I recently spent just over a week in Puglia; Lecce, to be exact, on the Salento peninsula.  Looking at a map of Italy, you’ll find it near the bottom of the “stiletto heel”.

A friend brought me to the ancient town of Gallipoli one morning.  Located about 45 minutes from Lecce on the Ionian Sea, Gallipoli in February is sleepy and warm.  After a cold and gray winter in Perugia, it felt good to walk along the water without a jacket, breathing in the salty air.

While my friend was at an appointment, I took the opportunity to walk around the town a little bit and peek into stores. I came across a shop selling things like local olive oil and wine.  I decided to go in, and the man running the shop offered me tastes of very green olive oil and a glass of wine.  We chatted about grapes and olives (two of my favorite things) as I sipped my negroamaro.

Ricci di mare

Afterwards, with a newly purchased bottle of wine in my bag, I found my friend again and she said, “Tina, you have to taste ricci!”  I wasn’t quite sure what she was talking about until we came upon a group of fishermen who had laid out a nice-sized pile of very fresh spiny sea urchins on a table.  She asked if I could taste one since I had never had them before.  One of the men obliged and with a swift move and a “crack!”, a sea urchin was cut in half to reveal it’s red and orange roe, and offered to me with a spoon.

It was quite a delight to taste and smell the salty sea in such a way.  “Do you like them?” they asked me.  I nodded my head happily and we bought a big container of them.

Our fresh lunch on the sea

We found an open supermarket and brought some bread and water, and sat at a table overlooking one of the beaches.  The sun warmed our backs as we contentedly scooped out the ricci with bread, without a care in the world.  The ricci were a pleasant surprise, and perhaps my favorite culinary discovery on this trip.

Tina Ferrari is a translator, writer and tango dancer based in Umbria, Italy. She writes at AffordableCallingCards.net as well as on her own blog, Tina Tangos. Comments are always welcome!

While living in Switzerland, I have devoured many books about the living abroad lifestyle. Books about a British woman involved with too many French men. Books about an American man trying to buy something as simple as a bay leaf in France to disastrous results. And books about an Australian journalist who can’t help but run out in her sweat pants to buy a baguette to the horror of her chic Parisian neighbors.

Below I’ve listed some of my favorites—and as you’ll see, I have an affinity for books taking place in France. Am I a traitor? I don’t think so. Because right now, I can’t seem to find any memoirs about living in Switzerland, even though the country has a foreign population of 20%. But no matter. Because the experience of living abroad and reinventing one’s self is a universal theme no matter the location. And because most of the books below have reinvention abroad as a major theme, I can relate to them all—and I think maybe you will too.

Petite Anglaise by Catherine Sanderson is a memoir about life in Paris with a modern, digital twist. What happens when your blog messes with your love life and gets you fired from your job? This British author and expat has the answer.

I’ll Never Be French by Mark Greenside is a hilarious account of what happens when an American man buys a house in Brittany. It’s fun and lighthearted and makes me want to move to France.

A Year in the Merde by Stephen Clarke is an international bestseller, “almost memoir”, about a British businessman who takes a job in Paris. It’s an entertaining and humorous book that deals with the realities of life and work abroad.

GenXPat by Margaret Malewski and A Moveable Marriage by Robin Pascoe are both excellent informational and practical guidebooks books on living abroad.

Almost French by Sarah Turnbull is a bestseller in Turnbull’s native Australia and deals with a young woman trying to discover a new identity abroad.

But enough about what I like. What are your favorite books about life abroad?

Chantal Panozzo is a writer in Switzerland who has written for a variety of publications on two continents. She’s the author of One Big Yodel, a blog about life in Switzerland and moving abroad, and also discusses living abroad as a freelancer at Writer Abroad.

Alright, here are the winners:

Mamma Mia: Parenting Stories

Eggs and so Much More by Lucia (Dim Sum, Bagels and Crawfish)

That’s Amore: Love and Romance

The Motorcycle Diary by Katja (Driving Like a Maniac)

Paparazzi: Expat Photography

Pathway of the Gods by Scintilla (Bell’Avventura)

Eccomi: Arrivals in 2009

On Banking and Stalkers by Katja (Driving Like a Maniac)

Mangia: Food and Recipes

Woman Cannot Live on Pasta Alone by Katja (Driving Like a Maniac)

Buon Viaggio: Living and Traveling in Italy

Every Sunday Evening by Laura (Ciao Amalfi)

Italianissimo: Only in Italy

Well It Was Bound to Come Up at Some Point by Katja (Driving Like a Maniac)

Thanks to everyone for submitting, thanks to the public for voting, and congratulations to our winners!

“And the rooster goes Cockadoodle Doo!,” exclaimed Peter.

We all spoke English well, with the exception of Clementino who insisted we speak only in CROATIAN–after all, it was in taking our Croatian class that we met one another. And we were all living in Croatia yet didn’t speak the Croatian language.

One evening after class a few of my classmates and I decided it was time we got acquainted. We agreed to have coffee at the Cafe Luxor, an Egyptian-themed Italian restaurant located inside the Diocletian Palace. The cafe was luxurious and from the moment we stepped inside, we were embraced by the friendly waitress and consumed by the warmth of the cafe’s atmosphere. She took our coats and offered us a table, “I will give you a few moments to look through the menu,” she said in a polite and sweet tone. We looked around at the intoxicating interior design. Directly above us was a ceiling that resembled a small portion of the Sistine Chapel with angels floating on white fluffy clouds. “I wished I had my camera,” I thought. A big black piano sat in the corner of the restaurant as someone wooed us with Italian music.

Our after-class meet up was very international: Peter was Canadian, Clementino was from Italy while his girlfriend Visnja, was Croatian. John was American–from New York–and me, well, from Mexico. Quite a diverse group, right?

We ordered drinks and began a conversation in English but Clementino interrupted, “Govori Hrvatski Jesik. Speak Croatian!” Easier said than done and I could see it by the expression on everyone’s face that I wasn’t the only one who was worried. This was only our 3rd class. I wondered how to say, “This place is lovely.” But I was lost in translation. We all stared at one another for what seemed like an eternity with no one saying a word. Silence. Then we heard, “So Peter how are you adjusting to life here in Split?,” Visnja asked.

“Well, I really like the city…,” Peter answered, but he was quickly interrupted by Clementino who again shouted, “GOVORI HRVATSKI!” And after several more minutes of awkward silence, the strangest thing occurred.

John: What’s the sound of a dog, in Croatian?
Visnja: Vau-Vau
Peter: How about in Spanish?
Me: Guau-Guau
Clementino: Bau-Bau

This was fun. Adults at a cafe in Croatia making animal sounds over coffee. Then I got the question-asking bug and got in on the fun. “What about a rooster?,” I asked. Everyone got a cheerful glee in their eyes and took turns.

Visnja: Cucu-riku
Peter: cockadoodle- doo
Me: Kiki-ri-ki
Clementino: Keek-a-ree -kee

We roared with laughter as we exchanged other animal sounds. People at the cafe thought we were crazy and we gave them reason when we began to sing Old Macdonald with each of us sounding out animal sounds in our native tongue. It went a little something like this:

Old MacDonald had a farm, Ee i ee i oh!
And on that farm he had some dogs, Ee i ee i oh!
With a woof-woof here and a vau-vau there,

It was an exciting and fun evening although the natives thought we were intoxicated. But we didn’t want to stir trouble since we wanted to return to this cafe. We said good-night and good-bye and promised to do this again–minus the animal sounds but we couldn’t make any concrete promises. So the next time you encounter someone who doesn’t understand English very well, and you need to communicate with them, try animal sounds, it works every time! I’m not sure how that will work out in an emergency, but it’ll be fun finding out!

What silly things have you and your friends done while in public?

In addition to Affordable Calling Cards, Elisa blogs on a daily basis about her adventures of living abroad from the perspective of a non-croatian speaking latin woman, at her website Croatia.

And now it is up to you.

The three finalists from each category are listed below, along with links to their respective blogs and posts. Take your time, read through the posts and click the “VOTE” link below each section to cast your vote for that category.

So grab a glass of wine, sit back, relax and read the Blogging From the Boot … for these are the best of 2009 … .

Mamma Mia: Parenting Stories

1. Merry-Go-Not

Published on Lost in Sicilia by Karen

Light-flashing, pop music-blasting merry-go-rounds with none of the charm of the ‘traditional’ rides I remember fondly from my childhood can be found all over the Catania area, conveniently placed in just the spot where your little one will be sure to not miss it. Well, my negative take on these eye sores has slowly developed into tolerant acceptance, but I have never purposely sought one out to this day. Post continues here.

2. Eggs and So Much More

Published on Dim Sum, Bagels, and Crawfish by Lucia

The day after my post about searching for an Italian preschool I did what I should have done at the start of my search. I finally went to visit the Sicilian family that Karen, Kari, and Coleen told me about before we even arrived in Sicily. As we drove down the country lane to their house we were transported to an Italian oasis of fig, olive, and orange trees and warmly welcomed with hugs and kisses by a pair of Sicilian grandparents. Post continues here.

3. Breastfeeding in Italy

Published on Kataroma by Kataroma

OK I admit it I’ve spent much of my maternity leave becoming addicted to reality TV. As I wrote a few weeks ago I’ve become a huge Trinny and Susannah fan (from What Not to Wear) but having a kid and all I’ve also watched a bit of Supernanny – both the American and Italian (SOS Tata) versions. The American and Italian versions of Supernanny are pretty similar. Post continues here.

Mamma Mia: Cast Your Vote Here

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That’s Amore: Love and Romance

1. Thoughts on Love

Published on Spaghetti al Pomodoro by Amare Divino

A small lifetime has happened in the span of this month. I celebrated my 26th birthday among friends, meeting new people and basking in the glory of sushi and books during the day. I have been immersed in contented happiness and occasional fearful sadness. The passage of time, the inability to change the course of nature. Longing to express myself, and fear of where that will take me. Post continues here.

2. Wedding Reception

Published on American and Italian, Family Living in Italy, With Children by John

After 15 years together they decided to get married so it was not a conventional wedding or reception, but great fun and food at an agriturismo. Post continues here.

3. The Motorcycle Diary

Published on Driving Like a Maniac by Katja

Strangely, with George gone, things begin to get better. Alex comes out of his shell, and we discover that we have a shared sense of humour. I am still homesick, but it’s not quite so overwhelming. Sadness does have a season, and mine, at this point, begins to pass. Post continues here.

That’s Amore: Cast Your Vote Here

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Paparazzi: Expat Photography

1. Pathway of the Gods

Published on Bell’Avventura by Scintilla

Click here to view photo(s).

2. The Valley of the Temples

Published on Dim Sum, Bagels, and Crawfish by Lucia

Click here to view photo(s).

3. Catania Fish Market

Published on Dim Sum, Bagels, and Crawfish by Lucia

Click here to view photo(s).

Paparazzi: Cast Your Vote Here

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Eccomi: Arrivals in 2009

1. Christmas Chaos

Published on The IT Man Cometh by Sam

Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year to all! (corny I know, but it had to be done).

One problem with living abroad is that you cannot easily avoid travelling at one of the worst times of the year – Christmas (that is if you want to spend it with your family). Not only is it busy, but the weather (in northern Europe) is often a problem and it’s ridiculously expensive to boot! Post continues here.

2. Except for This

Published on Dim Sum, Bagels, and Crawfish by Lucia

So here’s a little addendum to my glowing post earlier this morning about loving country life…except for: the infestation of bugs in my house. I grew up in the country. I don’t have any fears of bugs (despite my history of being bitten by a brown recluse spider and an allergy to bees). Post continues here.

3. On Banking and Stalkers

Published on Driving Like a Maniac by Katja

It is a little over a month after my arrival in Italy. I am in my classroom, planning three lessons for later in the day. I’m not getting all that far, as I keep being interrupted by my special needs stalker, Francesco. He latched onto me a few days previously, as I went into reception to photocopy materials, and hasn’t left me alone since. Post continues here.

Eccomi: Cast Your Vote Here

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Mangia: Food and Recipes

1. Fine Feathered Friends: Thanksgiving in Italy

Published on Burnt by the Tuscan Sun by Francesca

Spending time in the USA during my favorite holiday, Thanksgiving, well, makes me think about all those wonderful Thanksgiving Days celebrated by all us ‘expats’ in our adopted country. In much the same way that Italy (and Europe, for that matter) have adopted Halloween as their own, well, in industrious Milan, even the store owners readied when Thanksgiving was around the corner; stocking their shelves with many items that ordinary Italians would probably have fed to their pigs if they had them. Post continues here.

2. Ten Reasons Why Italians are Thinner

Published on When In Rome Tours by Danielle

Some of the most common remarks I hear from tourists visiting Rome are “You never see any fat Italians! How come Italians are so thin when all they eat is pasta and pizza? Though it may seem as though the Italian diet is a carbaholic’s dream, there really is much more to it than that. Here are ten reasons why the Italian diet is among the healthiest in the world. First things first: Breakfast. Post continues here.

3. Woman Cannot Live on Pasta Alone

Published on Driving Like a Maniac by Katja

When I told people that I was moving to southern Italy, usually the response was something along the lines of, ‘oh, the food’s WONDERFUL there!’ This would closely be followed by something about endless sunshine. The sunshine bit is holding up pretty well today – it’s nearly 4pm on a late-November afternoon and my flatmates and I all have clothes hung out on the balcony to dry, and most of the doors and windows are open. On the food front, however, I’m a little disappointed. Post continues here.

Mangia: Cast Your Vote Here

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Buon Viaggio: Living and Traveling in Italy

1. My Big Fat Italian Honeymoon

Published on When In Rome Tours by Danielle

Like most weddings, ours took a lot of planning. We were both expats living in Italy, so no matter where we got married there was bound to be some traveling involved for our guests. We decided to keep our wedding on the small side and invited about 50 people to an intimate ceremony just outside Rome on the Lago Albano. A wedding right in Rome would have been wonderful, but the thought of 50 of our friends and relatives let loose in this city was a bit more than I could bear. If no one was robbed, lost, or involved in some other kind of disaster while sightseeing in Rome, it would have been a miracle. Post continues here.

2. Roman Holiday

Published on Driving Like a Maniac by Katja

Total spend of somewhere around 300 euros, seriously aching, blistered feet, nearly 20 hours on long distance coaches, and some really dreadful photographs. So was my trip to Rome worth it? Hell, yeah! My weekend starts in a dark, rainy coach park. The coach is scheduled to arrive at 8.20pm, which it duly does. It doesn’t say Roma on the front, though, which confuses me. Post continues here.

3. Every Sunday Evening

Published on Ciao Amalfi! by Laura

Every Sunday evening during the warm weather months, of which there are many, the old men near where I live play bocce. This game is played all over Italy, but here it is a local ritual that takes place only on Sunday evenings. The familiar clicking sound of the balls and the voices from afar have become a weekly ritual all its own for me. These sounds reach me at a different moment every Sunday, sometimes watering the garden, sometimes reading, sometimes preparing dinner. But no matter what I’m doing it marks a passage of time, that another week is coming to an end and a new one is about to begin. Post continues here.

Buon Viaggio: Cast Your Vote Here

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Italianissimo: Only in Italy

1. Going Postal

Published on An Expatriate in Rapallo by Fern

Our postman was kind of grumpy and never returned our greetings. BOO! We have a new postman! YAY! He won’t bring us any mail. BOO! It does seem that Italy is conspiring to give us every frustrating experience we’ve ever read or heard about. Crummy mail service? Oh come on, that news is so old it’s no longer true. Italian mail service has improved considerably, even in the few years we’ve been here. Post continues here.

2. Well It Was Bound to Come Up at Some Point

Published on Driving Like a Maniac by Katja

On Tuesdays and Thursdays I teach a group of five 15- to 18-year-olds. They may know the language of grammar (auxiliary/modal/state verbs, adjectives, subject/object/pronoun etc), but putting the rules into practice is an entirely different matter. They’re a really entertaining group of kids, and I enjoy the lessons. However, they are experts at diverting onto subjects that they want to talk about, rather than the things that I think we should cover. Let me take you back to last night’s lesson … Post continues here.

3. Italians and the Dreaded Colpo d’Aria

Published on When In Rome Tours by Danielle

Living in Italy for the last 10 years or so, I have had the chance to observe and ponder on many of the cultural curiosities that set it apart from much of the rest of the world. Having grown up in an Italian family, I was often warned of the perhaps fatal consequences of certain practices such as drinking anything with ice, going out with wet hair, or being given the “malocchio” (evil eye) to name a few. All these superstitions I would take with a grain of salt, as I found them harmless and would for the most part simply ignore them. Post continues here.

Only in Italy: Cast Your Vote Here

Voting will be open through Friday, February 5 at 5:00 PM, Italy time. Winners will be announced here on Monday, February 8, 2010.

This year, however, we have a problem. While most newer apartment buildings in Santiago come with pools, over this past year my friends and I all seem to have ended up in houses and apartments without. Obviously the lack of pool is a challenge to say the least. Enter the public pool.

Growing up in California, I never went to a public pool. I had my own in my backyard, as did many of my friends. In fact the only time I can remember ever going to one is in France, of all places. My family and a few others had rented a house in a small village, and when we kids rebelled against the monotony of days filled with the croissants, cafés and contemplation of slow-paced village life, our parents brought us to the local pool for an afternoon.

Club Providencia - ready for the sunbathers to arrive

Today I had my first semi-public pool experience. I say semi because I went to Club Providencia’s pool. The club is a gym and social club run by the municipality of Providencia, one of Santiago’s comunas. The fact that people pay to be members (the gym is members-only) makes me hesitate to call this a 100% public pool, but they do let anyone pay to visit the pool for one day. Works for me.

It seems like a lot (or even most) of the municipalities have piscinas municipales, but I don’t know much about them. I knew La Florida had a few only because they ran a promotion with the Santiago metro system last year offering discounts for charging your metro card with a certain amount. A quick search, however, reveals all sorts of pools all over the place!

Tupahue pool on San Cristóbal

Despite this apparent smorgasbord of aquatic options, there’s no doubt as to the best-known pools in Santiago. The two pools on top of Cerro San Cristóbal – Tupahue and Antilén – hold that title. They’re really big with fancy designs and great views, and they get packed in the summer. I’ve never gone in either, but after today’s first dip into the public pool waters, I’m starting to think I may have to have this quintessential Santiago experience before summer ends.

Emily Williams is a US gringa living in Santiago, Chile. She writes about expat life at AffordableCallingCards.net and on her personal blog, Don’t Call Me Gringa, and loves hearing from readers!

by Chantal Panozzo

Probably a lot of you are like me: A former DINK (Double-Income-No-Kids) who wants to continue her career while living abroad. But if you’re an accompanying spouse, this can be a challenge depending on the laws surrounding work permits. Luckily, the international trend is to loosen these laws and some countries have already acted on them.

For example, in France, an accompanying spouse no longer has to apply for a separate work permit if they are spouses of people working at multinationals. According to the International Herald Tribune, The Netherlands, Hong Kong, Argentina, Singapore and the United States have also loosened restrictions. Unfortunately, Switzerland is not among them. And while it can be fairly easy to find a job in Switzerland as an EU National, when you’re a non-EU the task gets harder.

But it’s not impossible. As a non-EU, I was successfully able to find work in Switzerland. Every situation is different.

Some interesting facts about trailing spouses, courtesy of Yvonne McNulty, a trailing spouse researcher include:

84% of us have a Bachelor’s Degree or higher (see, we were not meant to be Hausfraus or Hausmanns!)

64% of us left careers to join our partners abroad

55% of us couldn’t continue working because of visa/work-permit restrictions

The important thing to do in any situation is to take control. If you can’t work where you’re living, or you later become laid off like moi, get creative. What else could you do? In a 2008 New York Times article, McNulty said, “What I found in my research is that almost all spouses face an identity crisis, but only about 10 to 15 percent did something about it, by becoming authors, getting an MBA or starting businesses,” she said. Most “felt they were victims, with no control.”

So instead of mourning my loss of my job idenitity, I constantly try to create new opportunities doing the things I love. In between searching for a “real job”, I’m currently writing a memoir, working as a freelancer for a Swiss magazine, and writing for U.S. publications.

If you’re a trailing spouse abroad, how have you approached continuing your career?

Chantal Panozzo is a writer and blogger in Zurich, Switzerland. She’s the author of One Big Yodel, a blog about life in Switzerland, and Writer Abroad. She also blogs for Affordable Calling Cards, a new expat community blog. This blog offers affordable calling cards in Switzerland as well as information about living abroad in Switzerland and in many other countries.

We’re also have a great time getting to know our judges.  You’ve already met Michelle and Georgette, and today I’ll be introducing you to our third judge.

Audra de Falco, aka That Girl in Italy, is a freelance translator, student, and part time English teacher from New York, living and loving in Reggio Emilia. She enjoys trying new foods, travel, dancing and cheesy horror films. You can meet her and all her friends at the bi-weekly Reggio Emilia and Modena English meetup.

I first got to know Audra through Expats In Italy.  She’s one of those sunny spirits who really doesn’t let anything get her down.  She’s also a talented writer.

I enjoy reading what she has to say about food, and it’s always enjoyable to read her posts in which she includes a bit of the Sicilian language.  What really gives me a sense of solidarity with this girl, is our similar experience with Italy’s internet providers.

There are still a few days left to submit entries, so don’t be shy!  Click here to enter!

Last night I was walking to a movie theater in Zurich when I heard a group of three Americans talking loudly. Ok, loud wasn’t a surprise, but American English was. I’m always amazed how many languages I hear in Switzerland that aren’t even one of the four “official” ones. But when you’ve got a foreign population of around 20%, I guess it’s only natural to hear non-official tongues.

Sometimes I wonder why Switzerland has such a high percentage of foreigners and I’ve come up with the following conclusions:

-Good Pay. Compared to neighboring countries like France, Italy, and Germany, Swiss salaries are higher. Of course, the cost of living in Switzerland is also higher, but nevertheless, it pays to live in Switzerland.

-No Need for a Car. While public transportation is sufficient in most European cities, in Switzerland, it’s good enough even for villages. The Swiss transportation network covers the entire country, from the mountain restaurant in the middle of nowhere to the farm village twenty miles from the nearest city.

-Work/Life Balance. At least compared to the way people work in the United States, there is a much better work/life balance in Switzerland. Family time is respected and valued, and stores and businesses all close down on Sundays and for a week over Christmas.

-Accessibility of Nature. In the U.S., I had to drive to get to the closest hiking trail. But in Switzerland, there are hundreds of paths right outside my door. The Swiss know how to build cities around nature, and so the nearest outdoor adventure is always just a walk away.

-Many Neighbors. Switzerland is bordered by five countries: Italy, France, Germany, Austria, and Lichtenstein. All of these countries share an official language with Switzerland, making it easier for people speaking French, German, or Italian to work and live in Switzerland.

Why do you think there are so many foreigners in Switzerland?

Chantal Panozzo is a writer and blogger in Zurich, Switzerland. She’s the author of One Big Yodel, a blog about life in Switzerland, and Writer Abroad. She also blogs for Affordable Calling Cards, a new expat community blog. This blog offers affordable calling cards in Switzerland as well as information about living abroad in Switzerland and in many other countries.

Recently you met one of our judges, Michelle Fabio.  Today I would like to introduce you to our second judge.  Though we’ve never met, she is a woman after my own heart.

Georgette Jupe lives in Florence and her blog makes me feel like I’m chatting with one of my American girlfriends over a cosmo about everything in life, a la Sex and the City.

In her own words, she’s “a 25 year old from Texas with an addiction to food, wine and good conversation…not to mention a long and arduous journey from America to  Italy (well it was British Airways).  I left for LA when I was 18 for 5 years, taught English in China for a month, and now I’ve ended up via fate in Florence, Italy.  So I suppose you can assume I’m a bit of a vagabond or a gypsy…or as I like to think…just curious.  My passions include sarcasm, laughter, good friends and new wine…and giddy feelings of excitement ”.

Georgette is a breath of fresh air in the land of Italy expat blogging.  I particularly enjoyed reading this post about paying taxes in Italy.  It’s no fun or small feat, but she tackles it with flair, at least in her blog.

We are happy to have her among our judges!

There is still time to enter – you have this whole week!  And don’t you like chocolate?  Click here to submit.