Laurie and her husband initially moved to Paris in 1993 from the USA and finally decided it was time for a new adventure in 2015 when they made the move to the Italian countryside. As artists who often paint, Laurie and her husband sell paintings and host workshops in Rocca Malatina. After 20 years in Paris, they are now enjoying rural Italy, where life is a little calmer and still lots of fun.
Check out Laurie’s artwork on her website, and you can connect with her on Instagram.
About Laurie
Q: Where are you originally from?
A: USA
Q: What country and city did you move to?
A: Rocca Malatina, Italy
Q: When did you move?
A: 2015
Q: Is this your first expat experience?
A: No
Q: Did you move here alone or with a spouse/partner or family?
A: Spouse
Q: Reason for moving?
A: We wanted a new adventure.
Living in Italy
Q: What do you enjoy most about Roccamalatina and Italy in general?
A: The people are charming, and the pace is comfortable.
Q: Have you had any low points? What do you miss most about home?
A: It’s pretty wonderful here.
Q: What’s the cost of living in Italy compared to the US? Are there specific things that are especially expensive or cheap there?
A: My cost of living is half of the US. However, that is not why I chose Italy.
Q: What’s public transport like in Roccamalatina and across Italy?
A: The public transport in rural Italy is fairly poor.
Q: What do you think of the healthcare available in Italy? What should expats expect from local doctors and hospitals?
A: The healthcare in Italy is very good, particularly in the North of the country.
Q: What’s the standard of housing like in your city? What different options are available?
A: I live in a large house with a yard for our dog.
Meeting people and making friends in Italy
Q: Was meeting people and making friends easy? How did you go about meeting new people?
A: You must get out for coffee, buy groceries, and attend local events to meet new people.
Q: Have you made friends with locals, or do you mix mainly with other expats? What advice would you give to new expats looking to make friends with the locals?
A: Our friends are both locals and expats. Actually, expats from other countries fit in there.
Working in Italy
Q: How easy or difficult was getting a work permit and/or visa? Did you tackle the visa process yourself, or did you enlist the services of an immigration consultant?
A: Getting a visa for Italy is slightly difficult. Sadly, we hired an attorney who did nothing.
Q: What is the economic climate in the city like?
A: The Italian countryside is not extravagant, so the job market is different from what you would find in the bigger cities like Rome and Milan.
Q: How does the work culture differ from the US?
A: Money is not the biggest motivator in Europe in general, like it is in the US. If you want to get rich, stay in the US or another monied country.
Family and children in Italy
Q: How has your partner adjusted to your new home?
A: We made the decision together and love it.
Final thoughts
Q: Any advice you’d like to offer to new arrivals in Italy?
A: I believe it is best to bloom in this new place and not try to make it an America.
