While I love Calabria-the region nestled around Italy’s big toe and the jumping point from the mainland to Sicily-adjusting to life here wasn’t the piece of torta I thought it’d be. In fact, it was downright hard. But like all good things in life, perseverance and determination, washed down with a shot or three of homemade wine, shed some perspective on the situation, and in time all things fell into place.

As part one of this four-part series on being an expat in Italy, I present

Adjusting to Life as an Expat in Italy: Missing Home

I’ve lived in southern Italy for more than three years now and while it is true that the bel paese is one of the most geographically diverse and gastronomically satisfying countries in the world, living here can sometimes be a challenge, especially when you don’t know what to expect. Although I’d visited Italy half a dozen times before making the move, I wasn’t quite prepared for her differences … and I missed home. Here are the top three things I missed-and still do miss-about living in America.

1. Coffee House Culture

I know what you are thinking … “but, you live in Italy!” I know. You are right. Nothing beats a stout Italian espresso topped off with a kiss of creamy white foam. But the thing is, I like to savor my coffee. I like to get a grande caramel latte and sip on that bad boy for the better part of a morning. Italians don’t.

Here in Italy, most coffee is consumed in two-to-three gulps while standing-standing!-at the bar. It is a fun tradition in which I happily partake, but sometimes I miss sitting at Barnes and Noble with a stack of books and a frothy frappuccino. In fact, it is one of the first things I do when I get stateside.

2. Spice of Life Variety

If variety really is the spice of life, then I’m curious as to just how many more dishes Italy can create with basil, oregano and, depending on the region, chili peppers. Yes, Italian food is world-renown, and with that comes the ever-growing desire to oppose all things un-Italian. Perhaps most notable here in Calabria, ethnic food of any variety is hard to come by. And I miss that. You can take the girl out of southeast Texas, but you just can’t shake her need for an icy margarita and a platter of sizzling fajitas. Olé!

3. What You Want, When You Want

Got a migraine and need ultra-strength super-pills at 2:00 AM? No problem. Got a sudden urge for an early dinner-say, around 5:00 or 6:00 PM? Sure thing. Have a hankering for homemade cherry cobbler in the middle of the night? We can do that. Well, in America, at least.

In southern Italy … don’t think about it. In fact, even in Calabria’s capital city you’ll have a hard time finding a supermarket open between 1:0o-4:30 in the afternoon, few restaurants are even open for lunch and even fewer-read: none-open for dinner before 7:30 or 8:00 PM.

But it is not all bad. Be sure to read Part II of Adjusting to Expat Life in Italy to discover how Italy changes an expat … one plate of pasta at a time.

Are you currently living outside of your birth country? What do you miss the most about home?

Cherrye Moore is an American freelance writer in southern Italy. In addition to AffordableCallingCards.net, she writes about living and traveling in Calabria on her site, My Bella Vita. Comments and messages are welcome on both sites.

Photos: Brainwise, True Russian Vodka and David Gallagher

Tags: Calabria, expat in italy, Italy

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[...] had grown somewhat disenchanted and it took a six-week hiatus to set me straight. In part one of this four-part series on adjusting to life as an expat in Italy, I wrote about missing home. But what happens when those “home” lines get blurred and [...]

This post made me chuckle, especially because it is a scorching hot day in Rome and I just finished savoring a wonderful iced coffee, made with nescafe, sugar, milk, and water and shaken up with ice in my cocktail shaker It’s these little pleasures that help us get through the tough times as expats!

I just made a shakerato coffee this morning, Regina. ‘Twas delish!

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