This my be premature, but I am just too excited NOT to post this! It is with 99% certainty that D and I will be moving to Verona! Can you see it now: Jessica in Verona! (I am putting that on my list of things to do blog wise). We are basically waiting for the official signed documents from the Italian Air Force to come through. D has “friends” in the troop relocation office, of course, so that’s how we were able to find out before the official movement announcement came through. Red flags were also raised when the NATO base he had applied at requested info on yours truly to do a background check. I guess they wanted to rule out me being a spy or something-haha. However, we had long given up hope that he would get the job when we heard nothing for months. I was shocked when D came home last night and said that Verona was back on! I am so happy for him because he will be working on a NATO base which is a huge step up in his career. I am also happy for me as well (hee hee). I am dying to get out of Rome and live in civilization northern Italy. The work contract is only 4-5 years initially so we would have the option to return to Rome in the future (basically we can come home if it sucks). The move may take place in either June or September, we will know more info once we get the official documents. I hope that you, dear reader, will take this journey with me. From my extensive Googling there doesn’t seem to be a ton of Verona expat bloggers, especially a fabulous 24 year old female blogger like myself. I will keep everyone updated as we find out more in the coming weeks! This is such a blessing and could not come at a better time for us. D and I are so excited to experience a different place together and build a better life for ourselves.
Please let me know if you have any info or tips regarding Verona or life in the north.
Woo hoo! Congratulations! Things do sound way more civilised in the North of Italy. I’ve never been to Verona but I’m sure things are cleaner, more efficient and the driving is better. Whenever I go North I’m always struck by how rich everyone looks - fancy cars, bugaboo strollers, fur coats etc.
You should read Tim Parks’ Italian Neighbours and Italian Childhood (actually I’m not sure of the second book’s title but it’s something like that). He lives in Verona.
Congratulations! I look forward to reading about your northern adventures, plus Verona is so romantic-Romeo-and-Juliet (this is NOT to imply that you and your husband are in any way star-crossed!)
Were the pictures above taken in Verona? It looks gorgeous.
Very exciting! P.S. I’m moving in July-August too (location TBA).
Wooooooooooooooooooooooo!!! I’m so excited for you!!! More adventures to come! I love reading your blogs!
Verona will be great! After visiting some American friends there while we were living in Siena, Reed and I wished we had chosen Verona instead of Siena as our new Italian home! We loved it so much and the area is great! Good luck!
Aww, I was looking forward to more of your adventures in Rome =( but Verona sounds great too and I’m excited for you guys! Congrats to D on the career advancement!!
Such exciting news! So happy that you both got what you wanted. I have never been to Verona, but have heard it is beautiful. I am sure you will settle in just fine xx
I’ve been to Verona twice and it is a FANTASTIC city. I’m looking to teach English there (fingers crossed) so maybe I’ll see you there!
Hi! My name is also Jessica (I go by Jess) and I’m the product of one Italian parent and one American parent, and I’ve spent most of my life on and off in Italy. I consider northeastern Italy home — the Friuli region, not Veneto, though. I’m thrilled for you about Verona! It’s a wonderful city! I love Rome very much, too, but northern Italy is where it’s at for me!
I’ve been reading your blog for a while now and really enjoy it! Sorry I didn’t comment until now! I just moved from Europe to Hawaii about a month and a half ago so anything I read about my beloved Italy makes me happy!!!
How exciting Jessica and I will definitley be along for the ride :-)
Just make sure you get in line and do that Vatican Museum tour before you leave, it is right up there with the Grand Canyon and Venice for me after 20 yrs travelling.
Ahhh, Verona. I think you will love it there. After all it is the setting for such a romantic story. Maybe your romantic story will continue there. It will be nice to read a blog from and about Verona. Buona Fortuna
Verona is a great city- very civilized, organized, and CLEAN! I lived there in 96-97 on and off and I quite enjoyed it. Interestingly enough, a fellow American expat (who was living in Florence at the time and wanted to move to a more promising city) did loads of research and came to the conclusion that Verona had the best quality of life, the best job possibilities, and higher pay than most places- she moved there and LOVES it. I recall there being a decent size expat community, they used to meet up at the movie theater that played films in english (V.O.). And to top it all off, Verona is a gorgeous city with amazing food! Fingers crossed for you =)
Lucky you! Verona is a beautiful city, with the Veneto within easy reach and all those wonderful villas. It’s a ‘real’ city, chic, cool and happening you’ll have a blast. Good luck.
Cool! I LOVE Verona. And it is not far from where my husband and I might be living. He is from the Veneto (near Padova) and we are still deciding if our life will be here in the US or in the Veneto. It is a lovely city - have you ever read http://www.italiantrivia.blogspot.com/ ? I am not sure exactly where she lives but it is near there I think. I’m excited for you - can’t wait to hear more!
Wow! It gets so exciting every time I come back to your blog. It is so thrilling all of your adventures that you go on. Here is hoping there will be one for me in my future.
Greetings expat- great blog!
Ooh, exciting stuff. Jessica in Verona
If you’re on a NATO base does that mean you get American supplies too?
Verona is lovely! It has everything you could possibly want from an Italian city - all the character and ice-cream coloured buildings, old churches, good coffee, markets, art, ruins - but you can still breathe there in summer unlike Florence and, I imagine, Rome. The driving *is* marginally better - many is the time I’ve stepped off the kerb only invoking my patron saint OR guardian angel instead of the entire host of heaven and I am alive to tell the tale!
I am hoping to go to live in Lazise on Lake Garda this autumn - and I can’t wait.
I totally agree, that is why I am so excited. Living on Lake Garda sounds wonderful! Good luck!-jessica