Family ties, an obsession with Italy, and being with the love of her life -- these are just three of the reasons Australian expat Jessica is now living and working in Italy. Read her interview for her take on what it's like to live in a medieval Italian village, her observations about finding a job and the cost of living there, and what she recommends you should keep in mind if you're planning on relocating to Italy.

Jessica Vannucci

-Where were you born?

Armidale, NSW, Australia

-In which country and city are you living now?

Cardoso (LU) Tuscany Italy - A tiny medieval village built in the mountains of the beautiful Garfagnana region in Northern Tuscany.

-Are you living alone or with your family?

I'm living with my boyfriend and his Nonna at the moment.

-How long have you been living in Italy?

About 6 months

-What is your age?

20

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

Well, my boyfriend Fabio is Italian so that's the main reason, but I've always had an obsession with Italy probably because my Grandfather is Italian so it's in my blood... I met my boyfriend on my 1st visit to my Grandfather's home village in 2007, then he spent almost a year with me in Australia and now I'm here with him!

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

It wasn't too hard to get a visa, I am currently on a one-year working visa. It was annoying, time consuming and expensive to then get a 'permesso di soggiorno' (permission to stay) once I was in Italy. I was lucky I had people to help me. The problem is if I want to stay longer than a year, we still haven't figured that one out yet...

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

In Italy Australians are covered on the recipicol agreement for the first 6 months of their stay and now I need to buy insurance for the next 6 months through an Australian company. I don't know the ins and outs so I am just hoping nothing happens to...

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

Job hunting is the worst! Being an Australian who only speaks English and has tourism qualifications I'm not much use to anyone until peak tourist season - summer...  I moved here in Autumn so it was almost impossible to find something through the winter months. I did bits and pieces of work from au pairing, teaching English and marketing for a hotel and tour company but nothing really stuck for many factors such as too little pay, too far to travel and too little work available.

I am now working at a resort/hotel waitressing and working at the bar as well as occasionally helping out the tour company but it is still too early in the season to be very busy.

When I first came to Italy I searched for English speaking tour companies on the web that have tours in the area and emailed them asking for work.  As my Italian improved I got my boyfriend to translate my resume into Italian and emailed hotels in the area which is how I got my 2 current jobs.

There are plenty of au pair agencies and websites that you can join online. I still don't have a stable income and am only staying afloat thanks to my boyfriend and the fact we are sharing a house with his nonna.

-Do you speak Italian and do you think it's important to speak the local language?

I am slowly learning Italian and regret not learning it properly before my move. Quite a few Italians know basic English but living in the country it is more necessary to know the language. I think it's important to know the local language even if you can get by with English, it's part of their culture and you're in their country so you should speak their language. Plus it sux to not be in on the conversation and for simple things like ordering food or going to the post office to be difficult because you can't communicate properly.

-Do you miss home and family sometimes?

I miss home and family so so soo much... It's hardest at times like Christmas or Easter or when you're missing someone's birthday or other major events. And the saying 'you don't know what you've got until it's gone' is so true. There are so many little things you miss about home that you take for granted.

-Do you have other plans for the future?

I would like to continue working in the tourism industry as well as travelling myself. My boyfriend and I need to decide where we want to live for good after my visa expires, both Australia and Italy have benefits about them and whichever country we choose we'll miss the other but Australia is winning at the moment for financial reasons.

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

As I mentioned I am living with my boyfriend and his grandmother. We would love to have our own place either to buy or rent but living expenses are very expensive here. My boyfriend has a good full time job and I work casually, we are careful with money but we can still not afford to rent our own place. Well, we could but then we wouldn't have money for food and to pay the bills. I used to think it was strange that people would live with their parents until they're 30 or older here but now I understand why...

-What is the cost of living in Italy?

See above. For an Australian it is expensive at the moment due to the low dollar and high euro. Things like petrol and food can cost more than twice as much.

-What do you think about the Italians? 

Locals are generally very welcoming to foreigners, well tourists do bring in a lot of Italy's income. There are so many foreigners in Italy if I was a local I don't think I'd like that there are often more foreigners than locals in the village but they don't seem to mind. Italians like to share their food and cultures with other people.

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

I could list a million things for each side but here's a few.

pro: Italian food is great

con: hard to find foreign cuisine at supermarkets and restaurants

pro: everything is so close and there are so many things to see and do, lots of history.

con: I miss Australia's beaches - white sand, so much space and waves.

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

Learn the basics of the language before you come, try and find a secure job before you come and don't expect it to be easy. Things are done differently in every country so come over with an open mind.

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

The tour company I work with is called 'Sapori e Saperi' (translates as food and knowledge) Gastronomic Adventures. They are small group food tours tailored to suit the clients and the season. Anyone who loves Italian food and is interested in its history and culture would enjoy these tours.  The website is www.sapori-e-saperi.com.