At Expat Focus, we like to be on the lookout for resources around the web that could help prospective expats adjust to their new countries. Today, we’re taking a look at Italy and some of the bloggers who write about living there.
Surviving in Italy
http://survivinginitaly.com/
A hilarious and irreverent expat blog by M.E. Evans, who grew up in Utah before making the move to Italy. The blog covers all aspects of expat life and is refreshingly honest in its refusal to pretend that everything is always perfect. There are posts about cultural differences, about how to travel around Italy like a pro, and about how being an expat influences the big decisions in life, like when – and whether – to have children.Married to Italy
http://marriedtoitaly.com/
The tagline of this blog is “Big city Texan girl meets small town Italian boy. Chaos ensues.” It’s a hilarious look at the good, the bad and the ugly of Italian life, with an author who isn’t afraid to make fun of herself and her surroundings. With tips about how to learn the language, where to travel and how to eat less without offending the Italian members of the family, Married to Italy will make you smile and encourage anyone considering expat life that it can be done.
A Merry Feast
http://www.amerryfeast.com/
Heather, a self-confessed Italophile, writes about all aspects of expat life in Italy with a strong focus on food. From the best market finds in Milan to authentic Italian recipes and restaurant recommendations, this will be a strong incentive for anyone who’s thinking about moving to Italy to pack their bags and head straight there. It’s also worth looking through the Travel pages for tips on day trips to take, either alone or with the family, and things to see and do in and around Milan.
Ms Adventures in Italy
http://www.msadventuresinitaly.com/blog/
Another blog that often features food and recipes, Ms Adventures in Italy also gives more universal tips about travelling in general, including how to prepare for a trip, fighting jetlag and how to deal with being a frequent flyer. The blog’s author, Sara Rosso, also writes books on a range of subjects from Italian coffee to chocolate spreads, and her ‘Books’ section is well worth a look.
Driving Like a Maniac
http://www.katebailward.com/drivinglikeamaniac/
Kate Bailward’s blog provides a whole host of useful tips for expats, along with stories of the author’s own journey from England to Sicily. Detailing her adventures with the EFL class she teaches, Kate discusses the hilarious misunderstandings that come up when trying to explain English culture to her students. In between all the amusing posts about cultural differences are useful tips and stories about getting residency and losing your credit card in a foreign country. A must-read if you’re thinking of moving abroad.
Those are our recommended expat blogs for today. Do you write about being an expat? Let us know in the comments!