You finally have your dream Italian property. Maybe you’re planning to use it as a vacation home, or perhaps you’re looking to move to Italy full-time. Either way, you’ll want to learn more about this country you’re now a part of and how best to navigate the culture and day-to-day life. While much could be said on this topic, in this article, we’re covering a few of the most important areas you should look into.
Start learning Italian
Of all the suggestions mentioned below, this is probably the most important. When moving to a country with an official language that is not your own, it’s crucial to make an effort to at least learn the basics of the language, even if your language is widely spoken there (as English is in Italy). This will not only make it easier to communicate with those around you and understand signs and store products, but it is also a general courtesy to habituate yourself with the language of your new country.
There are many ways you can do this. The easiest—and perhaps simplest—is by signing up for a language course. In fact, in most cities you can find numerous language schools that offer courses for all levels, from a very beginner to a more advanced speaker.
Keep an eye out too for opportunities to do language exchanges. Many Italians would like to work on their English skills as well, so this could be a good way to both meet new people and gain experience communicating with a native speaker.
Finding a community
Finding a community can be difficult in any new place, but especially a new country. This is one that might take a bit more time than the other suggestions in this article. However, attempting to integrate into your new local community and meet people can be an invaluable experience. Not only will you gain the richness of new acquaintances with different backgrounds, but you will also meet people who could potentially help you in navigating Italian contracts, the healthcare system, or other aspects of daily life.
If you are moving to a large city like Rome, Florence, or Milan, you will find more of an international community and will most likely have better luck meeting fellow people from your home country. Creating a sub-community of your home culture can be valuable in its own way, as you can share the unique perspective of integrating into a new country and environment. At the same time, it is best not to limit yourself to people from your home country. Sometimes there are specific “expat” groups that gather international people from all over, which can be a good option too.
Navigating amenities
Familiarizing yourself with the way particular day-to-day amenities work in Italy will also help you feel more comfortable with your new environment. For instance, while you can find large grocery stores that serve all your nutritional needs in one place, it is also very common for people to go to markets to get fresh produce and specific butcher shops and bakeries. This could be a good way to engage with your new community.
Pharmacies, too, can be used in slightly different ways. Unlike other places, you can go to an Italian pharmacist, describe a set of symptoms, and he or she can recommend a product for you. While they can’t write prescriptions, this can be a convenient way to quickly get medication for any number of minor ailments. In terms of the public healthcare system, pharmacists will also schedule appointments for specialists that your family doctor writes for you. Finally, you will also see many “tabacchi” shops. As the name implies, they do sell cigarettes (tobacco products), but also many other useful things, such as bus tickets and the ability to pay for your phone plan.
Take up a new hobby or activity
Whether you already participate in a sport or activity or would like to try a new one, picking up a hobby in Italy can be a good way to both meet people and connect with the things that interest you most. For instance, if you enjoy singing, you could join a choir. Or look into if any local groups exist for your activity of preference.
Engage with Italian news and media
Finally, just as you keep up with the news in your home country, it would be wise to do the same in Italy. As long as you own property there and spend time there, even if you are not an Italian citizen, it would be a good idea to remain aware of current events and policies that could potentially affect you. There are a number of Italian media outlets you can follow, such as ANSA (Agenzia Nazionale Stampa Associata), which has an English language version. There is also Rai, Mediaset, and La7, all television news stations. Major newspapers include La Repubblica, La Stampa, and Corriere della Sera.
Conclusion
Making the move to a new country, even on a temporary basis, is no small thing, but in this article, we have provided you with some general tips on how to make the transition smoother. Accepting that there will be cultural differences and learning how to adapt accordingly is an important first step. If you need further help on your journey to moving to Italy, don’t hesitate to contact us at info@italianrealestatelawyers.com.
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