people period because most people hate physics and I was one of very few people of color, I have personally experienced racism. However, I can't raise a fist and proclaim hatred of whites because I have had incidents with both whites and blacks. I grew up in an all black community and because I did not look like the other children, I was spat on and fought everyday. I went to an all white college and had epithets screamed at me from cars. I served in the military and was ostracized by my black peers because I was socially, "not black" enough and by my white peers because they assumed that I was the embodiment of long held stereotypes. This is why I am in Italy. Now grant it, things are not always peachy keen here. I get intrusively stared at every time I leave the house. However, it is very common for not only light skinned black women but also blond white women to be stared at in Italy and yes, that is uncomfortable. Especially if they assume that one is a Russian or Brazillian prostitute and one is subjected to being followed and cat called. However, that is more of an ethnic bias. It can be frightening. However, I too made an assumption that she was American as well. As far as the bitterness of your friend, it only kills you. One can remain angry at the system, angry at individuals and angry at God for creating ones color, However, when it is internalized it, it will eventually express itself. I found myself becoming very bitter in America and I began to experience daily headaches. My neck would freeze and I could not turn my head. I was easily distracted and I began to lose interest in interacting with others. Some people externally express internalized bitterness and they turn on those around them. Thus, an expression of violence within communities and outwardly to innocent people who happen to look differently. Some of the movies today are made with the intent of garnering an emotional response. Although it is history, what good is presenting a movie about racism, slavery, Jim crow, etc when the many potential viewers have not healed from internalized hatred. What ends up happening can be likened unto a PTSD flashback, and people tend to relive the moment by way of being re-traumatized.All it takes is one hint of something that reminds one of a personal incident and sometimes people lash out at others without realizing. Historical lessons about life need to be presented by impartial educators so that they may encourage dialogue and ensure learning. This is the reason for America failing to move beyond it's race problem. All of these emotional rants and presentations are being presented to a public who has not learned to value differences and think objectively.

wow..that was a really long post..hahaha..
okay well I am Australia..but I actually lived in America as a child..so some of these things that you say..I know exactly what you are talking about..not being this and trying to be this way..that is what my life was like...and well I hated it because being yourself was never good enough...if that makes any sense..
I'm sure we will have a grand time if we ever met up...swap stories..and then walk down the street together..oh what the people in your town will think then! :p

"okay well I am Australia..but I actually lived in America as a child.."

Jessabella had told me a long time ago that she was from the U.S.
Atlanta, Georgia to be exact.

That is true..I hold citizenship in both countries. :cool:

very bad...becuase no work for professional computer feiled like me

so sorry to hear Che bello, I guess the one great blessing for us is not needing to work in Italy...but I hear there are some work you just have to be very good and keep an open eye...well very open eye for awhile.

Ok thanks bella..............what can i do now...where to look

I think Im the wrong individual to ask that..but its only what Ive heard from others.

Ok thanks bella..............what can i do now...where to look

have you tried looking with the agents like manpower or any other employment agents for work? if you have proper documents, i think you should not have the problem of lookng for work..and since you want to work in italy, fluency in both italian and english is a must..

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