Why Italy

Do I pack my bags and move from the U.S. to Italy with my 15 year old daughter and her pet potbelly pig?

Currently, I am an english language arts teacher in the states looking to leasehold an english language school abroad. The school is being offered as a turnkey opportunity along with a cottage to live in ...375,000 euro for all. I have spoken to my daughter and she is up for the adventure. Still, I have some concerns. I do not speak Italian! I have researched many teaching opportunities abroad and they state that speaking the language is not required. In fact they mention not speaking the language of the students will force them to learn english faster. My U.S. credit score is less than favorable but I've read this may not be an issue if I leasehold the property and that my credit history won't follow me. In addition, the school is said to be profitable and well known in the area. Thus, obtaining agreement from the local banks should not be a problem. Of course this is what the current owner states. I want so much to be done with my humdrum life here in the states. Life is no longer fun. The bills keep coming and money is short. I hear teachers of english make a good living overseas. With a dissapointing love life and no child support ever! ...I am more than ready to hit the road. My daughter could benefit a great deal overseas! I just don't want to be impulsive and regret it. However, how long do I wait to experience what life has to offer? I am 37 now and all I've ever been is a single parent, a student, an employee or a girlfriend to some disappointing jerk. This is my time! Isn't it now or never? Opinions please.

Public Comments

1. First of all, research the opportunity as fully as you can. Don't allow any exceptions. Then, if it all seems above board, absolutely no question about it go for it. You probably won't get many chances like this (if any) again. But make ABSOLUTELY sure that you aren't just throwing your money away.
2. This sounds like quite a leap!! (In fact, I'm a little envious) It really feels exciting to take such a chance! I can just picture it...It's dusk, the night is falling... you're sitting on your veranda overlooking the village square...drinking a glass of wonderful local wine while listening to the musical voices of the people walking below...what's that sound? A knock at the door...It's Giacamo, the butcher's 26 year old apprentice, bringing you your order from the shop...(This is how romance novels are written...It sounds like a wonderful experience for you!!) But...(there's always a 'but') we have to live in the real world most of the time. I have found that those 'precious moments' we all enjoy are a product of some planning. How can you possibly let your hair down if you've pulled it all out worrying over bills? Peace comes from safety and security so I think that you need to look at this in a practical, pragmatic sort of way. I think that you should be SURE that you would be able to support your daughter over there...you know, some kind of guarantee that the school will be yours when you get there. Contact the local banks and start working out the details as soon as possible. If you go to Italy without a plan you just may end up writing on an Italian website about how you're just running a school and you're not very happy. So...my advice is to do it!! Don't just do it, but do it well!!! Remember, life is what you make it.
3. If they guarantee you the job, the wage is good, you have seen the contract and sign it, you dont need to speak italian so i advise you to do the step, but remember sooner or later you will be like an alien if you are shut in your world, when you live in a place you have to mix with the world there and i advise you (if you want accept) to start to study italian which is the national language there and you need to sort out your life (outside the school). This is an advise but if is a good opportunity for you i will say go for it
4. Have you ever lived expat before? I have lived on 3 continents, and you need to be more prepared than just being up for adventure and tired of your bills. You are talking about taking on a half a million dollar commitment! And your accomodation will be tied to your job, so if things don't turn out, you will have no home. You need to investigate this much more seriously. Have a professional go over the books. (Keep in mind that many business keep official books for the tax man and books for their own records. That is why sales tax is so high in Europe, they collect tax that way and not so much by income tax. ) Get in touch with past students and find out how their experience was with the school. Are there contracts with businesses that will provide a steady income stream. (eg. Iveco promises to upgrade the English language skills of 10 employees per month) There are plenty of locals providing language education, so what will set your school apart? Get Rosetta stone, so you and your daughter have at least rudimentary Italian. :You will have pay lots of extra money to get an interpreter to get help you if you can't help yourself. As well, your daughter could be held back as much as 3-4 grades in school. It isn't much fun being 12, and in class with a 8 year olds. She will be there until she graduates. Don't count on the banks just giving you money, their lending laws tend to be much more stringent than in North America. You will have no ties to the community, so the standard you will be held to will be much higher than a national. Be prepared for lots of extra taxes and charges that you are not used to in the US. I am concerned that you seem to be trying to run away, without much thought for the practicalities. Moving is expensive, and once there, you will not have the support of your friends and family. Remember, if you skip out on your debts, they will just be waiting for you when and if you get back to the US. Please consider all these ideas, if things work out, it could all be great, but I think this sounds really hard to make work. (Half a million dollar commitment, wow)
5. Sound like a big decision to make. How does the father of your daughter feel about this?