An expat's views on life in the United States in the Covid-19 era

Can you briefly introduce yourself'

My name is Diego, and I am 29. I'm from Tregnago, a small town nestled in the hills not far from Verona. It's been a little over two years that I left Italy.

What brought you to the United States'

Since 2013, I have decided to travel abroad at least once every three years. I have always wanted to explore the world. This passion led me to my very first adventure in Australia. I then began to understand how the world is outside of Italy and Europe. In 2016, I went on an adventure in Cambodia -- thanks to which I discovered a completely different lifestyle.

In October 2018, when I started planning my new trip, I got a call from a friend that I had not heard in several years since he had moved to the US. You can call that luck. Between past memories and the latest updates, he told me about a position that was available at the US headquarters of the company I work for. After several interviews, I secured a temporary job in the US office with the transfer scheduled for 2019.

Why did you choose Atlanta'

It's mainly because the company's headquarters are located in Woodstock, Georgia. Living in Atlanta allows me to get to the office in 10 minutes only, and it only takes half an hour to get to downtown Atlanta, depending on the traffic. In addition, Atlanta is 5 minutes from the lake and is surrounded by nature.

Has the pandemic had an impact on your job'

I work as a designer and programmer of robots for industrial automation, and I provide technical assistance as an electrical engineer for the operation of large industrial machines for printing. Since it is mainly about food package printing, the pandemic has hardly affected my workplace. In any case, the neighborhood has never really been in a state of crisis. Other than stores opening for limited hours and the compulsory wearing of masks, we have hardly had any issues.

The only major problem, currently, is the travel restrictions. I haven't been able to return to Italy to visit my parents yet.

Last year, the United States experienced a historical turn from Trump's presidency to that of Biden. As an expatriate, what are your views on the current situation'

We were mainly expecting the Green Card application process to get more flexible and straightforward, but this hasn't been the case, probably due to the pandemic.

Was it hard to make new friends when you arrived in the US'

It seems more difficult to establish real friendships here compared to Italy. Regarding the new friends I made here, I would rather call them “one shot” friendships. It's more about people who become great friends for a day and then disappear. My only long-term friends here are a bunch of Italians and Hispanics. Regardless of your nationality, just find a Facebook group and let the networking begin.

There are undoubtedly certain aspects of life in the United States that you only discovered while living there. What are they'

From the start, I noticed that life is lighter here. People live and let live. Americans are not judgemental. The bureaucracy is pretty straightforward. For example, I got my driver's license in just one week after passing the theory and practical exams. It only cost me $ 35, and the license was delivered by post.

I believe that there is a lot of meritocracy in the United States. But if you want to make a long-term career there, you better be careful. While opportunities are abundant, you must keep on making efforts because it's as easy to get hired and fired.

On the other hand, there is a considerable distance between the United States and Italy, and my parents too, especially amid the pandemic. I haven't been to Italy for a year and a half.

I also miss Italian cuisine. If I feel like having Italian food here, I either cook or visit my Italian friends.

Looking back, are you happy with your decision of moving to the United States'

Yes, but I am not ruling out the idea of ​​returning to my hometown in the future to enjoy my retirement. Despite the lifestyle choices I have made in recent years, Italy is still close to my heart. Unfortunately, Italy still has many flaws for those who live there. I always recommend anyone to try living abroad at least once in their life to realise what they are being put through in Italy. It's been two years since I moved here, and I'm looking to pursue higher studies to boost my career, although it's expensive.