Customer Reviews

Living, Studying, and Working in Italy: Everything You Need to Know to Live La Dolce Vita

5 star:		(15)
4 star:		(3)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

Wow! What a fabulous book! I had the first inkling when I read it in the states before my move, but now that I'm here I can't imagine how mysterious and elusive the laws and quirks of this country would seem without it. Even my American friend who has lived here for 8 months learns things from this book everytime I pull it out (which is several times daily). It has been pretty complete so far and the information in it has been accurate without exception. The only thing that is different (common sense) is the dollar to lire conversion rate.

The final important point about this book is that it is geared toward Americans which is critical since the rules for EU citizens are different and not every book on the subject that is written in English is geared toward those of us from the US.

Final tip, even with this book I don't think I could have done this without the help of native Italians, (like hook up my gas) so do everything in your power to find italian contacts. But if it IS possible to do it with a book alone, this would be the one.

I got this book in preparation for a six month sabbatical in Venezia. Not only did it get me into the right mindset for my experience, but it gave me all the little details that would otherwise have taken hours, days, weeks, month to find for myself!

AND since I have been here (three months now) I find I continue to turn the book at least once a week. Sometimes big things, sometimes little things .... but always steered right.

A couple of examples:

to get the free internet service from Telecom Italia, you need your own tax number (codice fiscale). Quick look in the book, office to the Ministry of Finance, redirected to a different building, got the number, used it, got on-line (56K for free!), in less than 2 hours.

to have a legal stay over 90 days, have to get a visa in advance -- check out the book, contact the appropriate consulate, and everything was done in perfect order

then to have a legal right to stay in Venezia, need a Permit of Stay --- check out the book, go the Questura, get the information, appear for the interview, return for the final form ... yes, it all took two different mornings for about two hours each ... but without advice from the book, I would have wasted many days arriving later in the day, etc. Just one little quibble -- the book suggests that you will be confronted by less-than-helpful police: here in Venezia every official I have dealt with, including the police, have been polite, professional, and very helpful!

So, if you are planning a non-vacation stay in Italy, GET THIS BOOK! NOW!

As a Librarian I see many books about living abroad. Unfortunately they are usually written from the British perspective. The British information regarding employment in Italy really doesn't pertain to US citizens.However, this book explains all the ways to work, live and have a wonderful life in Italy! Make sure your bags are packed - you'll want to leave for Italia as soon as you are finished reading the book!

I wasn't sure what to expect with a book like this. Would the authors be so in love with Italy that they wouldn't be objective? Would they have had such bad experiences that they had nothing good to say about the country? I was pleasantly surprised to see an objective, thoughtful commentary on what you can reasonably expect to find living in Italy. Helpful tips, amusing anecdotes, loads of further resources, and practical--yet encouraging--advice. Recommended!

This book is great because it gives you things from an American perspective. I've lived in Italy before on a study abroad program, so I was familiar with some things, but the lists of contact information alone are enough reason to buy this book. It covers everything from student visas to getting dual citizenship and from teaching ESL to starting your own business. A must read for anyone thinking about moving to Italy.

From the perspective of an Italian (me)this is one of the most useful guides I have ever seen. I really wish that when I moved to the United States a book like this was available. It is extremely accurate and will help you to make the most out of an already wonderful country and a potentially great experience.

Buy this for the visa information, if nothing else. This is by far the most informative and thorough book for US citizens on the subject that I have read. Some of the political and historical information is a bit slanted, but the practical information is accurate and extremely helpful for those who decide they simply must live in Italy.

To those who are either considering moving to Italy or just going for vacation, this is the book for you. It provides not only the basic information, but also answers questions that you would not normally consider or even think of. It also provides valuable information about embassies/consulates, education, and every day life. Even as a seasoned traveler, I found this book very useful, as I plan my relocation to Italy. It is an asset to any traveler's library.

As an Italian living in Canada, I can attest to this book's accuracy and completeness. A definite buy if you are considering to move to Italy on business.

I moved to Italy to live, study and work, taking with me this book as the ultimate resource for an American looking to make a life there. Unfortunately, I did not find it to be the exhaustive guide I had hoped.
Not only did it brush the surface on important questions any American moving abroad would have (such as those addressing legal requirements, getting proper paperwork and visas to stay, finding work, etc.), I found it to actually contradict itself in the discussion of some important subjects.

I am afraid that whole-heartedly trusting this book to help you navigate through some of the legal implications of moving to Italy may result in much frustration. I also found the helpful lists (compilations of schools and universities, English-speaking organizations, etc.) to be less-than-comprehensive. These lists mainly focus on the big cities and American-draws (Rome, Florence and Milan).

This book is fine as a starter guide to help you to begin to plan, but it is not "everything you need to know."