Article Written By Max Ortolan

Moving to live in a foreign country, focus on Italy

We are Max and Lina, married couple with kids, and expats for many years.

Max is Italian, first moved to live in London, UK, over 25 years ago, than moved to China in summer 2002 for a work experience and still resident there.

Lina first experience abroad was university in Singapore. And than moved to live with kids in Italy in summer 2018.

OUR EXPERIENCES ACROSS DIFFERENT STAGES OF LIFE

Moving to a new country is always challenging, and interesting too.

Still is hard to generalize and suggest where to move to everybody.

Also to consider, you move on your own, or as employee of a company, so they support you all the way and help you with housing, and various benefits? This makes a difference!

For our experiences, needs, expectations and challenges are different not only from person to person, but especially related to different stages of life. In looking at them

Young life

Young Life: “Adapting and Thriving: Max’s Early Days in London and Lina’s University Time in Singapore”

Max moved to live in London when 22. To learn English language, start to work, and than he also studied university there. Lina was in Singapore when 18, to complete her university business studies and graduate, in a boarding school.

At that age people are more flexible. And have less money.

Probably Max experience is better to present here.

Max’s Experience in London: “From Hotel Cleaning to University: Max’s London Adventure on a Budget”

Max went to London with just over 2,000 Pounds in his pocket. Got the first job he found to help him live in London. Cleaning rooms in hotel. Working daytime, than attending English classes in the evening so to reach a level that allowed him to register university the year after.

Always working daytime, and attending university in the evenings.

Max lived in relatively cheap places in zone 2 and 3 of London. Renting rooms in flats shared with other people.

Keeping his expenses at minimum. Still enjoying life when possible with friends, going out, party, bit of shopping, mostly cooking at home, as going to a restaurant would be too costly. As you know London is expensive city, still can also live without spending much if one can adapt.

For Max what was relevant at that time, was the ability to find a job, and university where to study. And London offered both.

Healthcare Observations in the UK: “Navigating Healthcare: Young Expat Perspectives in London”

And when young, we do not care much about health care. As we expect to be strong and never need to go to doctor or hospital.

Still in his years in London Max had 2 visits with doctor, the General Practitioner, and once in hospital for small things. And also spoke with other expat friends there, families. So Max noted how bad is the quality of public health care in London-UK compared to Italy and other European countries. As above, no real issue for Max at that time, still could be an issue for older people.

Transition to China: “A New Chapter: Max’s Shift from London to China”

Than Max moved to live in China when 27. Completely different country.

And in a way with easier settings. As he was employed by a company that gave to Max a place to live, and supported also food expenses and gave other benefits. So Max life has been easier in China from start.

This to say that for a young person, moving to one or other country at the end is not a big decision. What matters is to be able to find a job, and eventually to study. For everything else, a young person should be able to adapt.

Family life

Family Life: “Building a Home Abroad: Max and Lina’s Family Life in China”

Than love came, Max met Lina after 1 year in China. They moved to live together, and needs started to change.

Max decided to invest, with the help of his father, and buy a flat where to properly live.

Than after 2 years Max and Lina married. And decided to have kids. Vanessa was born after 1 year. And Riccardo 2 years later.

This to describe how family needs change life. First living in a better house, possibly your own instead of renting (at least in this the Italian and Chinese culture match, as both give value of having own property where to live).

Health care needs change. Is there good hospital for giving birth? How are the health care services for the kids? We always hope kids will be healthy and strong, still as parents we worry about it. Even for simple things like vaccinations. And in this side China was good! Health care in big cities where we lived, always been good, at least for the small needs we had.

Educational Choices for Children: “Local vs International Schools: An Expat Family’s Decision in China”

Than is education! Starting from kindergarten.

Our kids went to Chinese schools. Not international schools.

An expat family always has to make this important consideration. There are international schools? Will I send the kids to international school or to local school? How the quality and teaching changes?

On our side we choose local Chinese schools for several reasons:

Cost. Local schools were free, beside the low cost for lunches and books. International schools are expensive in China, like everywhere else in the world.
Quality of teaching. Yes international schools give you a certificate that can use all over the world, still most of them are British-American system. And our experience is that the quality of teaching in primary, secondary and even high school, is low! Kids are not pushed to learn much. On the opposite side Chinese schools push kids to study a lot and learn many things. Probably pushing them too much. Still from our point of view, better to push more learning, than less.
Being a mixed family for us was also more important that kids learned properly the Chinese language, than English. As Chinese, with reading and writing, is the most difficult language to learn. English on the opposite, the easiest. And at home and around, we always speak all, Chinese, English, Italian. So kids were fine.
And, as note, we also sent the kids to Italian classes on Saturday mornings.

Moving to Italy: “A New Beginning: Lina and Kids’ Transition to Life in Italy”

Than in 2018 we decided that Lina and kids should move to Italy. So kids could start middle school there and learn better Italian in view to high school. And in a way by chance, we choose Pisa as city to live. Max hometown is near Milan. So Pisa had no connections for him.

Still we liked the city, the fact that is near seaside. The quality of the schools for the kids, from primary to university, the quality of the hospital, and also the airport in the city for Max frequent travels.

So you are a family planning to move to live in other country? The things relevant for you to consider are housing, education for the kids, health care in general. Maybe also transports as it is for Max.

And I make an example. A letter that went viral few months ago of a Scandinavian family that decided to change life and moved to live with 3 kids in Italy in Sicily. As they visited on holidays and fell in love.

Than after few months they run away as had very negative experiences with the education system there for the kids. And also a bit health care issues they had.

I did a post myself time ago on this in Linkedin. Italy is always all lovely everywhere as country. Still people need to understand the differences that exist in Italy. Bad to say as it seems racist, still is reality. North and South Italy are very different places! With central Italy as well.

North Italy has very good schools! South Italy not! So you take kids to live in Sicily, do not expect much for education! If this family did bit of research in advance, would never have moved to Sicily, but to other places in Italy.

Retired life

Retired Life: “Planning for the Golden Years: Considerations for Retiree Expats”

Whilst we are not yet retired, with kids still in high school, we can share some info too for retirees.

When old needs change. Kids are usually away from home. We live alone or as couple.

We like to relax in life. What are our hobbies? Do we like to live in a city with more people and activities like cinema, theaters, cultural events and more. Or we like a simple life seaside or mountain or country side. In a small town where little happens and everyone knows everyone, or even in a farmhouse bit isolated? Do we like to make our garden, grow vegetables, fruits, raise some chickens or else? This helps to identify where to live and type of property.

And also as older people, we like to stay most of the time at home, or travel? So is an airport easy reachable nearby? What are the public transport to reach it?

And what are the costs of living? North Italy is more expensive than South. Even more the double, depending on places. So what is your budget?

Healthcare in Italy: “The North-South Divide: Healthcare Quality Considerations in Italy”

But than at older age what is the most important thing? For my point of view health care!

When old things can always happen. And, as example, by the World Health Organization, Italy is considered the second best public health care system in the world after Switzerland (used to be the best until about a decade ago). One thing great, is always good to move to Italy. But than no! As I mentioned above, North-South of Italy are very different! Whilst there are pharmacies and general practitioners everywhere, the quality of health care you see it when you have serious needs. And whilst hospitals in Centre-North Italy could be considered best in the world! Most in South Italy would be at the bottom of the list in Europe.

A fact, when in serious needs, people from South Italy that can afford it, travel to hospitals in Centre-North Italy for cures.

I take the example of the hospital in Pisa. That is growing to become the third biggest in Europe. In talking with doctors and friends working there, half of the patients are people coming from South of Italy in needs of quality health care!

So if as retiree you love South of Italy, still understand this. And be ready to travel when in needs. Or alternatively evaluate to be in a region in centre-north.

And should also look at taxation of pensions and other relevant financial details, like inheritance taxes, property taxes and more. Italy in Europe probably is the paradise considering these financial things for retired expats. Will write separately about this in future, as is a different discussion.

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FINAL

We used our life experiences, and others, as examples. And Italy as country of reference.

Still is the same for all over the world.

What is your stage in life? Young? A family? A retired person? What are your needs? What you like? What you give relevance to? Evaluate all.

Than travel, and as well, a good suggestion if you can, rent a place, live there for few months to understand how is in real the life in the place you selected. Than if all good. Buy a property and settle there.

Hope is all useful to you, and we will be pleased to chat or share more suggestions with people that want to know more. Contact us anytime!

Max and Lina

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About the Author(Max Ortolan)

Pacchini Immobiliare, a longstanding family business rooted in professionalism and honesty, traces its origins back to the 70s when Piero Pacchini began his journey as a real estate agent in Pisa. In 1980, he established his own agency, which has flourished over the years. Today, Marco, Piero's son, manages the agency alongside his wife, Daniela, with the valuable support of their children Simone, Miriam, and Sara. This dynamic team has expanded Pacchini Immobiliare's reach from Pisa to various regions in Tuscany. As a member of The Link Glocal network and having been part of the Remax Group, Pacchini Immobiliare boasts extensive experience in real estate collaboration. Marco, a certified property manager, leads the team, with Daniela contributing her wealth of expertise in real estate transactions. Introducing Max and Lina, internationally trained business partners fluent in English, Chinese, and Italian, Pacchini Immobiliare is poised to cater to the needs of a diverse clientele. Max, an Italian businessman with extensive experience abroad, and Lina, his Chinese wife, offer unique insights into expat life in Italy. Miriam excels in managing rental properties, while Simone and Sara specialize in fulfilling customer requests with personalized solutions. Pacchini Immobiliare, under Marco's guidance, not only delivers real estate solutions but also shares expertise through continuous training and collaboration.

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