Eloping to la bella Italia
Bernadette Casey and her husband Peter run a sustainable textile company in Milan.
What inspired your move, and how long have you been there? Two years ago we surprised our friends and family by eloping (with our children) to Tuscany. At that stage we had no idea we would end up living in Italy, but having an Italian marriage certificate was certainly handy when applying for a permit to stay. We made the move in December last year. What do you do there? Our business The Formary develops new textiles from agricultural and industrial surplus fibres. Working with research institutes and technical engineers, we develop high-quality textiles that are more resource efficient and kinder on our planet. We work with a mill in Prato, Tuscany, so being close to it rather than on the other side of the planet makes the process a little easier. We initially moved to Lucca, a lovely little walled medieval town, but once here we realised that the regional train from Lucca to the mill took the same time as the fast train from Milan, where many textile and design trade fairs and sustainable conferences are held. Although it will be a shame to leave Lucca, Milan is calling. What are the greatest advantages to living there? You have all of Europe on your doorstep – well, within a couple of hours – and it’s nice not being on the wrong end of the time zone for international calls. The population in Italy is diverse, all the world collides here and it’s hard not to love Italy’s humanity – when Europe abandoned the sea rescue operations of immigrants escaping from Africa, Italy continued on its own. I think Italians are far more tolerant of inconveniences and of each other – they kind of have to be. Disadvantages? Bureaucracy! Simple tasks can become herculean. Unless you are in a major city like Rome or Milan, supermarkets and most stores are closed on Sundays and in the middle of the week between 12.30 and 3pm, or whenever they feel like opening again. Italian food is beautiful, but if you ever feel like something a little different you may be pushing your luck – we discovered peanut butter on the exotic shelf of our local supermarket. How expensive is it compared with New Zealand? How much is a beer? Some things are much cheaper, like makeup, shoes etc. Don’t know the price of beer, but wine is cheaper. Banking is more expensive – 500 (NZ$745) account fees per year – car registration is hefty and then there are toll roads and, inconceivable to a Kiwi, paying for a spot on the beach. What do you do in your spare time? When we arrived we knew no-one so I set up an immigrants group and now have about 40 members. It’s informal, we meet for coffee or events, festivals or whatever is going on in the region. We also joined a book group – in true Italian style, there is a full meal served. What’s the local delicacy and would you recommend eating it? In Lucca it is tripe – there are not many things we would not eat, but just can’t bring ourselves . . . Also, Italians have a mad fascination with Nutella, it goes on and in everything. Easiest way to get around? Loving the intercity trains – simple and comfortable but, being Italy, prone to delays. Motorway speeds are 130 kilometres an hour and Peter has adapted to the style and speed of driving unnervingly quickly. What’s the shopping like? Milan is brilliant – shoppers’ heaven. Best after-dark activity? Evenings in the piazza with the locals (sometimes includes dancing) and after-dinner strolls. Best time of year to visit? Spring and autumn – summer can be a little too full of tourists. What are the top three things you recommend for visitors? Advice from Italian friends was to avoid the crowds on the Amalfi Coast and go to the Ligurian coast for summer – Portovenere is drop-dead beautiful. Lucca is just plain lovely – walking along the tree-lined top of the wall, a tidy 4-kilometre circuit, is a mustdo. And Lake Como for sheer dramatic beauty. Besides family and friends, what do you miss most about home? The ease of doing anything – New Zealand’s easy systems, transparency and lack of bureaucracy are hard to beat. Drinking water from a tap rather than having to carry every drop up four flights of stairs. Clear signage and good roads. Miles of beach with hardly a soul in sight. For Kiwis looking to move there, which industries are seeking fresh talent? Unemployment is high here, so I would advise against coming looking for work, but if you have a role to come to or can make your own, it’s an exciting place to live. If you know an expat who wants to share inside knowledge of their home away from home, email escape@startimes.co.nz with Expat as the subject.