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Wed, 10/01/2014 - 04:34

I actually find many of the comments here to be quite funny, and I suspect that many of them reflect the same attitude I have seen among many Americans when traveling in Italy, that being a fair amount of dislike and even anger for the fact that Italy is not exactly like what they are used to. They want to see the sights and enjoy the food, but they want the people and their customs to be the same as back home.I lived in Italy for a number of years, was married to a local girl from Naples, and spent all of my free time with locals. What I have long said is that Italy is not just another country, it is another world. Until you come to appreciate that Italians think differently from what you are used to, you'll always have issues. Even then, and even as much as I love Italians, they can still be a very frustrating people. But then, what people aren't?As for thier driving? It can appear to be chaotic and as if italians simply do not care, but that is the farthest thing from the truth. There are rules that all Italians abide by, but they are not the rules a foreigner is going to know until they have spent enough time there, such as which intersections to go right through if the light is red, and which ones to slow down for or even stop at when the light is green.What needs to be understood about Italian drivers is that they do take it very seriously. For many of them it is a competition, a challenge, and even a sport. As for passing on the left, that is merely a reflection of how Italians treat all lines. When buying a train ticket at one of the small stations, the fact you are first in line doesn't automatically mean you will be served next. You have to have your money out and hand it to the cashier, otherwise someone else will step up beside you and get thier ticket first. Why would it be any different when driving?Now, it must be admitted that the Italian concept of safety is not the same as that for most of us in the Western world. The key to safe driving in Italy is to be completely aware of everything going on around you. Too many here in the States take quite a lot for granted when driving, often treating it as no more of a mental exercise than sitting at home in their easy chair. You simply cannot do that in Italy, unless you enjoy being cursed at and having others slam into the side of your car. And, to be even more safe, you have to drive aggresively. You have to show the other drivers around you that you know what you are doing, and when you want to change lanes or make a turn, you have to do it. If you dawdle around about it and look uncertain, they will know it and take advantage of it.Regarding modicasa's comment about letting someone in if they are ahead of you, he is partially correct. There is no requirement to let them in. It depends on how aggressive they are, how badly they want it, and how hard they are going to press for it. As for attempting to do so yourself, if you do not show absolutey that you want that space, an Italian is not going to give it to you. However, if the bumper of the other car is ahead of the bumper of your car and you collide, no matter who is in reality at fault, it legally will be your responsibility. In other words, if it happens behind your front bumper, you're not responsible for it. In all the years I spent living and driving in Italy, the single crash I had was my fault, due to following another driver too closely. Hardly an indictment of Italian driving.Lastly, driving in Italy is a dance. Complicated, yet a dance none the less. And as with all dances, you have to learn the rules.

Tue, 05/13/2014 - 19:11

If quality of healthcare is a major concern, then I would reccomend Rome or one of the large cities to the north. Unfortunately in southern Italy, La Camorra of Naples and the Mafia of Sicily syphon off a huge amount of the public funds sent that way, much of which includes monies for healthcare. Naples does have the Poloclinico, but even there, at least 20 years ago, the atmosphere was not what Americans are used to. No private rooms that have the feel of a nice hotel. I imagine though that the doctors, nurses, and the care they provide are world class. Just don't expect the amenities you get here.As far as organized crime, there is no reason to concern yourself with it. I have never heard of anyone who wasn't somehow involved being a target, unless they start a business, in which case they will likely be "asked" to pay protection money.One of the things I also tell everyone considering even traveling there is to be aware of crime. In Naples and Rome, and quite probably in the other large cities as well, pickpocketing is quite common. Pickpockets in Naples are often referred to as the most skilled in the world. The key is to be aware of it and take precautions. Keep any valuables you have on you in front pockets, and preferably wear clothes in which those front pockets are fairly tight and not easy for another person to reach into. Also, if you carry a purse, do not put the strap around your neck. It is not uncommon for someone to grab a purse and try to run off with it, sometimes resulting in injury. If you feel you must carry a purse or bag, have the strap over the shoulder on the same side of your body on which you carry it, and hold it close as opposed to letting it swing lose. It's best also not to wear watches or jewelry which appear expensive. I know to many this sounds unreasonable, but as long as you take the proper precaustions and stay aware, you rarely will have any problems. I know I never did in the total of nearly four years I lived there, nor during the month I spent there in 2011.If sun and being near the water is what you are looking for, then just about anywere along the coast is beautiful. I prefer the Naples area myself. To my mind the beauty there is unsurpassed. If a rural setting is more to your liking, then there are countless small mountaintop towns to chose from, and the cost of living in one of them will likely be less than on the coast or in one of the large cities. Casserta Vechia is a perfect example. Also, from the area of Naples on south, the climate is semi-tropical during the late spring and summer, and even in Winter never gets what I as a midwesterner would consider freezing. Cold, but much more tolerable than what we experience here.

Mon, 05/12/2014 - 17:49

Having the means of course is the first essential when deciding to live anywhere. Assuming that isn't at issue, my feeling is that choosing the place you want to spend the rest of your life is one of the most personal decisions you can ever make. As Americans, our attitude is often one of simply going where the work is and making the best of it whether we like it or not, or simply staying with what we are used to, such as where we grew up. But you're considering doing something far more profound and, yes, possibly more difficult and frustrating than anything you may have yet experienced. The question you need to answer, and feel strongly in your gut and in your heart, is whether the difficulties and frustrations are worth it.For myself, the answer is yes. I first went to Italy in late 1983 as a sailor in the US Navy when I was stationed in Naples, and I fell absolutely and completely in love with it. For no reason that I can explain, Italy fit this midwestern boy of 21 like a glove. And though I have only returned once in the last 23 years, the Naples area remains the one and only true home I have ever had. I should say at this point though that, having been married to a local and still being close to her family, speaking the language pretty well, and understanding as well as speaking a litte of the local dialect, the transition to actually residing in Italy would be much easier for myself than for many others. The most important point I believe, is that any country other than the one you grew up in, has to hold a place in your heart if you choose to live there. You have to be passionate about it, or the frustrations will likely prove eventually to be too much. The decision should not be based on a whim, or a fantasy of how wonderful it will be. Judging by your questions though, I feel safe in saying that is not the issue for yourself. You're worried about the very real difficulties. Once again, if you have spent enough time in Italy that you have also fallen in love with it, the people, the language, and the culture, then most definitely go for it.Some suggestions: Though there is nothing wrong with making friends and spending time with English speaking expats, be aware that in the long run that won't necessarily help you with your long term transition. The less need you have to speak Italian, the longer it will take you to learn if you don't already speak Italian, and the less likely that you will ever speak it like a native. Make friends with the locals. They are the ones from whom you will learn the true meaning of what it is to be Italian and not just a foreigner living in Italy. Also, expats, in my experience, tend to feed off each other's negative feelings about their new home, constantly rehashing the difficulties instead of the joys. Of course, there are also the ones who absolutely love Italy and would not choose to live anywhere else. Find them if you can. Their positive attitudes and experiences will help you to better understand Italians and the way they do things.Lastly, be aware that Italy is not just another country, it is another world. Italians even reason differently than Americans. Learn to understand, and truly appreciate that, and you will be well along your way to making Italy your home, not just the place where you live. Even then though, for those of us from countries primarily influenced by northern European cultures, Italians can at times prove to be the most frustrating of people. I for one wouldn't have it any other way and look forward to someday making Italy my permanent home.