Italy is one thing when you are single. It’s another when you couple up. But when you have kids in Italy? That’s when things really start to look different. And as hard as it is to admit, having kids in Italy is sometimes the wake up call to see what The Real Life in Italy actually is… and it can push you to leave Italy.

In this episode Rachel (TheItalianista) and I chat about our reasons for leaving Italy, what made that decision hard, and the cases in which we’d come back.

I promise this isn’t a full whining episode - we’re genuinely sharing the things that made us worried for a future in Italy. If you are still in your totally 100% in love with Italy phase, then maybe don’t listen, it’s probably not what you want to hear.

But if you’ve been having doubts, or hesitations about staying in Italy, this episode will help you realize you really aren’t alone.

A note before you get into it: everyone’s journey and everyone’s family is different, you may see things differently or have different feelings about life in Italy, that’s ok, this episode is about how we feel, and choosing what is right for us and our families. Everyone else is on their own path.

You can connect with Rachel at https://www.instagram.com/theitalianista/

If you enjoyed the episode, and show, please leave us a 5 ⭐️ rating, it means a lot!

Thanks for listening to the Real Life in Italy.

This podcast is for foreigners living in Italy, who are all just trying to make sense of it all.

Listen in to learn all about a side of living in Italy everyone else forgot to tell you about. But don’t expect us all to be better, I promise. Expect some good laughs, helpful tips and cultural explanations, and expat stories to remind you that you aren’t alone, and it’ll all work out.

Learn more about Evelyn at

www.collineallemontagne.com

www.instagram.com/collinemontagne

You can show your support by buying me a glass of wine, I always appreciate it:

www.buymeacoffee.com/colline

How much do you really know about Italian Wine? Truly there is way too much to cover in just a podcast episode (why I took the entire 2 courses to become an Italian Wine Scholar!) But I love wine, and I love telling people about how amazing Italian wine traditions are, so here’s my introduction for you on wine in Italy.

If you’re an expat in Italy, wine probably has become a part of your daily life, even if you aren’t a drinker, you’ll hear about it everywhere, and you’ll need to gift it eventually, it’s a thing.

So here are some great fun facts for you to whip out and impress your Italian and wine friends. This episode explains the DOCG / DOC system, why Prosecco isn’t all it’s cracked up to be and a few of my own favorite wines.

The course I mentioned: https://www.winescholarguild.com/iws-free-chapter Articles about how Prosecco sucks: Soil Erosion - https://journals.plos.org/plosone/article

Pesticides - https://ilsalvagente.it/2019/02/20/ghiaccio-prosecco-e-pesticidi-la-nostra-inchiesta-integrale-su-12-bollicine/ https://www.pan-europe.info/blog/prosecco-story-not-sparkling-wine-local-resistance-against-pesticides

My Favorite Wines: -Franciacorta and Trento DOC -Ruché -Francone Barbera d’Alba Superiore or Michele Chiaro Cipressi Barbera -Pinot Grigio Ramato by Specogna

If you enjoyed the episode, and show, please leave us a 5 ⭐️ rating, it means a lot!

Thanks for listening to the Real Life in Italy.

This podcast is for foreigners living in Italy, who are all just trying to make sense of it all.

Listen in to learn all about a side of living in Italy everyone else forgot to tell you about. But don’t expect us all to be better, I promise. Expect some good laughs, helpful tips and cultural explanations, and expat stories to remind you that you aren’t alone, and it’ll all work out.

Learn more about Evelyn at

www.collineallemontagne.com

www.instagram.com/collinemontagne

You can show your support by buying me a glass of wine, I always appreciate it:

www.buymeacoffee.com/colline

How many times have you walked into an Italian’s home and seen the TV playing during dinner, or just nonstop? Have any of you really figured out what the deal is with Temptation Island?

I had so many questions so I asked Rosa (you know her as Diary of A Dual Citizen) to come on and tell me.

This episode takes a look at the role TV plays in Italian culture, history, and regional identity. Rosa shares her take on Italian TV shows, including reality shows, game shows, and political talk shows. We discuss how traditional TV remains a daily activity among Italians despite the rise of streaming services. Rosa also gives us a little look into the historical impact of Italian TV, particularly the influence of state-sponsored RAI and Berlusconi's Mediaset.

06:40 The Role of TV in Post-War Italy 08:12 RAI: Italy's State-Sponsored TV 11:25 The Rise of Mediaset and Berlusconi's Influence 19:07 Reality TV in Italy: A Cultural Phenomenon 28:04 Political Reshuffling in RAI 28:52 Talk Shows and Age Representation 30:58 Cultural Differences in TV Debates 33:00 Local News vs. National News 36:08 Italian Game Shows 39:57 TV's Role in Italian Households 44:52 Streaming vs. Traditional TV

You can find Rosa at: https://www.instagram.com/diaryofadualcitizen/

If you enjoyed the episode, and show, please leave us a 5 ⭐️ rating, it means a lot!

Thanks for listening to the Real Life in Italy.

This podcast is for foreigners living in Italy, who are all just trying to make sense of it all.

Listen in to learn all about a side of living in Italy everyone else forgot to tell you about. But don’t expect us all to be better, I promise. Expect some good laughs, helpful tips and cultural explanations, and expat stories to remind you that you aren’t alone, and it’ll all work out.

Learn more about Evelyn at

www.collineallemontagne.com

www.instagram.com/collinemontagne

You can show your support by buying me a glass of wine, I always appreciate it:

www.buymeacoffee.com/colline