Growing up in New York, St. Patrick’s Day was a big deal in my house. I hunted Leprechaun gold at school, put on my greenest, most festive shirt, and went out with my family to the NYC St. Paddy’s Day Parade. But if you weren’t so lucky…
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Where to Find the Best Gelato in Rome
Confession: I’m somewhat of a gelatoholic. My first month in Italy was characterized by the joie de vivre of a near gelato-a-day habit. I practiced, like so many others, my Italian for the first time in gelaterias. There’s just too much joy to be found in a €2.…
Guide to Best Museums in Madrid
Madrid may not have a beach to soak up the sun on, but what it lacks in waves it more than makes up for in museums and history. It’s absolutely full of them! If you’ve got some time to spend in between trips to the Plaza Mayor and…
10 Awesome FREE Things To Do in Paris
Ah, Paris. The City of Lights (or the city of enlightenment, depending on who you ask). The City of Monet, Chanel, Cocteau, and Balzac. The city of holy hell, a studio apartment costs HOW much? If you’re penny pinching in Paris, you may be at a loss for things…
How to Find a Job in Italy for English Speakers
It’s no secret that finding a job in Southern Europe is no easy task these days– even people from here are struggling. And if you’re an English speaker moving to Italy, you’ve got an added handicap to your job hunt. So, what jobs are even out there…
15 Signs You Were Born and Raised in Italy
Italians are unique. And whether it be Italian food, cars, or fashion, people around the world can’t help but try and imitate Italians. And who could blame them? Italy is amazing and being born and raised there is something many tend to envy. But how can you tell if…
How to Get an Italian Drivers License in 8 Easy Steps
I’ve been driving for 10 years. Like most good Americans, I got my permit on my 16th birthday and got my license one icy day in 2ft of snow in New York (still can’t believe I passed that one…). I was a driver. I was finished! Not. After…
5 Weird Italian Traditions You Need To Experience
If living in Italy has taught me anything, it’s that Italians have some awesome traditions. And I’m here to share them with you! Check out these 5 bizarre – but fun – Italian traditions. 5 Oddball but Fun Italian Traditions 1. La Befana You know witches? The kind that fly…
Best Italian Banks for Expats
So you’ve moved to Italy. You did it! But, before you pop open that nice bottle of prosecco and celebrate a fait accompli, you might want to open an Italian bank account in your new dream city. “Another thing to do? Oh brother, bank accounts are a nightmare.” I…
3 Ways to Get an Italian Citizenship
So, you’ve got romantic Italian villas in your eyes, delicious wine in your dreams, and a passport in your hand. You’re ready to move to Italy. But not so fast! If you’ve decided that life in Italy is for you, you’re gonna need more than just…
An American Moving to Italy: First Impressions
After 5 awesome years in Madrid, I made the move to Turin, in northwestern Italy. The move came as a bit of a surprise– I had never imagined myself living la dolce vita— and I wasn’t really sure what I was going to like about it. Or love about…
10 Signs You've Been Living in Madrid for Too Long
After over 5 years in Madrid and finally getting a visa, I started feeling like and acting more like a local. After a while of living in Madrid, you just start to know the city deeply and intimately. You start to go native. And, you start to get the feeling…
The Strange Adventures of an American Living in Spain and Italy
After 5 years in Spain, I was on the move again. Next up was Italy. My husband, the native son that he is, was ready to head back home. I leapt at the adventure. See also: How to Get a Visa in Spain in 10 Steps for Americans How did…
Free Guide: How to Get a Pareja de Hecho in Madrid
“Pareja de hecho: the cause of, and solution to, all of life’s problems.” – Every non-EU citizen ever. Of all the immigration struggles I’ve had over the years as an expat, none were so absolutely draining as getting a pareja de hecho. A pareja de hecho, or civil union,…
How to Get a Visa in Spain in 10 Steps for Americans
I had less than a month to get a visa in Spain. It was 2012, and I had just received my acceptance letter as an English teacher– a position which started in less than 30 days. The panic built up quickly. How was I going to get a visa in…