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

~ Monica Larner (Author), (Author) "If we want things to stay as they are, things will have to change, wrote Giuseppe Tomasi di Lampedusa in his 1958 novel, The Leopard..." (more)
Key Phrases: codice fiscale, roma fax, belly figura, United States, New York, Useful Addresses (more...)

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com Review

The title of Living, Studying and Working in Italy says it all: this book is intended for would-be expatriates with an eye for Italy. The authors have both had extensive experience living and working in the Bel Paese--Neighbor was in Florence for four years while Larner still lives in Rome, where she is a journalist for Business Week. Together they have pooled their experiences and collective knowledge of living abroad to address the practical side of living, working, or studying in Italy.

The first thing you might notice about this book is that it lacks references to Italy's great art, popular tourist sites, and best hotels. But remember, this is no ordinary guidebook--leave the tourist stuff to others and let Neighbor and Larner take you on a tour of everyday life as an expatriate in Italy. Here you'll find information about taking language courses and teaching English, volunteering for archeological digs, and starting a business. There are plenty of practical tips about visas, banking, residency requirements, and--alas!--taxes. There are lists of language schools, volunteer opportunities, and internship programs as well as information about freelance, part-time, and full-time employment opportunities. In short, this guidebook extraordinaire might just be an expatriate's best friend in Italy. --This text refers to an alternate Paperback edition.

From Library Journal

Anyone planning an extended stay in Italy will be grateful for this book. Neighbor, who managed the U.S. bureau of the leading Italian weekly, L'Espresso, for over two years, and Larner, who works as a reporter for Business Week in Rome, offer the distilled experience of a combined ten years of living in Italy. In scrupulous detail, they show the reader how to handle the vexations of bureaucracy, find accommodations, handle taxes, and so forth. The section on studying provides information pertinent to American students at Italian universities, American study abroad programs, and language schools. Some of the areas covered in the section on working are teaching, starting a business, internships and volunteer opportunities, as well as the nitty-gritty of obtaining social security numbers and Italian work visas. Lists of useful addresses and Internet sites are included, and the appendix serves as a handy reference tool. Recommended for public and academic libraries.?Ravi Shenoy, Hinsdale P.L., Naperville, Ill.
Copyright 1998 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an alternate Paperback edition.

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Product Details

• Paperback: 365 pages
• Publisher: Holt Paperbacks; 2nd edition (January 10, 2003)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 080507306X
• ISBN-13: 978-0805073065
• Product Dimensions: 8.1 x 5.5 x 1.1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 12 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (17 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #39,683 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

112 of 114 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars My absolute survival guide..., July 17, 1999

By	Jennifer Carey (Beirut, Lebanon) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

This review is from: Living, Studying, and Working in Italy: Everything You Need To Know To Fulfill Your Dreams of Living Abroad (Paperback)

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.

69 of 70 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars I Use It Every Week!, April 25, 2001

By	Dr. Randolph Becker "revrandy_" (Key West, Florida, Conch Republic) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

This review is from: Living, Studying, and Working in Italy: Everything You Need To Know To Fulfill Your Dreams of Living Abroad (Paperback)

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!

34 of 36 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars THE source for Americans wanting to live in Italy!, June 18, 1998

By	[e-mail] (Burlingame, Cailifornia) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Living, Studying, and Working in Italy: Everything You Need To Know To Fulfill Your Dreams of Living Abroad (Paperback)

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!