I moved to Rome when I was 25, having spent my entire life in California. 25 years of perfect weather, ridiculous traffic, celebrity spotting, and paying too much for rent. 25 years of studying, going to the beach, studying, getting a job, wishing I was at the beach, working, and having it all come crashing down.
Luckily, I have it all figured out- when life hands you lemons, move to Rome and make delicious lemon gelato.
Now, I’m 20something. I still pay too much for rent, but the cheap and abundant wine more than makes up for the added expense.
Loved reading your blog on whats up in your world. It looks like a good place to visit( hint::hint)
Be careful. I didn’t see my picture on the things I’ll miss the most. love G
love your blog, especially the metro police post ( happened to me ) , I still can’t believe they made you pay 50 euros! If your ever in Florence, let me know e prendiamo un caffe!
Georgette- it happened to you too?? Every time I see an ATAC officer, my heart beats a little faster. Florence is on my list of to-visits, so I’ll definitely let you know. Ditto if you’re ever in Roma!
Natalie! I just stumbled upon your blog now! Congratulations on your writing and moving out! It feels liberating, huh?
Fun blog! It took me back to our first year in Italy! Enjoy every second of it, it is such a wonderful place to live at. If you are back in southern CA, we could try and find a good BAR to meet at.
Good luck
What a nice blog, yeap Rome is a special city isn’t it…
Hi, I really enjoy reading your blog! I just moved to Rome from New York City to pursue doctoral studies at Sapienza University of Rome. I’ll be here for at least 2 years so I’m looking to meet other young American expats living here. I’m still adjusting to the whole new lifestyle here in Italy. If you have any tips to offer for a new girl in Rome that would be great!
Cheers,
Brittany
Brittany,
I am an american living in Florence, but my bf and I want to move to Rome and I want to enroll to La Sapienza and of course because its Sapienza its impossible to find any kind of assistance or real information on anything. If there any thing you tell me of your enrolling experience (as an american enrolling there) that could help me on my way it would be much appreciated!! My email is walters12@up.edu.
Ashton
P.S. I really love this blog! And I remember last summer when I moved to Italy the first time I thought it would be magic and gelato too. It was mostly just sweating, unhelpful rude people and almost getting run over a lot.
Hi! I’m italian but unfortunately living in the cold baltic Europe for work, and I came to your site while googling around for some nice picture of Rome, where I was living before leaving.
Then I saw and read about coffee, basil, olive oil, the picture of Rome, la pizza, i gelati, Trastevere, and every single word was a trip back to the Eternal City and every picture a stab in my heart …
I love Rome, and I’m missing it so much. You are such a lucky girl to be there …
I also enjoyed your comments about ATMs and italian men asking about cooking skills – LOL! I’m not of that kind but I know a lot of my friends that are like this.
Thanks a lot for your site and keep it growing up!
Greetings from Tallinn.
Marco
P.S.: if you have time go to Caffè S.Eustachio (just in front of the Pantheon) for having probably the best coffee in Rome. A bit expensive but it’s worth the price, you have to try it at least once in life. And greet for me Piazza Navona e la Fontana dei Quattro Fiumi, they are so close. Ciao!
Marco! Thank you so much for the nice note, and for the tip! I will definitely try Caffe S. Eustachio as soon as I can.
Stay warm and come back to Rome!
Yes, sure the best coffe in the world.
Hey I really love your blog! I too am an American 20 something girl living in Rome. And I have a very pressing question: where did you find quinoa here???? I’m a vegetarian and occasional vegan and I would love some helpful hints to make finding food easier (like where was the Hippy House?)
Thanks!
Bailey
Hello, I have come to your blog via Bagni di Lucca’s blog! Small world.
I agree with Marco above that Caffè S.Eustachio is a great experience, and being near the Pantheon (my favourite building in Roma) is a bonus.
Well done for getting out there and doing it. You won’t regret having made the break. I have spent plenty of time in Italy over the years and I know it’s not perfect, but there are so many amazing things to see. Enjoy every pannini (or pizza, or gelato, or caffe…)!
I’ve linked to my recent 10 week trip and my “regular” irregular blog below.
Mary Louise Tucker
http://mltucker.wordpress.com/
http://tenweeksinitaly.wordpress.com/
I love your blog, I’m enjoying it alot as I said before. I always wanted to go live in Italy for a year or two, and I keep asking my husband if it’s gonna be possible for us to do someday… my dream is to explore every city in Italy form North to South and taste every italian specialty… and maybe work at some restaurant or a pasticceria. A friend told me also to visit Bracciano, I wasn’t sure of it, but now after seeing your pictures, I love it… we might go there…. Nice blog.
Hi,
I came across your blog and I thought I’d write to you to ask you some advice. I’m from Edinburgh, Scotland and I’m going to Rome in 12 days for the first time for a week on holiday and have been toying with the idea of staying there. I thought I would do it later in the year but I have no obligations in Edinburgh tying me down and I’ve wanted to live in Italy since I was a teenager. I’m 29 now. I’m learning Italian and I don’t know if this is a really crazy idea, well it is a crazy idea but I don’t know if it’s viable, moneywise. I’ve been looking for a room on easystanza and have found various options but I would have to view properties when I visit before I made any decision. Do you have any advice you can give me? Did moving involve some months of planning etc. for you as you’re American?
I look forward to hearing from you.
Kind Regards
Naila
Hi Natalie,
I hope you don’t mind me getting in touch. I found your details on your website and I hope you might be able to help me with my strange request…
I am a Producer working on a television show called House Hunters International which follows English speaking expats in their quest to purchase a house abroad. I wonder if you or any of your expat contacts might be interested in getting involved?! Please find a little blurb about the show below:
House Hunters International is a half-hour program currently airing on the Home and Garden Television Network (HGTV) in America.
The series is designed to de-mystify the international home-buying process by going behind the scenes of a house hunt where buyers and their real estate agents tour 3 homes.
At its core, House Hunters International is a travel show concentrating on the idiosyncrasies of the locales and what makes them special and different.
You can watch some examples of the show here:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kh0Q6DYe3QM – London from South Africa (1600 series) http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fLmhKEzm5kg – Dubai from Illinois (2000 series)
Please get in touch if you have any more questions about the show. I look forward to hearing from you!
Best wishes and many thanks,
Michelle
Michelle James
ASSOCIATE PRODUCER LEOPARD FILMS
1-3 St Peter’s Street, London N1 8JD – +44 20 7704 3300
michelle.james@leopardfilms.com
http://www.leopardfilms.com
Love your blog! I ran across it planning my honeymoon to Italy. I laugh… I just told my husband last week that if I didn’t know him, I would have packed my bags, my mom and moved to Rome to freelance. Then I found your blog. Sounds so wonderful. I’m a Graphic Artist/Illustrator… how’s the job situation over there. Do you have clients here and there?
Oh… maybe one day… in the meantime have my honeymoon in September. So, from reading your blog, I need long dresses and comfortable walking sandals.
Tori
Hello,
I’m a ‘romana de roma’ who moved to Bruxelles 4 years ago. I’m miss my born city, but thanks to your blog, I feel like I was in Italy everthing I read your post… I’m fond of your blog, you make beatiful photos, and I don’t know how, but in my opinion you understand italian culture better that the Italians…
Continua cosi’!!
Best wishes and many thanks,
Sherly
Hi Sherly,
How is Bruxelles? I’m glad if I can provide any reminder of Rome from an outsider’s perspective. Thanks so much for the nice note and encouragement
-Natalie
Hi Natalie!
Really enjoying your blog, I moved to Rome in June from Seattle for an internship and I am always looking for expats to hang out with since I left my whole social life behind and Italians are nearly impossible to befriend
Let me know if you ever want to get aperitivo!
-Sara
Can’t believe you’ve already been for here for a year- doesn’t it seem like yesterday when you arrived?! Adding you to my blogroll! Keep having fun <3
Love Rome and love your blog! I’ve vacationed there many times and I keep going back. Wish I could live there myself.
Mike in St. Louis
Just wanted to let you know that I discovered your blog recently and now I’m completely addicted to it. I’m moving to Rome from Canada in September (for no reason other than feeling that I need to do something big to make my life more interesting), and I have to admit that I’ve been sifting through and enjoying your archives, all the while getting more and more excited for my own big move. Keep up the great writing, I’m looking forward to reading more!
May i (and all of us) follow you one day.
Will be in Rome in a few months, ten years after i first landed there on a september morning as student. I have been back a few times but i can only say my being and emotianal temperature are at its center in that great place.
Congratulations and it was a pleasure discovering your blog.
Good luck!
Hey,
.
I stumbled across your blog whilst searching the web to see if anyone else had gone through the nightmare of sorting their Dichiarazione di Valore! I plan to move to Trieste in September to start a Masters in Neuroscience hopefully, but it’s so nice to see someone else who has moved to Italy and to see a well documented take on the new life that you have embraced! Looking forward to the many more interesting stories to come
Ciao!
That sounds awesome, Kirsty! Good luck! (and pack warm)
Hey Kirsty!
Just found out about this blog because of excactly the same thing! Kinda like it so far
It was fun reading the way to get it because I’m in the thick of it at the moment and can’t tell any good about it too
I’m also planning to move to Trieste to begin studying languages next year.
So did you start?
I have been in Trieste before because friends live nearby but tell me how is it to really live and study there?
Ciao
Michael
Hi,
How do suggest going about getting a work visa? I have visited Rome several times and have finally decided to make the move. I am also finding it challenging to find an apartment via email. Any suggestions?
Hi Angela,
It is really difficult to get a lease without being here. I lucked out because I know my landlord personally. If you are thinking about longterm, then it might be worth (/necessary) to make a trip here BEFORE you get your visa, arrange everything, and then go back to get the visa with your lease in hand. A pain, I know. Sorry!
Hi!
I am really enjoying your blog and your pictures are beautiful! I am getting very excited about my upcoming trip to Rome! I have a favor/question and wondered if you could help. My husband and I are coming to Rome in October and actually get there on a Friday, which is our 10 yr anniversary! I would like to plan a dinner and was wondering if you could recommend a nice restaurant. I would love to go to a local favorite with great food and not too stuffy. We are staying near the Colosseum. Your suggestions would be so appreciated!!
Thank you,
Joanna
I did this very thing in 2006. Sold all my stuff, stored the rest and bought a one-way ticket to Rome. Since I came back to the States I haven’t stopped scheming how to move back… For now, I will live vicariously through you. Thanks…or rather, gracie.
Tanti auguri!
Tyler
Hi Natalie! I’m Italian and I live in Rome since I was about one year old. Now I’m 20 years old. How long have you been living here? Do you like it? Which neighbourhood did you choose to find an apartment? It would be interesting to start a conversation about it
It’s always pretty funny to read about living in your city from a foreigner’s perspective and I’m enjoying your blog right now.
Bye!
Lorenzo
Hello I am an American student (also from southern California) in Rome at the moment and I just wanted to thank you for this blog. It is so inspiring and helpful when I am out and about in the city. You seem like a pretty cool person and this blog is fantastic! Please keep posting such wonderful little tidbits and I wish you well!
Thanks so much, Anne! I hope you are having a fabulous time in Rome!
So happy to find your fun Rome expat blog… I love Rome and often seeing myself running away to live there. I’ve had to settle for 9 visits and counting… two of them last year and one in a couple months I think. I am loving your particular experience of every day life in Rome as an American and all your local flavor tips are treasures!!! I’ve been keeping a tumblr photoblog of my time in and obsession with Rome (and Naples) but recently began a more traditional writing/photo travel experience blog on WP of my adventures of being a ‘tourist’ in rome who loves the off the beaten path spots of rome and is trying to get to know the eternal city in a local sense when I steal away to it. Not the same as living there every day – but I am trying! And I realized I was silly to not put down my memories and favorite spots for others to read about and for my own sense of nostalgia. Thanks for creating a great guide and an interesting food centric – yay – rome site. Bookmarking you!!!
Hi Rebecca! Your photographs are lovely. Thanks so much for the note– really looking forward to your next posts!
Thank you! I CAN’T WAIT TO pour over your inspiring archives this weekend…