Anonymous wrote:I have been a few times, and the last time I went I went to the area where my family was from. By the time the trip was over, I could see why my ancestors left. Great weather, fabulous food, but everything was small. Not in size necessary, but world view, opportunities, communities. Jobs are few and crappy.

Remember, your ancestors left for a reason. And so many ancestors left Italy.

Most left because of extreme poverty and violence, not smallness.

Good god no.

Over 20% of Italians face food insecurity.
The population is aging.
The bureaucracy is insane and complicated.
Corrupt politics.
Violence against women and girls
Discrimination

It's very difficult to change the status into which you were born.

Just..no. Stop romanticizing it based on your experience in vacation.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I have been a few times, and the last time I went I went to the area where my family was from. By the time the trip was over, I could see why my ancestors left. Great weather, fabulous food, but everything was small. Not in size necessary, but world view, opportunities, communities. Jobs are few and crappy.

Remember, your ancestors left for a reason. And so many ancestors left Italy.

Especially southern Italy,- where most of them came from.

My experience exactly. Just amazing to visit, but everyone on the US side is doing far better than those that stayed.

Anonymous wrote:I have been a few times, and the last time I went I went to the area where my family was from. By the time the trip was over, I could see why my ancestors left. Great weather, fabulous food, but everything was small. Not in size necessary, but world view, opportunities, communities. Jobs are few and crappy.

Remember, your ancestors left for a reason. And so many ancestors left Italy.

Especially southern Italy,- where most of them came from.

I have been a few times, and the last time I went I went to the area where my family was from. By the time the trip was over, I could see why my ancestors left. Great weather, fabulous food, but everything was small. Not in size necessary, but world view, opportunities, communities. Jobs are few and crappy.

Remember, your ancestors left for a reason. And so many ancestors left Italy.

Depends on where in Italy you are and what makes you happy but yes, it's very close to perfect for me

All the talk about taxes is BS. Between my property tax, insurance, healthcare, state and fed taxes and tuition for K-12 public school for my 2 kids, no way I am I saving money on the tax from living in US. I do not believe people truly understand the definition of value.

Expensive things are not unreasonable providing ROI. Nobody complains if they spend money on an expensive vacation or dinner if it's worthwhile. Paying tons of money upfront so you don't worry about paying more money in 10 increments is not paying more - you really need to analyze ROI.

lol, that was not my conclusion about Italy. And we had a great, amazing vacation!

Anonymous wrote:It’s usually fun to be on vacation almost anywhere, but Italy is very nice.

Yes, and of course you are visiting some of the nicest parts (although that's true for most vacations also)

Anonymous wrote:Everytime I visit I am in awe and get depressed going back to the US.

Same goes for when I travel elsewhere in Europe like Spain and Portugal. The food, weather, beautiful people, work-life balance, cost of living.

No, perfect to visit. But, may drive you up a wall to live there. Try mailing a postcard back next time. Only one out of three made it back for us many months later. Bureaucracy in general makes our systems look speedy. My sister lived in Spain for a couple years and I remember her commenting on it.

It’s usually fun to be on vacation almost anywhere, but Italy is very nice.

No.

Have you read anything about Giorgia Meloni?

and taxes are outrageous

Yes.

Yeah if you don't have to work for a living there. Even accounting for cost of living, wages are lower. Less risk of course because of health care, college, etc

Everytime I visit I am in awe and get depressed going back to the US.

Same goes for when I travel elsewhere in Europe like Spain and Portugal. The food, weather, beautiful people, work-life balance, cost of living.