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

After a classic Agosto ferie, The Real Life in Italy is back. This episode Evelyn is going solo to chat about why she had to step away in August, that being the childcare situation in Italy. We’re covering childcare in Italy from 3 months old to 4 years, what solutions you have for daycare, and what schooling looks like from then on out. A common thread I had to point out in this overview podcast: summer vacation in Italy. Did you know essentially from July to August parents are fottuti? Schools shut down and there are limited options. On the note of long summer vacations - what does this do to Italy position in the Gender Equality Index? And did you hear that Italy wants to make summer vacation LONGER? Have a listen to this quick kick-off episode and find out more. Here’s the info on the Gender Equality Index: https://eige.europa.eu/gender-equality-index/2023/IT _______

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

As highly requested, we are getting into the topic of pregnancy in Italy. This solo episode, I explore what you should expect from the healthcare in Italy when you are pregnant, what exams will they have you do, how are your doctors going to care for (or judge, honestly) you, and what choices do you have about giving birth in Italy.

There’s PLENTY more to cover on this topic, but here’s some information to get you started. Have more questions? If you are on Spotify you can comment here, if not reach out to me on Instagram or my website and I’ll address your thoughts!

Check Doctorsa, formerly Doctors in Italy. A network of English speaking doctors in Italy, and Europe, available for in-person or video call appointments 24/7. Find out more: https://bit.ly/DoctorsaRealLife

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

In this episode of The Real Life in Italy, we’re taking a quick look at dating in Italy. And while I (that’s Evelyn, your host) have been out of the dating scene awhile, my good friend Sylvia is coming on to share experiences and thoughts, and tell me what all the kids are up to these days.

We chat cultural differences, personal dating experiences, stereotypes about dating Italian men, and the reality behind common myths. The episode covers in cultural dating habits, and practical advice for foreigners dating in Italy. And really we get into what ARE the apps that people are using in Italy (because who meets irl anymore?)

Big surprise though: we DO NOT discuss mammone or mothers ever. Crazy, but true. We’ll chat that another time.

Here’s the deets:

00:00 Introduction to Dating in Italy 01:58 Safety Tips for Dating in Italy 03:46 Meet Sylvia: An Expat's Perspective 04:46 Dating Expectations vs. Reality 11:00 Italian Relationship Dynamics 16:53 Stereotypes and Cultural Differences 25:49 Exploring Different Dating Apps 28:20 Italian Men and Dating Expectations 43:03 Ideal First Dates in Italy 47:12 Final Thoughts on Dating in Italy

Check Doctorsa, formerly Doctors in Italy. A network of English speaking doctors in Italy, and Europe, available for in-person or video call appointments 24/7. Find out more: https://bit.ly/DoctorsaRealLife

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

In this episode of 'Real Life in Italy,' we’re taking a better look at Italy's healthcare system—an essential topic for expats in Italy. The episode explores the details of Italy's public healthcare system, and the Tessera Sanitaria: what’s included, how you can access it as a foreigner in Italy, and what’s it good for.

The episode includes an insightful interview with Nadia Neytcheva, CEO of Doctors in Italy, who shares her expertise on the differences between public and private healthcare, the challenges in the Italian healthcare system, and practical tips for expats. We’ll also discusses the role of general practitioners or medico di base and the options available for private healthcare.

This episode will help newcomers navigate the healthcare landscape in Italy seamlessly. You can connect with Nadia here: https://www.linkedin.com/in/nadia-neytcheva/

And check out Doctorsa, formerly Doctors in Italy. A network of English speaking doctors in Italy, and Europe, available for in-person or video call appointments 24/7. Find out more: https://bit.ly/DoctorsaRealLife

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

In this episode of The Real Life in Italy we’re exploring the process of getting an Italian driver's license as a foreigner. We’ll cover an in-depth guide on when and why expats in Italy might need to get this license and how to get it done, with essential tips to prepare for the theory and practical exams.

Later, I’m joined by fellow American in Italy, Elizabeth Thacker Jones to discuss their shared experiences, challenges, and insights into driving in Italy.

For those living in Italy or planning on an extended stay, this episode is packed with valuable information and practical advice to help you hit the road legally and confidently.

You can connect with Elizabeth here: https://www.instagram.com/elizabethtjones/

TimeStamps: 01:41 When and Why You Need an Italian Driver's License 03:59 Steps to Get Your Italian Driver's License 05:00 Studying for the Theory Exam 12:38 Taking the Practical Exam 14:38 Interview with Elizabeth: Driving in Milan 18:20 Traveling in Italy: Renting a Car vs. Public Transport 21:06 Personal Experiences with Italian Driver's License 23:18 Navigating the Italian Driving Test 26:32 Challenges and Tips for Expats 43:06 Final Tips and Recommendations

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