Ok, I'm a senior in High school and I have recently decided to move to Rome when I graduate. Any advice?

Question

Ok, I've worked out the common sense stuff.....I need to know about the things that aren't so obvious. I already know what I need to get to go, and I have found out everything about the culture that I can (I fell in love with Italy when I was 15) and I speak the language fairly well. I've looked up everything from crime rates to the average temperatures. I just want to make sure I've not left anything out. So any advice would be helpful. Oh, and also, I only plan on living there for about a year before I go to college because I won't have the chance to go after I get out. Oh, and another thing, I'll be traveling there and living there by myself until I make friends there, though I will have a room mate because I will only be able to afford to rent a room in an apartment, not the whole thing :( Thanks!

Answer 1

I am so jealous. Rome IS awesome.

Well, it looks like you checked everything out. I was in the military and stationed in Italy.  I met some Americans there who were students. Because, you probably won't have a work permit...you can't get a job. But some of the people I met, decided to stay during the summer and just found odd jobs in which they were paid cash.

I don't think you'll have problems making friends...even American friends.

I just hope you have enough Euros to get started. Getting set up is expensive. You'll probably be living a pension until you find a roomate? They run between 300 and 500 Euro every ten days.

Or, you could stay at a hostile for about 15 Euro a night (hostile.com) but since you are by yourself.....I really don't recommend it. But, it is a great way to find a roomate you know.

Okay, I really don't know what else to say......be as safe as possible!!!!

Answer 2

Can you LEGALLY live in Italy?  That is the most important question of all.  If you're there illegally and your landlord kicks you out and steals your stuff, or if you need medical care, or if you need to get a job to pay for your airfare home, you're really screwed.  If you have to call the police because someone attacked you, one of the first things they will ask you for are your immigration documents (this happened to me).  Landlords won't rent rooms, much less apartments, to people without papers (unless you're renting illegally... which opens up a whole new can of worms).  The second important thing is whether or not you can speak Italian - I moved to Italy (for work, with five days notice) without being able to speak Italian and had a really difficult time.  

To find a room, go to the universities and technical colleges - there will be lots of posters for shared apartments.  Note that a "posto letto" situation is where you rent a BED in a shared bedroom- it's VERY common in Italy.  I personally prefer to have my privacy!  You can usually stay in a youth hostel while you apartment-hunt, I suggest staying in one that doesn't have an afternoon lock-out.  You may be surprised by your Italian roommates- I lived with three different Italian girls (ages 25-33) and none of them showered daily, plus when I invited friends over they would often make really rude remarks about English and American people (although they never said anything to me when I was home alone!).

I also think you might not have your head on your shoulders if you think "I won't have the chance to go after I get out."  That's insane.  There is NO college program IN THE WHOLE ENTIRE WORLD that mandates that you must start working immediately after graduating.  Often employers look highly upon post-degree overseas experience, because they know you had some time to think about what you really want to do, and chose their company to work for.

Answer 3

www.tripmates.com - find your some cool friends who are already living there!

Answer 4

yeah...don't!

Answer 5

Just use your common sense and be careful. Don't go anywhere alone at night. And take as much money as possible because you are going to need it (but keep it in a safe place)

Answer 6

man good luck dood

i move out 400 miles away n im still struggling

good thing theres family near by