The Italian way.

Ciao a tutti! We have “successfully” been living in Italy for over 8 weeks now! Does that make us pros?– ah, nope—not even close. We’ve got much to learn. But we’re much closer than we were 7 weeks ago 😉. So far our stint here has felt like it has been put in fast forward. Non stop action— touring, appointments, language, immigration, work, school, you know– all the things.

Time is such a funny thing isn’t it? A week can feel so different given the circumstances you are in. Pregnancy, newborn fog, vacation mode, long distance relationships, school/ work weeks etc, they are surely not created equally. Perhaps it could be a mindset– or likely due to the amount of chaos, stress, enjoyment and happenings surrounding those weeks, undoubtedly those sentiments play a roll. I just remember the anticipation of the months leading up to moving here, the weeks felt like months, and the months felt like years. On the contrary the 2 months of living here have felt as if I blinked– yet so much has unfolded in those short months, take a peek.

Here is where we are:

School: The girls have (restarted) school. Technically they are just finishing out the school year- we concluded this was the best decision choosing to enroll them so late in the year despite the headaches it may have caused. This allows them to acclimate a bit, meet some local friends, gain exposure to the language and overall feel more comfortable starting the school year next fall. So far they have done splendidly. Though it may seem so exciting on the exterior, it is not always easy for them having to start over time and time again, moving to Italy and Australia still took some convincing if you can believe. They have been to 5 schools in the last 6 years, they have had to meet and say goodbye to teachers, friends and family over and over again. But dang are they resilient and brave. I am truly so proud of each of them and their adaptiveness to new cultures, friends, schools, foods, it’s truly remarkable. A gift that can’t be taught, only experienced, I believe. The international school here has been so welcoming and accommodating to our family. The girls have each made several friends, participated in school trips and outings, been invited to several birthdays and our eldest Rian, has even developed a new “accent” — undeniably she is hearing Italian children’s accents speaking English, so naturally it is going to rub off a bit, it is pretty cute.

Housing: We found a flat to call home! {If you didn’t know, our family of 5 has been living in a hotel since we got here in March– 2 rooms, 2.5 beds, 5 humans… yep 🙈) So even though this will be our first time living in small quarters with shared walls, it will be a major improvement from our current living situation. Plus, its Europe! It’s just what you do. It’s been quite the experience for all the Boeing expats here in Italy trying to navigate renting. Everything just takes time. And once you feel like you have it all figured out, something goes haywire. Patience is absolutely necessary when dealing with the European ways. Luckily for us, we are much better equipped with how it all works after living in Australia, so the “timelines” are nothing new to us. We just do our best, try to keep the kids busy, and accept things are just the way they are. It all comes together at some point. We hope to be moved in within the next few days (woohoo)! Hey at least for now, I have someone to help tidy our rooms, breakfast is prepared daily, I haven’t had to dishes in months and we have access to a pool and gym. I have to be able to find the silver linings, even if it is a bit of craziness, (most days).

I thought I would include some fun tidbits about flat living/ renting in Italy–

Most flats (apartments) don’t come with kitchens….. like the entire kitchen goes with you when you move. Not just appliances, I mean the counters, islands, the shelving… everything. So it’s very normal to have to purchase a kitchen when you move in, lucky for us, our kitchen was included.

Most flats also do not have dryers. A washing machine may or may not be included, however most Italians hang dry their clothes. So that was a NO for me. Our unit only has space for one however, so we had to purchase a combination washer and dryer. However… to do a full load of laundry it will take upwards of 8+ HOURS to complete the wash and dry cycle! Let’s see how that goes.

Garbage: it’s intense. Everything is separated. Food, plastic, glass, paper, waste etc. Then you get a little key fob and have to take your garbage down to where the big bins are located, then put your registered fob in to dispose of your trash, but! it only will accept very small grocery sack sized garbage bag, 1 at a time. The recyclables do not need the fob, and is “more” accommodating for larger items, however it just takes time to bring each bin down to dispose separately.

Italians are big on conserving energy and limiting pollution. Which is great for environmental reasons, but when it comes to heating and cooling your home or hotel room even, it can be difficult. You may only turn on heating/ cooling within certain months of the year. So AC can only be turned on after June 1st (in Venice that is) and heat can only be turned on after October 1st, also with regulations on how cool and how warm you turn it. If it unseasonably cool or warm, they can adjust it earlier (they actually just turned it on this week due to high temps 👏🏻.) I am not certain on how they control it, but speaking from a hotel situation, it is just not possible to even turn on the AC. We had to buy a fan for the last month, because it can get toasty during the night 😊.

Getting around: We’re learning to drive! We kind of know what we’re doing, id say. Mostly Colin drives of course, I still get a bit nervous in some situations– but overall I am feeling pretty good, I have even drove some long distances (pats self of back). Just don’t ask me to drive in Rome or major cities ❌. It’s still crazy here up in the North though. The roads are tiny, they don’t use blinkers, roundabouts do not seem to have rules or lanes, {other than pay attention}. Head lights must always be on, or you can get fined. Pay attention to the Limited Traffic Zones (we learned hard way, as I have mentioned.) The speed changes very frequently, so always be on the lookout for postings. Autostrada (freeway) doesn’t have a posted speed limit, but is generally 80 mph (130kph), unless posted otherwise. The passing lane is supposed to be the left, but we still can’t figure out what most people are doing. Waze works the best for navigating we have found, and notifies you for all the speed traps. Pay attention to one-ways, these are everywhere. Car parks (parking lots) are always one-way (this frustrates Colin so much). And the parking spaces are hardly big enough to even exit your car, really fun with getting children in and out of carseats. There is no such thing as a free right turn on red, it is illegal. Stop signs are suggested and mainly mean yield whereas yield signs mostly mean go! with caution.

We have also started dabbling more and more in mass transit. For the most part it’s super easy and pretty affordable to get around. Trains are a really great way to get places leisurely. Wifi. Toilets. Snacks. You know, the essentials with children. It’s not always the fastest option, driving usually is. But if you want a stress free way to travel (for longer distances that is) trains are the way to go. Plus you can usually book day of if you need to. We use the bus system most often. They are super handy and pretty much get you anywhere you need to be locally. It’s far less intimidating than the states, in my opinion. They also have a light rail system. It is right near our apartment so that will be used most regularly id presume once we get situated in Mestre. You can get to Venice in less than 15 min for 1.50 €. if you are a local and 3€ if not. So it’s pretty slick, easy and cheap👍🏻. Venice also has a water bus that follows the grand canal which is nice if you don’t want to walk. But for us, it takes too long and we prefer to walk the canals and streets of Venice. But it’s always an option if walking is not your forte ✔️.

Other fun learning curves: Bango (bathrooms) Ladies, make sure you have strong legs. Most public toilets do not have toilet seats, I recommend you do the hover maneuver. Some do not even have a toilet. Just a “hole” in the ground that you also have to hover over. Skirts and dresses help here. There are some toilets that are even 1 foot off the ground, you never know what you are going to get. Also! Important to note some public toilets you have to pay to use so make sure to always carry a few Euros on you.

I am sure I am leaving out so much, but this is a good start of what we are learning over here. It may seem kind of intense all laid out like that. But let me assure you we are FAR from miserable. The motto as always is: different not wrong. You just have to accept different ways of what you are used to. The adjustments will always be outweighed by the obvious impressiveness of this place. The sites of this country are exquisite; the colors, the art, the grandiosity and of course the history, bellissimo! Then there is the more tangible luxuries like the fashion, the coffee, the wine, and the food, THE FOOOOD these are all equally as amazing, I could go on and on, and surely I will in more blogs to come. There is just too much goodness to share. We are truly lucky to call this place, home. Stay tuned for more! Ciao!