The passing of time hasn't diminished the sense of pleasure and fulfillment that American expat Cherrye derives from living in Calabria in southern Italy, where she does freelance writing and runs a bed-and-breakfast with her husband. Cherrye shares with us here the pleasures of living in the Calabrian capital of Catanzaro and gives some very specific information about their living expenses there.

Cherrye at My Bella Vita

-Where were you born?

Texas, USA

-In which country and city are you living now?

Catanzaro - the heart, and capital, of Calabria Italy ... waaaay down south!

 

 

-Are you living alone or with your family?

My husband

-How long have you been living in Italy?

On and off since April 2006

-What is your age?

32

-When did you come up with the idea of living in Italy?

Throughout our long distance relationship we discussed the option of living in either country ... Italy won. For now.

-Was it hard to get a visa or a working permit?

Yes. We applied for and were denied a work visa before we were married. After we were married the process was much easier.

 

 

-Was it difficult for you to get medical insurance before you went there or when you first arrived?

Before I was married and qualified for the public health care system, PRAYER was my health care provider. Worked pretty well ...

-How do you make your living in Italy? Do you have any type of income generated?

My husband and I own Il Cedro Bed and Breakfast and I am a freelance writer. I have always written articles and stories and taken writing classes, so it was a logical transition once I arrived in Italy. The most challenging part of this job is that I am often paid in American dollars, so the US economy directly affects my buying power here in Italy.

-Do you speak Italian and do you think it's important to speak the local language? Please add your thoughts on local customs and whether it's important for expats to respect/observe local customs.

Through the daily use of the language I am learning to speak and understand Italian - I still have a way to go with Calabrese dialect. Being able to communicate in Italian is vital and one of the most important factors that aided in my transition. Particularly here in southern Italy there are very few places where English is spoken. Menus aren’t in English, signs aren’t in English, policemen don’t speak English.

It is important for expats to combine both the customs of their native country with local customs and to appreciate each culture for its uniqueness. I make an effort to celebrate American holidays, possibly even more in Italy than I did in America. We have burgers on Independence Day, watermelon and ice cream on Memorial Day, quesadillas on Cinco da Mayo. (Although the last example is admittedly more of an excuse to have margaritas, since I’m not of Hispanic descent.)

I also feel strongly that expats should adapt to and appreciate the customs of their new country. I love Italy for its history, its tradition, the people. I don’t want an influx of expats to change that.

-Do you miss home and family sometimes?

Leaving my family was the single most difficult aspect of my move. I have a very large, tight-knit family who doesn’t travel. The chances of them visiting me here are slim and I miss them every day.

I also talk to them every day.

Telecom Italia offers a dynamic long distance calling plan where I can make unlimited calls to land lines in countries throughout Europe, Canada and the US. This has been my lifeline. By talking to my family on a daily basis, I am very much a part of their lives and them, mine.

In many ways I feel as if I live two completely different lives. When I am in Texas, I love going to Barnes and Noble and sitting for hours with a stack of books and a grande caramel macchiato. I like going out to lunch with friends or out for evening drinks. I easily slip into that routine.

Life in southern Italy is drastically different. Over the last couple of years I have found a network of other American expat women and we communicate often. We plan girls’ nights or girls’ weekends and they come and stay with us at the bed and breakfast. We go out to lunch (which is not a typical southern Italian habit), we share English-language books, we go to the movies (in Italiano), we go shopping ….

Summer is the ideal time for southern Italy. Calabria is chock-full of beaches, each with its own distinct type of sand, water temperature and landscape. They are breathtaking. The first time I swam here I thought I was in paradise and even now, years later I am somewhat awe-struck by it.

 

 

-Do you have other plans for the future?

Immediately, no.

-What about housing, have you bought, or are you renting a home? How much do you pay for it?

We are in the process of building a new home that has taken years to complete. We began meeting with the architect in August 2005, as of August 2008 we are still not finished. It took almost two years for the housing plans to be approved by the city then they approved all requests at once and qualified contractors were hard to find.

Real estate is much more affordable in Calabria than in other parts of Italy, but still expensive compared to Texas rates. Our home cost isn’t an accurate reflection of what someone would pay, since we already owned the land. However, I’m told a ballpark figure for Catanzaro would be €1,500 per square meter, or €180,000 for a 1300 square foot home.

-What is the cost of living in Italy?

I asked my husband about this question and he said “insane!”

I’m not as convinced about that as he is. Here are some examples and estimations.

• Gallon of gas: €1.47 per liter (almost 4 liters per gallon)

• Pizza for two at local pizzeria: €22.00

• Women’s haircut: €15

• Electricity (two months): €100.00

• Gas (two months): €200.00

• Internet: €20.00 per month

-What do you think about the Italians?

Love 'em. I'd marry one if I could. 

No seriously, Calabrians and Italians in general, are generous, open and engaging. I’ve met many people who are interested in the US and who enjoy talking to me about Texas and America. That being said, I think it is difficult to be close friends with people from here. Many of them have lived here their entire lives and have close friends from high school or from within their families and aren’t interested in close friendships with new people.

-What are the positive and negative aspects of living in Italy?

Positives: 

• Breathtaking beaches surrounded by mountains

• Fresh fruit and vegetables

• Delicious food

• Homemade gelato (€1.50 per double scoop)

• Sexy men speaking a romantic language

• Stout coffee

• Afternoon strolls along the beach or downtown streets

• People are generally laid back, even about things that seem important to foreigners. (This can also be a negative, at times.)

• Universal health care

 

 

Negatives:  

• Difficult to find many items we are accustomed to in the States

• Lack of diversity in cuisine. Italians eat Italian food … and basta!

• The Italian Post system is unreliable. I receive about half of the mail people send me.

• The Bureaucracy is frustrating and paperwork takes years to be approved

• Customer service and accountability is lacking 

-Do you have any tips for our readers about living in Italy?

 

• It is vital for potential expats to learn Italian either before they arrive or while they are in Italy. This is even more important here in the south. 

• Understand the differences and be prepared to accept them or at least realize you can't change them. 

• Develop a network of expats who understand these new experiences and who can communicate with on a regular basis.

-Do you have any favorite Web sites or blogs about Italy?

Expats in Italy: http://expatsinitaly.com

My Bella Vita: http://my-bellavita.com

Il Cedro Bed and Breakfast: http://ilcedro.com