Painterdave
American expat in Italy
Forum posts
31
Contacts
2
About me
American
Lives in Due Carrare
Registration: 01 October 2015
How to save money in Italy by Priscilla
Hello everyone, Did you plan your budget before your move to Italy? If so, how did you go about it? How do you save money in your day to day life? Do you find there are any areas where you can't cut costs? Do you have any tips about saving ...
Find a nearby Chinese food shop. Besides finding lots of things no Italian store has so you can make your customary foods, they have things like peanut butter in a can for 4 euros, three times the size found in the supermarkets for the same price, ... Read More
Mistakes expats make in Italy by Priscilla
Hello everyone, Did you make any mistakes when you first moved to Italy? What were they? How did you address your mistakes? Did you learn anything from them? With hindsight, what would you do differently? Are there any tips you could ...
Here are some things to think about. Don't expect Italian mail service to be fast. They also lose things. Packages from abroad take forever, and get stuck in customs where sometimes they make an estimate of what you owe, instead of taxing its ... Read More
Pets in Italy by Priscilla
Hello everyone, Many of us in Italy have four-legged friends. What about you? Do you have one or more pets? Share your experience with us! What are the formalities to import pets in Italy? What about pet adoption procedures in the country? Did ...
How interesting....Well, in my village there is only one big dog. I can count 20 other ones that bark at me as I walk by on my daily 30 minute walk. Read More
Buying Stocks while living in Italy
I am having a difficult time to find a stock broker or online brokers that will let me use their business to buy and trade stocks on businesses located in America. If anyone has an answer for this, I would really appreciate hearing from you. Read More
Pets in Italy by Priscilla
Hello everyone, Many of us in Italy have four-legged friends. What about you? Do you have one or more pets? Share your experience with us! What are the formalities to import pets in Italy? What about pet adoption procedures in the country? Did ...
Interesting topic. I do not have a pet, but I want to say that if people come here and want a large dog, it will be hard to find. Italians really go for small dogs. The big reason is that their homes have smaller space and a big dog takes a lot ... Read More
Common misconceptions and clichés about life in Italy by Priscilla
Hello everyone, Old clichés die hard, as the saying goes... and living in Italy can generate lots of misconceptions in the eyes of the people. What are the most common misconceptions about the expat lifestyle in Italy? What are the most ...
At first I liked the church bells ringing all the time. Now on Sunday morning at 7:00 I am disturbed by them. And they ring all three, not just one, and they ring them for a long time, as if to wake up every person in my village and remind them to ... Read More
Adapting to the climate in Italy
Speaking to you from outside of Venice....The humidity is deadly in the summer. I carry a large bandana type handkerchief and drink a lot of water. Some bus drivers don't bother to turn on the AC and you will just melt! Italians don't ... Read More
Adapting to the climate in Italy
More rain, more heat, more humidity and even a few tornados near our village. We are 45 min. by train from Venezia. More of everything. Dave Lester Read More
Expand your social circle in Italy by Priscilla
Hello everyone, Moving to Italy means leaving one's family and friends behind. Creating a circle of friends or joining an existing one should therefore be paramount in order to fight loneliness in your host country. But how can one develop a ...
Hello, Thank you for taking the time to read my blog and for commenting. The school got me my first long term visa, and gave me some basics, but otherwise it was a waste. They were only concerned with gaining profits, and not interested in what ... Read More
Expand your social circle in Italy by Priscilla
Hello everyone, Moving to Italy means leaving one's family and friends behind. Creating a circle of friends or joining an existing one should therefore be paramount in order to fight loneliness in your host country. But how can one develop a ...
My blog this week is about my struggle in Italian language class here in italy. Somewhat comical,somewhat stressful,....but if you intend to enroll in a class to learn italian it would be good to read my blog. Then you can make a better choice and ... Read More
Tips and advice to thrive in Italy by Priscilla
Hi, When living in a foreign country, you have to adapt to a new environment, various cultures and different social codes. How did you manage to adjust to Italy? How long does it take to feel at home? Would you say it is an easy ...
I am an American living in the Veneto for 7 years. Some things are easy, and some are a challenge. My biggest challenge was passing the Italian driving exam. I studied for over a year translating the 346 page manual, then I started taking the ... Read More
Essentials to live in Italy by Christine
Hi, As an expat living in Italy, what would you advise the ones about to pack to bring along? What are the items you can easily find in Italy? On the other hand, what is less common or quite expensive? Share with us what you would recommend ...
Hello, There are many Chinese shops that sell spices. I get my sirachia both red and green there, also japanese sushi ingredients. There are arab shops that sell Indian spices, which is nice. I get my cilantro in the Chinese shop. thai.. hard ... Read More
Essentials to live in Italy by Christine
Hi, As an expat living in Italy, what would you advise the ones about to pack to bring along? What are the items you can easily find in Italy? On the other hand, what is less common or quite expensive? Share with us what you would recommend ...
I get carnation evaporated milk at my local Chinese market. I buy pumpkin pieces at the vegetable seller, and I bake it, then use the food processor to cut it up. I add spices and brown sugar that I buy also from the Chinese shop. And I have a ... Read More
Essentials to live in Italy by Christine
Hi, As an expat living in Italy, what would you advise the ones about to pack to bring along? What are the items you can easily find in Italy? On the other hand, what is less common or quite expensive? Share with us what you would recommend ...
The following food items I always bring with me when I return from a visit to the U.S. I will never just eat pasta, I need a wider choice, and as I cook in our home, I make sure I have what i need. Corn Tortillas Paris has factory, but they never ... Read More
Visas by Sgtlevine
I am coming to Italy in August with the idea towards living there full time. What type of Visa do I need and are they hard to obtain Thanks Arnold
Thanks Romaniac, but you are also incorrect, I believe the he can go to Great Britain for three months, also Turkey, which is further away. Read More
Visas by Sgtlevine
I am coming to Italy in August with the idea towards living there full time. What type of Visa do I need and are they hard to obtain Thanks Arnold
I think they are afraid of old people coming over and then needing retirement funds. Good luck. I am near Venice so if you come here to paint, look me up. dave Read More
Visas by Sgtlevine
I am coming to Italy in August with the idea towards living there full time. What type of Visa do I need and are they hard to obtain Thanks Arnold
Forgot, to say.. No, you cannot go to another country nearby and hangout for three months. They are all in the EU. France, Slovenia, Germany, etc. Others where you could go are further out. Read More
Visas by Sgtlevine
I am coming to Italy in August with the idea towards living there full time. What type of Visa do I need and are they hard to obtain Thanks Arnold
if you can prove your grandparents were Italian citizens, you will probably be able to get a citizenship. Check into this. the language school....You can sign up for a year, but you don't always have to be in class...like you buy 6 months.. but ... Read More
Visas by Sgtlevine
I am coming to Italy in August with the idea towards living there full time. What type of Visa do I need and are they hard to obtain Thanks Arnold
First off, where are you from? The government views each country differently, and if you are from the United States, you will have some difficulty being able to stay longer than 3 months. After your 3 month stay, you have to go elsewhere until 3 ... Read More
Travelling to Schengen with ricevuta for Permesso renewal by Aaliyak
Hi, I am an Indian passport holder and have been waiting for my renewed Permesso to be ready since the 4th of November (almost one month). I sent faxes requesting an early permit and went to the questura but they said they could not help me at all ...
go to the questura in person and talk to them. do not rely on phone. dave Lester Read More
looking for Americans in the Verona area and nearby! by SallyZico
Hi everybody, I'm not new at all, been here for nearly five years now, but it dawned upon me only today that I could find fellow expats by searching on an online community! I'd love to connect with people living in the Verona area, or anywhere ...
No way around it except buying italian lessons at a school for one year which gives you a renewal of one year. Expensive.... Read More
looking for Americans in the Verona area and nearby! by SallyZico
Hi everybody, I'm not new at all, been here for nearly five years now, but it dawned upon me only today that I could find fellow expats by searching on an online community! I'd love to connect with people living in the Verona area, or anywhere ...
I have been through the struggle of the test. VERY difficult. Get a book that has both English and Italian explanation. You have to have this as the language level they use on the test is high. They also try to trick you by using double ... Read More
looking for Americans in the Verona area and nearby! by SallyZico
Hi everybody, I'm not new at all, been here for nearly five years now, but it dawned upon me only today that I could find fellow expats by searching on an online community! I'd love to connect with people living in the Verona area, or anywhere ...
Hello, I am Dave and my blog is at: http://whatfillsmyplate.blogspot.it/ You are smart to reach out, especially as it sounds like you are also in a small village. Mine is totally dead, and I miss Americans a lot. My village is called Due Carrare ... Read More
looking for Americans in the Verona area and nearby! by SallyZico
Hi everybody, I'm not new at all, been here for nearly five years now, but it dawned upon me only today that I could find fellow expats by searching on an online community! I'd love to connect with people living in the Verona area, or anywhere ...
Hello, I like Italy a lot, and have made some good friends. Things are sometimes different and I do miss the variation of foods we have back in the states. I have searched and been able to find products to make various foods, which has helped. My ... Read More
Your experience of culture shock in Italy by Christine
Hi, Living in a foreign country implies to discover its culture, to learn and master the cultural codes. How did you deal with that? Share with us your culture shock stories where you experienced a funny or awkward moment in Italy. What is ...
I don't think that people were saying they dislike Italy. For me, I love Italy, however, I think that I was clear about the corporate greed in charging 20 cents for a tiny packet of ketchup. McDonalds started the trend and others see them ... Read More
Your experience of culture shock in Italy by Christine
Hi, Living in a foreign country implies to discover its culture, to learn and master the cultural codes. How did you deal with that? Share with us your culture shock stories where you experienced a funny or awkward moment in Italy. What is ...
Hi, I live outside of Padova, in Due Carrare. Maybe we should talk. I am also America. ** Dave Read More
Your experience of culture shock in Italy by Christine
Hi, Living in a foreign country implies to discover its culture, to learn and master the cultural codes. How did you deal with that? Share with us your culture shock stories where you experienced a funny or awkward moment in Italy. What is ...
You mentioned McDonalds charging money for a tiny packet of ketchup....Well, now other restaurants are doing the same. Wild West for one! Figure out how many of these little packets would be found in a bottle of ketchup and you will realize what a ... Read More
Your experience of culture shock in Italy by Christine
Hi, Living in a foreign country implies to discover its culture, to learn and master the cultural codes. How did you deal with that? Share with us your culture shock stories where you experienced a funny or awkward moment in Italy. What is ...
Hello, air conditioning, heating, etc. This was the subject of my blog last week. ** Thanks, Dave Lester Read More
looking for Americans in the Verona area and nearby! by SallyZico
Hi everybody, I'm not new at all, been here for nearly five years now, but it dawned upon me only today that I could find fellow expats by searching on an online community! I'd love to connect with people living in the Verona area, or anywhere ...
Hello, I live in Due Carrare, which is south of Padova a bit. I have lived in Italy for almost 7 years now, and after reading your post, I see we have some of the same things in mind. I am also on virtualtourist.com as painterdave Dave Read More
my honeymoon in italy.... from pakistan by hareem fatima
Hi everyone Kindly suggest me places where to go nd in which month as I don't want to go in hot weather.... if anyone Pakistani is there can u tell me what should be the minimum budget for 10-15 days... Waiting for replies...
Here is some help. End of April to middle of June, September and October are good months to visit Italy. Food in restaurants in big cities like Rome, Venice, and Milano will be more expensive than in small towns or villages, also the cost of hotels ... Read More