Pursuing the expatriate life in Italy–why?

I just finished watching my biological father’s funeral. The funeral home gave me and my brother each a DVD for our archives. The funeral is also online which is where I watch it.

And I don’t know why I did tonight. I was free-associating online. Hopping from one website to another when I landed on YouTube. I decided I wanted to hear k.d. Lang’s version of Hallelujah. Her rendition gives me chills. It was from there that I went to my father’s funeral because her recording was used during a slide show presentation at the end.

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Pursuing the expatriate life in Italy–“he (sic) works hard for the money”–thank you, Donna Summer

Finding work in Italy is going to be tough. For anyone who has watched or read the news the past few years, it is well known that Italy is an economic basket case. Northern Italy seems to be doing better than southern Italy with its concentration of corporations like Microsoft, H-P and GM. Southern Italy, however, is a totally different story.

And therein lies my problem. First, I will not be able to get an actual job with a company unless they can prove to the Italian government that there are no Italians who have my particular ability (most prominent of which is English language fluency). If a company were to find a position for me, they could apply for a business visa and voila! The issue of employment and immigration status are no longer a problem.

Pursuing the expatriate life in Italy–the truth

You probably noticed that I changed the heading of this particular season of my blog postings. I felt that “Living as an expatriate…” was somewhat misleading. This title reflects better what is currently occurring as well as what will occur when I’m finally in Italy.

Now, as for “the truth”, that’s something a bit different. I have briefly and somewhat obliquely alluded to a recent break-up with my ex and the emotional devastation wrought by that experience. 

Living as an expatriate in Italy—Hoo, boy

So, in the ongoing soap opera that is my effort to move to Italy, I have encountered some sobering information. Let this information serve to help anyone who is considering a move overseas. Please understand that the experience I’m having is for Italy, only. Other nations will have their own rules, regulations and intricacies.

<sigh> Where to start? I guess at the beginning.

More days–Living as an expatriate in Italy–yet more details

OK, so I’m not writing each and every day. I’m learning that not every day has something going on so what’s the point? As I’ve written before, the Devil is in the details and sometimes it’s just details one deals with. Sometimes nothing gets done except some emails, phone calls and internet research. As a result, I will not be writing day by day since it doesn’t make sense if next to nothing except a bunch of dull crap is worked on. Once I get to Italy, I’m quite certain I’ll have more to write for each day.

Today, however, I got things done. I got my Fleetwood Mac tickets for the November Portland show sold!! At $200 per ticket, I was really thinking that I’d never get rid of them. But a friend stepped up and bought them. Hooray!

Days 10, 11 & 12—Living as an expatriate in Italy—depression, loss, loneliness

By now everyone on earth knows of the untimely death of comedian extraordinaire, Robin Williams. I, myself, was a big fan of his. The man had a comedic genius that was in a category all its own. He was an accomplished actor, a philanthropist and an intellectual. The outpouring of grief over his suicide continues which shows how universally loved he was.

I was aware of his struggle with chemical dependency but somewhere along the line I missed the information about his depression. While it might seem unlikely that a man who had it all—beautiful and loving family, respect, talent, wealth, fame and a social conscience—would commit suicide, those of us who struggle with depression understand.

Day 9, Living as an expatriate in Italy

It’s going to be difficult giving up a lot of things when I move to Italy. I recently left Salem and moved to the Portland area. It was a move I had wanted to make for years because Salem was too far away from the urban delicacies of Portland. Plus, most of the people I know are up in the Portland Metro Area. Now that I’ve been here a few weeks, I’m loving the access to all the things I love–funky neighborhoods, great food, cool restaurants and a vibrant city vibe.

I had planned to return from Europe, get a job and find a place to live. I had it all planned out–I had the industries highlighted that I would pursue and I was actually anticipating the job search. I was sure everything would fall into place. Well, again it’s a matter of…”We make plans and…” What’s the answer, Class?

Days 7 & 8–Living as an expatriate in Italy

The process of moving overseas is not necessarily one of constant activity. I have given my self two months to get everything done. Perhaps that is too much time, perhaps not enough. Nevertheless, I will do my best to finish it all.

One thing that is becoming apparent is the fact that not every day will be chock full of activity and errands and accomplishments. There is still a life to live and that must be incorporated into the responsibilities of the move.

Days 5 & 6–Living as an expatriate in Italy, the devil is in the details

For the past two days I’ve been getting more things done regarding this Italy move. It seems that the more I accomplish, the more things I have to do.Today I went to Verizon to discuss my options for my cell phone. I was hoping that, somehow, I would be able to keep my mobile phone and perhaps get a SIM card. I reasoned that it might allow me to use my phone without paying exorbitant bills.

No such luck. It turns out that I will need to dump my carrier and pay a $240 cancellation fee since my two year contract hasn’t expired. However, the Verizon rep said I can probably sell my iPhone 5 for $250-$300 which would make that cost a wash.

DAY 4–Living as an expatriate in Italy–genealogy

Living in Italy will not only be a dream come true, it will also allow me the unparalleled opportunity to research my biological mother’s side of the family.

I spent time this day, after running errands and getting information regarding my move, researching my mother’s family. As most people know, but new readers don’t, this move to Italy is the culmination of a dream of over fifteen years. In 1997 my biological father and brother took me to Italy to meet my extended family–my uncle and aunt and their two sons (my cousins) as well as my beloved grandfather, Antonio. They had known about me, and that I had been given up for adoption by my biological mother, for years.