| LeeRyan, who recently immigrated to Italy as an Elective Residency Visa holder, shares her personal experience about preparing for and adjusting to life in Italy. Follow her story on Dolce Blog’s Lifestyle section. |
How do you know if it’s the right place or the right time to move?
There are so many factors involved that I can only address this angle; if your finances are in order and you’re ready to leave the past behind, as well as have limited contact with friends and family, then the world is a blank page for you to paint your desires upon.
For me, it was Italy. It was always Italy. From the first time I battled my way through the Fiumicino Airport, walked through the streets of Sorrento, crossed the bridges in Venice and stood before The David in Florence, my heart knew this is where I belonged. However, that was back in 1999, when things were not right for a move. After four more trips to Italy, in general, and three more, specifically, to the Abruzzo region, I knew that my new home would be Chieti.
The best way to describe the feeling was that my ‘heart smiled’, when I walked down the streets of Chieti. When I got home, I took an unengraved ID bracelet, that I had for years, and took it to the jewelry store to be engraved “Chieti, Abruzzo, Italia”.
Today, I live in Chieti. However, it was a long journey with many hairpin turns, potholes and detours. Without the loving care of Lorenzo and Skylar, I honestly don’t believe that I could have made it. In articles to come, I’ll share some of the honest details that not every website shares, when they’re creating the desire for you to move to Italy.
Italy is a romantic adventure, to be sure, and it’s well worth the effort, but you must be prepared. I’ll share more, later.
Ciao for now!
Lee Ryan Coston
