Where in Italy do you live?

[maryann]

Originally Posted by dario

If you wany my advice you wil probably find Abruzzo is the best place. It has beautiful countryside, mountains and sea. The people are laid back, friendly, the food is fantasatic, the wine too and, most important for a family move, there are decent job prospectives.
My advice is to go north of Pescara, Roseto, Campli and Civitella are fantastic places, it is livelier and foreigners seem to fit in pretty easily. A german friend, who was then living in Wales, came on holiday a couple of years ago and has not pratically gone back!

Hi, Dario,
May I ask you how you have found Calabria? Perhaps there are things I am not considering. I do speak Sicilian, so-so and all understood me and were nice, but honestly, one never knows what people truly feel at times. Can you shed some light on this? They were so helpful and friendly, but is there something different toward foreigners in Calabria than Abruzzo?
MaryAnn

[italylaw5]

Nature at its finest’ – that’s Abruzzo for you. Beautiful throughout, seaside, mountains, hills, and nature reserves, Abruzzo lies in the north-eastern.

[TNTRower]

I live in Ravenna.

Weather here is gorgeous. Four Seasons, the beach, Bologna is and hour, Venice is a little less than 2. Good food, fantastic history.

My family is not here with me but my co workers have young children here and everyone is enjoying it. The big drawback from my point of view is the lack of urgency in the way people do business over here.

It is fine if you do business with Italians only, but we are an international company that deals with everyone from the world over. Can be frustrating but I think it is not a Ravenna "Thing" as much as it is a "Bureauacracy Thing."

Drew

[dario]

Originally Posted by maryann

Hi, Dario,
May I ask you how you have found Calabria? Perhaps there are things I am not considering. I do speak Sicilian, so-so and all understood me and were nice, but honestly, one never knows what people truly feel at times. Can you shed some light on this? They were so helpful and friendly, but is there something different toward foreigners in Calabria than Abruzzo?
MaryAnn

Well, I am not too polished on Calabria, but it might be helpful to know that any italian not from Calabria would not seriously think of moving there. Job prospects are rare, one of the poorest areas of Italy, the people there are hard to decipher, (remember, along with Sicily and the Naples area, Calabria is the home of the mafia organization called "'ndrangheta". Mafia organizations can only breed in the right atmosphere).
The people are wary and socially very backward. Any immigrant has a difficult time at first (I know, I myself emigrated to Italy 25 years ago), even in Abruzzo. Calabria would pose even bigger problems.

[maryann]

Hi Deborah and Ricky, I loved your message. We will be buying a house in July, 2009 in Calabria and I am excited. I really just hope that I can find what I want in 2 weeks. We know exactly what we want and the general area and our needs. So, you are happy in Italy?
I am going through hoops trying to find a reasonable price for shipping. I think I may leave a lot of furniture here. What did you use?
Tell me, I am trying to put euros in an American bank because of the high cost or euros. Running into walls. A few banks have said you cannot put foreign currency in an Amer. bank.

Would love to hear from you.
MaryAnn and Gordon

[tigger]

I'm near Bologna.

[Aussie_in_sicily]

I am in Catania, Sicily..
Been here 2 months and settling in. A real diffent pace from living in London thats for sure.
I am learning Italian and adjusting to all the cultural differences. Love it here !

[midlandpete]

Originally Posted by jane glover

Hi

We live in Abruzzo and we love it, wouldn't go back to England for any amount of money.

Jane

Whereabouts do you live in Abruzzo? we are coming out at christmas to have a look - did you find any problems?

any advice?

pete

[maryann]

Originally Posted by maryann

Karamia,
You share my enthusiasm! We visited Calabria for the first time this July to see if that is the area we want to live in, and it is. My maternal and paternal grandparents are all from lovely Sicily, from Giarre, near Taormina. I speak the Sicilian dialect, but want to learn proper Italian. We will be returning in July to find a home and then move in 2010. Can't wait. Love it, feel at home, and people are fantastic. Please write back; we can keep the flame going.


Marianna

Hello, Karamia,
May I ask a question? We are from the US and want to buy euros as they are declining in cost a little. Trying to find an international bank accepting accounts in euros. Seems none in America do. HSBC has an offshore bank in the Isle of Man.
We have never done offshore banking, nor online banking. My husband is concerned with bank collapses. He wants to feel that a secure organization is insuring our funds. HSBC offshore will insure each depositor for 50,000 pounds, but not if you open the account in Jersey. You have to open it in the Isle of Man.
Isle of Man is not truly part of the UK; I read that it is a crown possession with its own administration and government.
Do you know if the Isle of Man would be a secure place for our funds? We are planning to try to find a home this July and place a deposit, in Italy. The bank said it is insured by the government of the Isle.
Thanks; I do hope i hear from you or maybe you know of a forum member who would know.
MaryAnn

[maryann]

Originally Posted by jane glover

Hi

We live in Abruzzo and we love it, wouldn't go back to England for any amount of money.

Jane

Jane, my name is MaryAnn. I have an important question which I need help on. I have done so much research that it is driving me nuts. We want to buy euros; we live in the US. In July we hope to find a home in Calabria. We need a bank that will accept euros. Do not have a bank account yet in Italy and will in July. Do you know anything about the insurance on accounts in the Isle of Man? HSBC Offshore is regulated by Jersey. You can open accounts in euros in the Isle of Man or in Jersey. Funny thing, the accounts opened in Jersey are not insured, but if you open on from the Isle of Man they are. (for 50,000 pounds per depositor). Problem is that we do not know if the Isle of Man is a stable government that truly will pay all the insurance if God forbid the bank goes belly up. Got to think of that these days. I have read that it is separate, a crown possession of the UK, but its own government. Do you know the answer? Can you direct me?
I really appreciate this. Thanks.
MaryAn