Ciao tutti! I will be in Florence from 25-28 September, I am staying close to Ponte Vecchio. I see that there is the Carro Matto on 26th, & also an Anthony Gormley exhibition at Forte Di Belvedere that weekend.
Brands I experienced there were Illy, Lavazza, Kimbo, Toraldo....by cream coffee do you mean the cold ice cream like one? Caffe crema or something similar, not sure how it's made but it's delicious!
Ciao Colleen!Thank you once again for your detailed response and no problem with the delay, always good to take a break from technology now and again!I will check out the websites you've suggested, thank you! The more info the better, it's much appreciated. I'm currently using a combination of methods for picking up the language. I use Duolingo app for daily language exercises and this has helped me to recognise lots of random words and phrases in Italian. I had some beginners language lessons whilst in Tuscany on my recent break, and I've started a weekly lesson with an Italian teacher at home too. I did complete a basic language course about 5 years ago, with 12 weeks of lessons at college on Saturday mornings, but sadly I didn't put them to use or keep practising! I'm hoping through the Italian friends I made during my holiday, that I can converse with them and build upon my language skills. I find I can now translate lots of words, but I definitely need to build my confidence with speaking and listening skills. I think I will try to pick up a CD for the car, or perhaps a podcast to listen to on the train to/from work!I am meeting an Italian friend in 2 weeks time to get some more tips - he says he has some ideas about friends/family in Italy who may be able to help me with work/accommodation, which would be amazing! People are so helpful! I feel so much more relaxed and excited now I know I have time to set everything in place. Thank you again for your time and advice, I look forward to hearing more when you have time :DBuon pomeriggio!Grazie, Amy
Ciao Yurin, I am well thank you. I hope you are too & thank you for your reply. I will definitely look in to hostels/b&b. I have decided to aim for the end of March for my stay in Italy, this gives me time to find work, accommodation & save some money :) I shall certainly keep you updated of my arrangements. buongiornata, ciao
Wow, thank you Mario & Colleen for your responses. Mario - thank you for the information and offer to share, that would certainly save costs although I suspect you will be in a position to go sooner than I can! Especially with your job offer and language ability. I think realistically I'm looking at heading out to Italy in March 2016 now, as much as I'd love to just go now, I really need to make sure my finances are covered both here and in Italy. Colleen - your detail is superb, thank you! Really helpful! I have indeed heard of WWOOFing as I have some friends doing that very thing at the moment. Worth looking in to. And excellent info on the visas, and every day stuff like cards and phones, grazie mille! I have stayed in Italy before in a variety of ways - with friends, in hotels, in hostels and in campsites! So I'm flexible in that sense. And I agree bed and board with a job would be ideal as it's a couple less things to worry about. I currently a Legal Personal Assistant for a large insurance broker in London, working for 4 lawyers, and I have over 12 years experience in a secretarial capacity - from banking to law and insurance. If I could use my English skills then that would be great, but I am determined to improve my italian language skills before I make the move and a big part of living there would be to really build on it. I would also quite like to do something a little different to office work for a while if I can. While I'm in Italy I will hopefully have a lodger sub-letting my flat in the UK. I also need to cover my car finance and find someone to look after my cat - that could be covered by my lodger if I'm lucky! I have someone looking at the spare room today so fingers crossed if she says yes that's an instant saving on half my costs here. Today will be all about clearing out and ebaying to make a start on saving/making money.I am also meeting with a work colleague on Wednesday who used to work/live in our italian office (sadly we no longer have one otherwise I'd have enquired about a secondment!), there's also the chance that I'd be lucky enough to hear about a job through a few italian connections I've made but that's being really hopeful! So if I aim for end of March - unless a lottery win comes in before then which means I get to satisfy my impulsive impatient streak and go now! - that gives me 8-9 months to save money, find work and accommodation and make connections, and improve my italian language skills. Oh and to request a sabbatical from my current job. I have also been advised by friends living abroad that if I go to Italy I should make my stay 6 months minimum - apparently research has shown that 6 months gives you enough time to experience both the highs and lows of living abroad, and proves you can cope with both. So I would definitely need to establish how I work the visa thing in that case! Thank you again everybody, this is a really helpful site! Buongiornata!
Thank you for your reply - that's really helpful and I shall certainly look into those areas. I do make lots of craft stuff so that's something I can do from home and online, definitely work investigating. I've not limited myself to an area as yet, but one job has been mentioned to me at a yoga centre just outside of Rome which would possibly be on a seasonal contract from mid August to mid November, so it could be ideal!
Comments posted
Brands I experienced there were Illy, Lavazza, Kimbo, Toraldo....by cream coffee do you mean the cold ice cream like one? Caffe crema or something similar, not sure how it's made but it's delicious!
Ciao Colleen!Thank you once again for your detailed response and no problem with the delay, always good to take a break from technology now and again!I will check out the websites you've suggested, thank you! The more info the better, it's much appreciated. I'm currently using a combination of methods for picking up the language. I use Duolingo app for daily language exercises and this has helped me to recognise lots of random words and phrases in Italian. I had some beginners language lessons whilst in Tuscany on my recent break, and I've started a weekly lesson with an Italian teacher at home too. I did complete a basic language course about 5 years ago, with 12 weeks of lessons at college on Saturday mornings, but sadly I didn't put them to use or keep practising! I'm hoping through the Italian friends I made during my holiday, that I can converse with them and build upon my language skills. I find I can now translate lots of words, but I definitely need to build my confidence with speaking and listening skills. I think I will try to pick up a CD for the car, or perhaps a podcast to listen to on the train to/from work!I am meeting an Italian friend in 2 weeks time to get some more tips - he says he has some ideas about friends/family in Italy who may be able to help me with work/accommodation, which would be amazing! People are so helpful! I feel so much more relaxed and excited now I know I have time to set everything in place. Thank you again for your time and advice, I look forward to hearing more when you have time :DBuon pomeriggio!Grazie, Amy
Ciao Yurin, I am well thank you. I hope you are too & thank you for your reply. I will definitely look in to hostels/b&b. I have decided to aim for the end of March for my stay in Italy, this gives me time to find work, accommodation & save some money :) I shall certainly keep you updated of my arrangements. buongiornata, ciao
Will do, thanks Mario! Buonanotte! :)
Wow, thank you Mario & Colleen for your responses. Mario - thank you for the information and offer to share, that would certainly save costs although I suspect you will be in a position to go sooner than I can! Especially with your job offer and language ability. I think realistically I'm looking at heading out to Italy in March 2016 now, as much as I'd love to just go now, I really need to make sure my finances are covered both here and in Italy. Colleen - your detail is superb, thank you! Really helpful! I have indeed heard of WWOOFing as I have some friends doing that very thing at the moment. Worth looking in to. And excellent info on the visas, and every day stuff like cards and phones, grazie mille! I have stayed in Italy before in a variety of ways - with friends, in hotels, in hostels and in campsites! So I'm flexible in that sense. And I agree bed and board with a job would be ideal as it's a couple less things to worry about. I currently a Legal Personal Assistant for a large insurance broker in London, working for 4 lawyers, and I have over 12 years experience in a secretarial capacity - from banking to law and insurance. If I could use my English skills then that would be great, but I am determined to improve my italian language skills before I make the move and a big part of living there would be to really build on it. I would also quite like to do something a little different to office work for a while if I can. While I'm in Italy I will hopefully have a lodger sub-letting my flat in the UK. I also need to cover my car finance and find someone to look after my cat - that could be covered by my lodger if I'm lucky! I have someone looking at the spare room today so fingers crossed if she says yes that's an instant saving on half my costs here. Today will be all about clearing out and ebaying to make a start on saving/making money.I am also meeting with a work colleague on Wednesday who used to work/live in our italian office (sadly we no longer have one otherwise I'd have enquired about a secondment!), there's also the chance that I'd be lucky enough to hear about a job through a few italian connections I've made but that's being really hopeful! So if I aim for end of March - unless a lottery win comes in before then which means I get to satisfy my impulsive impatient streak and go now! - that gives me 8-9 months to save money, find work and accommodation and make connections, and improve my italian language skills. Oh and to request a sabbatical from my current job. I have also been advised by friends living abroad that if I go to Italy I should make my stay 6 months minimum - apparently research has shown that 6 months gives you enough time to experience both the highs and lows of living abroad, and proves you can cope with both. So I would definitely need to establish how I work the visa thing in that case! Thank you again everybody, this is a really helpful site! Buongiornata!
Thank you for your reply - that's really helpful and I shall certainly look into those areas. I do make lots of craft stuff so that's something I can do from home and online, definitely work investigating. I've not limited myself to an area as yet, but one job has been mentioned to me at a yoga centre just outside of Rome which would possibly be on a seasonal contract from mid August to mid November, so it could be ideal!