Expats in Italy & expectations of living in Italy 

3 years in Pescara, Abruzzo. I am pleasently surprised by the niceness of the people. I had a 10min conversation with a guy about cheese in a supermarket at the deli, and he showed and recommended to me a bottle of wine that he will drink with it. Best day ever! ☺️

I'm moving to Faenza in 2 weeks! Your videos made me more and more sure about my decision! Thank you so much

If you move somewhere and you want it to be like where you left don’t move. I hope someday is to live in Italy and I look forward to embrace all the good and the not so good. 💙🇺🇸🇮🇹

As for Expectations, I have little to None about moving to Italy. I Want to Experience the People, Culture, and Food in and around where My Great Grandparents lived in Greci, Italy.

I'm brazilian and I got my Italian citizenship ius sanguinis like you. I currently live in the UK, can't complain about here (apart from the weather 😣) but my dream is to live in Italy. Loving your content, it helps me to improve my English with a subject that I really like it. Keep it up with the good job!

"When in Rome.." is a saying for a reason.

Pizza con straccetti di cavallo, i would kill for one... it is just a taboo here in northern Europe.

Currently living in Italy. My new goal, find me some horse pizza! So down with that

Your comment about burgers is very similar to how I feel about U.S. "gelato." It is just not the same, not by a long shot.

Fantastic content for a reality check on living in Italy. I have been seriously thinking about relocating to one of my family's ancestral communites. My father was from Fubine, Piedmont and my mother's family from Santa Venerina, Catania and Gratteri, Palermo. I have family still living in all 3 places and I have been researching what would be the best place given various variables of lifestyle. Visiting there and living there arer 2 separate things and I need to be sure about the long term / larger picture of each.

We've spent years overseas in different areas. But since 1993 we've spent almost 20 years in Germany (on and off). I think the part I like the best is that after being gone for almost 5 years not much had changed. What I really love is not having to worry about what's on the food. I love the public transportation. I'll miss the U-bahn when we move to Suedtirol. But I'll be closer to ski areas. I love that there are quiet hours. Then again, I'm in my mid-60's. BTW, if you want to meet people get a dog. That's how I've met most of my friends.

That drink sounds....epic I wish more people realized that when you go to another country - visiting or moving - it’s obviously going to be different. If the goal is to relocate permanently, then adapting to that culture is important. That’s no matter what country someone is going to.

New to the south of Italy but I hear that there is a big difference between south and north.

You hit the nail on the nose...I always try to explain this to my friends when they comment on how I'm living in an "eternal vacation". I'm actually going to be starting a RU-vid series called "EXPATations"

When I moved to Italy, I was pleasantly surprised to learn about Il Passagiato.

Great video, Rafael! You made me so hungry! For me nothing more delicious than rabbit and polenta. I also enjoy tripe, but ,of course I grew up with these kinds of foods and there is nothing strange about them. It's hilarious when you refer to the USA as "the old country"! I suppose many americans heard that phrase referring to Italy. I loved the Mr Ed sequence as well . On a scale between 1 and 10, this video was 100 ! Complimenti!

It seems you mention looking for hardware stores in a lot of your videos. The thing about being in Italy that surprised me (I was there for about 5 or 6 months in total over the last 2 years) was people were not extremely friendly. Granted, I was in a small town in northern-ish Veneto but the - suspicion? hesitancy? - that I was treated with was a bit surprising. What was even more so was a simple act that I did that later I was told was just not done in that area; it was starting to rain and a family a couple doors down from where I was staying had their laundry outside. I went and knocked on their door and warned them (in my horrific Italian) that it was starting to rain. I was told later by the family I was staying with that no one does anything like that there. The family who had the laundry were casually friendly to me after that but the idea that no one did things like that was a bit unusual for me to grasp. As for the horse thing, I tried it once (to be polite) but told those offering it to me that it was culturally abhorrent to an American to eat horse and they were surprised but never pushed the issue again.

I liked the reality check. I've never lived abroad. I can relate to it, however. I moved a lot growing up. Even different cities can have issues like that. And, missing the things and foods from younger days somewhere else still get so me.

I was lucky enough to spend about 6 months in Italy (over 2 trips there in 2 years) to teach English. I have a much better idea of what to expect when I move there (which I plan to do in about a year or year-and-a-half). Do I know everything I can expect? No, of course not. I run into unexpected things even here in the U.S. after living here almost all my life. But I know that it will all be a learning experience and I accept that.

I found two FB groups one was a mobility service and the other was a travel agency. Can you post the link?

What about living in a small town very close to a big city?

By the way, when I visited Figline Valderno in culinary school, I had a suspicious "hamburger" in a British and Mexican pub. Not sure what it could have been, and wondered if horse was a possibility at the time.

We want to live in Tuscany for one year. Being retired what about health Insurance, pharmacies, doctors?

I always get great tips from you. As for those who want everything to be the same as in America, stay in America.

There is also a Starbucks that does "American" in Milan if I'm not wrong, in corso Garibaldi. But, having tried both Starbucks "lookalikes" in Italy (Arnold's coffee, for example) and "proper" Starbucks in Europe, I must say it *still isn't the same*. I suspect it's because of the different ingredients policy US and UE have, so syrups and spices are really not the same. Compared to America, they are... bland.

I know exactly what you mean. I lived in Japan for 2 years and absolutely loved it. I embraced the differences from America. I tried basashi in Japan (horse sushi). Many of my other foreign co-workers hated living in Japan and could not wait to go home.

Do patreon people get to email you personally?

Every time I travel abroad with my family, my brothers and I have a tradition to get 5 Guys since we missed the taste of burgers so much. So I understand how you feel XD

I would not eat that pizza either. Leave those horses alone! I hope you will do another cooking video at some point, maybe eggplant parmesan, something like that.

The only thing I really miss is Mexican food. I have been told there is a good restaurant in Paris. I'm being very chatty tonight. You have to find an English store to get real cheddar. Let me know if you're ever in Stuttgart. My husband makes the best hamburgers ever. LOL, I can't eat horse. Rabbit I can eat. We had an incident like that with tripe when we first got here. I was in Worms before, and innards weren't a thing. The dog liked it.

This guy is like a cross between wolf man jack and Thirston Howell III

Venice..not to mention the expense ..

Looking at your Facebook and Instagram pics it appears you are always alone, which I find strange as someone who makes himself so available on social media. Im curios what your social life is like or do you actually spend most your time alone (which I would totally understand in this world that is getting stranger by the day)

I think he's talking a bout tacos I've lived in Milan for 15+ years and no place comes close to the $2.50 carnitas from the states

So, you need to do your research before moving somewhere. Makes sense.

I feel like the first 10 mins should be taught at school.

Just got back from Italy/Sicily and in Catania, we went thru the fish market and saw the horse meat. I nearly threw up! Just can't. Period.

I've been in public places and have heard Americans being rude. I pretend I don't speak English.

Ive been watching a few Italian movies and tv shows lately and Ive noticed that when Italian men who are friends greet each other they kiss each other on both cheeks, not just a peck on the cheek but an actually kissing sound is made. Ive lived in Mexico where men greet women by kissing them on the cheek (which I liked a lot), but I cant handle the idea of kissing a man. Is this very common in Italy? Is it considered rude to refuse to kiss men in Italy?

Italians still wonder why a hamburger is made with beef.

With all due respect, you confuse. Sure, it Starbucks brings you so much joy why on earth would you move ? Then my next thought is 'are you kidding me?' I have experienced Italian coffee, and the gelato. lol Not only Italy, common courtesy and basic respect is noticed in other countries in which I am a guest. No, it wont work with everyone, I like to get a smile or a laugh, even a few basic words of the language does show respect. Yes, it is an unknown. Just how different everyday life would be is unknown. I have been spoiled with La Dolce Vita. Thank you, yes it's good to know I really should not get upset if I have to wait a bit longer for customer service. Um, I hope your beautiful Friday nights happen more often.

Dude...Don't take this wrong, but I will bet your living in Utah in 2021....

The word “immigrant” is so strongly avoided by Europeans Australias and North Americans when referring to themselves. “Expat” is the replacement and “immigrant” is reserved for black or brown people. The word “foreigner” was chosen alternative but “immigrant” (a world so heavily used by Americans) seems so foreign when referring to yourselves creating difference/superiority for being the exact same thing. Unconscious stuff. I wonder how many hits/likes you’d get if you replaced the word expat with immigrant on the titile and ever time you used it. Not your fault obvs just a sad observation.

You are soooooo funny to listen to. You're Italian and you don't cook? Why not? Especially with the need for you to show the millions you're surrounded by "how it's done". Why don't you whip up (or learn to whip up) some knock your socks off burgers and tacos and pass "em out for free to neighboring Italians. Invite them over for a "taste of America" or go out to a park and pass them out 'til the cops come by and say you can't do that, then offer the cops some good burgers as well. I once saw a you tube video of some American students in Sweden and one of the girls was from San Diego and she went on to "teach" the Swedes she had met just what a burrito is and how to make one. They LOVED it !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! If you don't know how to make a good burger and a good taco, go on line and teach yourself til you get the taste just right. You have a kitchen don't you?. American pizzas and spaghetti with meatballs I would assume came about from Italians freezing their rear ends off in New York, New Jersey and Chicago after leaving behind their Mediterranean, easy on the body, climate and having to nourish their now shivering bodies in the "New Land". I am sooooooooo looking forward to videos of yours showing us how "a crazy good burger" is made !!!!!!!!!!!! Heck, with all that good Italian bread, why don't you make some really good pizza breads loaded with some of your very own home made pizza sauce and home made Italian sausage that you taught yourself how to make after "tweaking" some recipes you found online? Could you imagine getting the Italians in your new city "hooked" on your burgers, tacos, pizza bread and spaghetti and meatballs? That would be a riot !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Well, roll up your sleeves and get to work !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! ...............as me and the rest of your you tube fans are all waiting !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! .......................and drooling ....................... naw........................... joking aside........................ I'd LOVE to see what you can create right there in Italy...........................................good luck and HAVE FUN !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! .......... and upload your cooking experiences and creations !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!........................... as I mentioned, your fans can't wait !!!!!!!!!! LOVE YOUR VIDS !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!1

Please send rapists, murderers, and traitors to Siberia one way. Harvest the organs. I have so much RESPECT for people , who work hard , do not beg, and help non- beggars help themselves. YOU DID IT!! We better stop, or God will stop it all for good. Your arms are too short to box with God. Just behave!!! Please check the poverty and the prisons, where you want to move, before you move.