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Why I gave up my Italian Residency after 7 years. Life in Italy can be a dream but is often overly romanticized. After home renovations, learning a new language, dealing with the infamous Italian bureaucracy, emotional ups and downs, the passing of my dogs, and missing my family terribly, I decided to make a change. Was it Under the Tuscan/Campania Sun?
Starting all over again in Italy definitely has its challenges, but I wouldn’t change a thing. I feel honored to have been interviewed by Cinzia Ferri of Instantly Italy. We talk about living in a small village in Italy after years of working in San Francisco, being away from family and friends, cultural differences, how my life has changed, and what I miss the most since moving to Italy. Hint - it has to do with food - always!
My 5 favorite things about living in Italy. There is so much to love about Italy so I chose the things I look forward to every day: Italian coffee, Italian food and wine, the pausa (or siesta), a strong sense of community, and the beauty and diversity of Italy. Read about my 5 Favorites and some expats and locals who have inspired me.
My desire to learn Italian is a neverending journey with many ups and downs. Here's my story as a Californian, moving my life to Italy while learning a new language and culture. I share my 5 top tips to make learning Italian easier while having fun.
Like many places in Italy, they speak a dialect specific to this town or region. It’s called Guardiolo here in Guardia Sanframondi and is very distinct. Let’s learn a little dialect!
Learning Italian has been a joy, a struggle, and very funny - mostly for others. I continue to learn with lots of ups and downs. Here is a top tip when speaking Italian. Always "Fico," and never "Fic@"!
The first thing the locals ask you when you tell them you have moved here permanently is “Perche?” “Why?” That’s not always an easy answer for me because I knew nothing about the Campania region or Guardia before my move. I had planned to move to Sicily or the Marche region in the North, but never Campania.

Ashley Bartner of "La Tavola Marche" and Susan Dufresne of "Get Lost in Italy" chat about life as American expats in Italy. We talk about living in a country with different traditions and cultures, learning a new language, gaining residency, citizenship, what we love, and what we miss the most. If you dream of moving to Italy, we hope this video answers many of your questions.