Anybody have in statistics on how many Americans are moving to Italy and how many are staying there? I lived in Italy for
two years, learned Italian and loved it.(Living in Italy) However most of my fellow Americans I was around in Italy did not
learn Italian and had little appreciation for Italy. Che peccato! Penso that the only way Americans or anybody else for that
matter can adapt to living in Italy is by learning the Italian language. You have to have a very open mind. Italian society
and American society sono molto diversi. Cultural shock gets most Americans and Brits everytime. Not to be negative ma e vero?!
You have to become bilingual and bicultural. Something Americans just aren't great at.

I'm not sure about others but I love it there. And I will definitely move there, if all goes well. I think perhaps it depends on what kind of lifestyle a person is looking for? You have to be open-minded and also, maybe, uninterested in materialistic or monetary excesses, since the Italian lifestyle is more about the simple things... I remember lots of American tourists kept complaining about how "boring" it was when I was there, but I couldn't get enough of it!

__________________
So long as men can breathe or eyes can see,
So long lives this,
And this gives light to thee.

Cara Vitabella, Sono completamente d'accordo con te. Mi sono innamorato dell"Italia. Vorrei vivere li.

Personally, the only culture shock I experience is when i return back TO the U.S. after i have been in Italy! And when I go to Italy I always feel this sense of relief, like, "I'm home again."
And THAT dear Villa, is precisely why I am making the big move there on July 20th!! I know you want to move there, too and all I can say is...anyone who sits down and looks at their life and thinks about it will always find reasons that could keep them here in the U.S. or wherever they are from. I learned that there is a point where, if you really really want to live in Italy, you just have to say you are going, and then work life around that. Nothing is insurmountable. And the last thing is, for myself, that way I look at life is that if it is meant to be, God will open the doors. As Mother Teresa once said, "I never worry about money. If there is a project that God really needs to be done, He will provide the means. Same thing about Italy, if it is His plan for you to live there, He will open the door for you, wide, and it will just be up to you to see the open door and to walk through it. Trust me.

Cara TangoBunny. Just think. There are people who will be born, live and die and never know the joy of living in Italy come noi.
At any rate keep us posted on your adventureous life in Italy. Would like to have a detailed report from you.

Per lo meno I plan on going to Italy every year per il resto della mia vita. Probably only have about 50 more year to live.
So that will be 50 times going to Italy. Forse I should just go live over there una volta per tutte.
.

I met most very happy and a few compaining Americans. Well, having money and friends in the area where you want to move should help a lot. ok I am Italian living in the US but I bought my house in Bosena north of Lazio near Tuscany and Umbria. I think it is great area, when I went there with Teresa for the writer seminar last October she said she is considering buying something there - She like not only the area but I think my friends...going there with something to do, somebody you know is already a plus. Maybe one day a few of us can move there, mr Villa so we finally argue about Berlusconi with good food an a glass of wine in front of us.

Suppongo I was around the wrong Americans or am I just being too hard on my fellow patriots.

At any rate I'll drink to that Paolo. Non vedo l'ora di andare
li. I can see it now. Sitting around the table speaking only in
Italiano eating great food and drinking a glass of Italian wine
in Tuscany/Umbria after a day of sight seeing. Do we really have
to even bring Berlusconi up?! LOL!

I agree with you. I'm only 19 though, but luckily I've figured out that I want to live my life in Italy early. All my studies revolve around that goal.

__________________
So long as men can breathe or eyes can see,
So long lives this,
And this gives light to thee.

I think Villa is right.
I've always heard Americans complaining about streets too small, places too small and crowded (especially restaurants), about trickyness of Italians and their incapability to speak English fluently. Once a friend of mine told me: "Why have you got so many old buildings ? You'd better keep the best 100 and drop down all the others". That's reasonable... but it wouldn't be Italy.

What makes Italy so special is its nostalgic atmosphere, and that wouldn't exist without those old buildings, the little imperfections (I call them beauties!), the little streets and back-alleys, teeny restaurants and cafes. I don't know, I guess it depends on a person's tastes. Many North Americans love extravagance, I mean it's part of the culture in a sense. Perhaps that's why they can't adapt to Italy's more modest lifestyle.

I also agree with Villa that language is imperative. I've been taking Italian lessons for 2 years now and I've got to admit, I'm lucky I know French. My knowledge in French has helped me a lot with Italian, since both languages are grammatically similar. It must be a lot more difficult for English-speaking people to learn, no? I'm not sure. Though learning it would be a big help because it will break cultural barriers and make Italy more enjoyable to them!

__________________
So long as men can breathe or eyes can see,
So long lives this,
And this gives light to thee.