One of the things I love best of having started my blog is the chance to get in touch with many people and other bloggers.
I love to discuss and exchage points of view with people with different experiences, cultures and nationalities. This makes you feel close to so many friends, even at distance. Each of them with different interests and passions, but all linked from following a blog or from writing their own where they talk about what they particoularly care about. Sometimes it also happens to find bloggers with very similar passion to yours…that’s what happened with Issa, an American lady who moved in Le Marche seven years ago and I got in touch with thanks to her own blog: Le Marche Magic. Please keep reading this wonderful interview, which is also the outcome of a beautiful interaction between bloggers 🙂
Where are you originally from and when/where did you move to Italy? Did you move with family?
- I did not move with a family but on my own at 39 yrs of age. I moved here from where I was living at the time, the smallest state in the United States called Rhode Island. I moved here to be with my grandmother who lived in Florence. I say lived cause she passed away over a year ago. [We’re very sorry to hear that]
How did you find the transition to living in a foreign country?
- I found the transition extremely easy, since I am a woman who loves the challenges life presents me. I love people and traveling. I feel mother earth is our home and would love to meet as many different types of people with also different beliefs than my own, I feel this will complete me on my own life’s journey.
How does the Italian culture differ from home? Which aspect of Italian life was most difficult to get used to?
- To be specific, Le Marche how it differs from home is that the lifestyle here is wholesome something I have not to pay a whole paycheck to have but here it is a way of life that I love. For me there was nothing difficult to get used to, it all came naturally to me because I feel this is a way of life we are supposed to live.
A beautiful view of Le Marche by Issa
What are the locals like? Do you mix mainly with other expats?
- I love the ‘marchigiani’! They have a way about them of watching you for about a year to sum up who you are before letting you in…This is good, because we all should pick the people in our lives the way we pick our fruit…I mix with expats who have integrated in to the lifestyle here only.
Was it easy meeting people, making friends and integrate into the community?
- Yes, I have been very fortunate to have made many many wonderful life friends and also have been the witness/ maid of honor for a dear friend, as well. I do have a habit of making lifetime friends wherever I go.
Is there anything you miss about living in Usa?
- No.
What do you enjoy most about living in Le Marche and the Italian lifestyle?
- The way I am able to live my life, healthy.
Issa visiting the beautiful Torre di Palme
What’s your favorite Italian food?
- Very hard question to answer because every region has a specialty, but I am partial to seafood. No I love seafood and vegetables … and here it is all fresh and that is wonderful!!!
In our blog we try to incentivize people from all around the world to find out more about Italy and particoularly about Le Marche and their local tradition. Have you ever visited Le Marche before and if so what did you love the most about Le Marche?
- Before 2009 I had never heard of Le Marche…and I love EVERYTHING this is why I also have started a blog to bring the world here…secretly because it should remain a treasure always and the tourist that come to visit should be people who want to keep the traditions and help keep the goodies of Le Marche. I would hate anyone who came and disrespected this beautiful region of Italy. I would never want it to become like Venice or Florence or Rome for that matter.
How difficult was getting a work visa/permit?
- I was lucky to have found my soulmate here…but I did try and get a 1yr visa and it is not an easy thing to get if your an American. First they want to know if you have at least $100,000.00 dollars in your bank account (I kid you not) they want proof…and you also need to have a monthly check from , social security or retirement. Just to make sure ur not coming here to steal work. I personally had over $45,000.00 and a letter from the Secretary of State of Rhode Island and a letter from someone here in Le Marche (who is very influential) to say they would house me free of charge to just write my book….yes, at the time I wanted to write a book as well. But when I met my husband to be, not a lawyer would touch me, but to be honest with the internet and my wits I managed to get all the paperwork needed through New York and a firm I hired there.
How does the Italian work culture differ from your country?
- Here they believe in family and…vacations.
How does cost of living compare to home?
- It is so much cheaper here to live.
What negatives, if any, are there to living in Italy?
- None!!!
What are your top tips to any future expats or people considering moving to Italy from abroad?
- Do it!!! Live everywhere you find your place on this earth and be limitless with your life.
In retrospective is there anything you would change?
- Not a thing.
Why should people visit Italy?
- Well from everything I have written above, it is obvious that I believe that every human being should travel. “Mother Earth is our home, just like you know all that is in your house. One should visit and try and understand as many humans beings living on our planet. Maybe we don’t incorporate always their lifestyles into our own, but what makes us RICH is at least understanding where they are coming from.” [Quote by Issa:-)]
You are also writing your own blog. Can you tell us a bit about it and when/why did you start your blog?
- Yes my blog is called Le Marche Magic, I love where I live here in Le Marche and have found MY OWN special place on our mother earth. I would like to share it, I feel the untouched nature of Le Marche can really help and touch many people. Even if they come for a visit or to live. Le Marche is a way of life.
I hope you all enjoyed this enthusiastic and pleasant interview from Issa.
Please don’t forget to visit her blog about Le Marche: http://www.lemarchemagic.com
I closed my original interview with a
“GRAZIE MILLE ISSA!”
and I’d like to share her lovely reply…
“You are very welcome! I hope I answered all your questions to your satisfaction. It was extremely easy for me to write all my answers since my fingers just flowed with love of writing about the place I love. A place called Le Marche.
With pleasure”, Issa 2/21/2017 Grottazzolina
Discovermarche 
You make it sound so tempting!
There was a movie . . . if I could only remember the name . . . that showed a small Italian town off in this very way. I longed to go there for about a year after having seen that movie!
Google to the rescue . . . it was “Under the Tuscan Sun” with Diane Lane – 2003!
Virtual hugs,
Judie
You’re right Judie! Looks like Issa is living ‘her own movie’ under the Sun of Le Marche:-)
XoXo
Judie, I loved that movie. To be honest, Tuscany used to be beautiful and untouched everywhere and some places far far from civilization in Tuscany it is still like that. But I personally also like to be close to civilization and a airport or train station and here in Le Marche I can live a beautiful natural life without the hussel and bussel. Rome is 2 hrs away and Florence is 3 hrs.
Just yesterday I discovered 15min. from my home a Natural bio farm, run by a expat family
they also have come here and are living their dream, check out this wonderful site it really is inspiring and just makes me smile.
http://www.indacofoods.com/
Wow – thanks for all that information. I’d love to visit sometime.
So lovely to know about another fellow Italophilie and passionate lover. Great story too! Thanks for bringing to us readers. Hoping to visit Le Marche next yr.
Ishita,
Thanks so much!!!
I’m also very happy of finding out so many people are inspired and have fallen in love with Italy!:-)
Waiting for you to visit Le Marche!
Big Hugs
LOL…. Love the “I” words here. Ishita, Issa and Italophilie…inspiring…lol in Italy… sorry just playing with words. Ishita, Mona really wrote a wonderful article. I thank you for enjoying it and her for writing it. We hope you come and Discover the Magic of Le Marche, we are waiting.
Thanks for sharing. It was wonderful to real so much so that I will plan on moving there 🙂
LOL! Please just do it!!!:-)
Wooknight,
I tell you not only the place is beautiful but the people here are real down to earth wholesome folk. Who love and are proud of where they come from. As my daughter says when she comes every year for a visit, Le Marche is like ……Ohmmmmmm.
That is a delightful endorsement. Thank you, I will definitely keep it in mind
WOW!!!!! Thank You… this is a wonderful pice….
Enjoy!!! Glad you loved it and…thank you!:-)
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What a beautiful testimony of life in Le Marche – I feel it in the pictures and Issa’s testimony brought it to real life. What a beautiful place to BE. in lak’ech, Debra
Thank You Debra! Issa is definitely an exceptional testimonial for Le Marche:-)
What a wonderful conversation to be privy to; I felt as though I was a part of it.
I’m so pleased the move turned out so well for Issa. Finding a soul mate, and enjoying life has to be the best outcome, to be sure…
Carolyn,
To be honest, it is easy here for your dreams and desires to come true. Because you actually can hear yourself think, without all the underlying noise of the world. To understand what you “really want and need” in your life. Don’t get me wrong, I do love the States, but there is so much there, so much going on. So much anger, that I could even feel it when I was on my own at Kripalu a yoga retreat in Stockbridge, Massachusetts. I was there when i decided to move here to Italy, first Florence (also a noisy place) and 2 weeks later feeling i could not hear myself think. At a party of expats, i was sitting in a corner with a bit of a headache an English gentleman sat down next to me and told me of this place called Le Marche, I left 3 days later and never looked back. Here i have the gift of clarity, I am glad you enjoyed the pice above and really hope to see you here, we are waiting….
Issa
I love your reply to Monica, below regarding finding yourself, then you soul-mate. Little bells tinkled truth, when I read that. I am so pleased for you. 🙂
😉 😊
A beautiful share of courage, transitioning and love! … most impressive and personable love story!
Carolyn,
thanks for your lovely comment. I hope Issa’s words will help other people to find their ‘home’.
Sometimes if you believe in your dreams they become true.
I was thinking just now about what was said about finding my soulmate…. and I must add that I found my soul-mate before I met my husband.
It took about a year of being here in Le Marche and a beautiful thing happened, I fell in love with me and I was truly happy. Then everything else fell into place. Le Marche Magic…. ZAP!!! it happened again! LOL
Reblogged this on Le Marche Magic.
grazie, da una marchigiana.
Grazie a te, cara Fede:-)
Great interview. This makes me want to move 😀 Or at the very least, come for a visit!
Terrific! That’s the goal:-)
I hope someday to travel and maybe find somewhere else to live. Currently I have obligations to fulfill. I know it’s hard for Americans to be welcome somewhere else these day (I don’t blame other countries) and may get even harder with the current political arena (one reason I’d like to leave), but I am working on connections, especially through my blogging! Thanks for this article. At 60 years old, the only place (besides a brief visit to Canada) that I’ve been was Parma, I Italy. It was many years ago and a wonderful experience, but I was staying with a friend on Fulbright there…so it was like living there. 🙂
Ciao,
thanks for sharing your thoughts. I understand what you mean. However, I don’t think anybody would not welcome Americans.
Speaking in general, there are so many issues going on in many other countries in the world and you can’t really blame citizens for that.
But anyway, I was thinking, maybe even if you can’t plan a move at the moment, it would be great if you could just travel and visit some other places…like Le Marche, of course!:-) This might give you some satisfaction!!!
Then, I agree: Parma is just such a beautiful Italian city, as well.
Grazie!!!
With your permission, I’d like to share this post on the MIX, a weekly blog. This is fantastic. email laratrace [at] outlook [dot] com
Absolutely! That would be great!
Thanks so much for sharing the post:-)
This will run March 8! Gratias!
You’re welcome! Anytime!
Traveling and experiencing different cultures is priceless! I enjoyed reading your post!
Jaycee, thanks so much for stopping by my blog!:-)
I can’t agree more! Travelling is a true source of inspiration and help understanding different cultures. Which is definitely so important!
Reblogged this on By the Mighty Mumford and commented:
A FASCINATING LOOK AT THIS BLOG CREATOR!
GraXXie!:-)
Sweet 😘😘
Thank you both for this wonderful interview. Between you both I feel like I know Le Marche so well and would love to visit some day. I went to a culinary school which was based on French cooking principles; however, we did spend quite a bit of time with Italian cuisine, which is as varied as French is. I loved making the dishes and still do – they are healthy and fresh, much more so than a lot of the food that originates in North America!
LOL! Thanks for sharing your experience.
I’m sure if you could visit Le Marche one day, you would definitely enjoy food so much. Besides all the other beautiful things that actually…’originate’ here!!!:-)
It would be great if you could take some traditional cooking classes. My friends Silvia and Donatella from “Fabrica del Gusto” in Fabriano will be happy to help!
https://discovermarche.wordpress.com/2015/03/19/fabrica-del-gusto-chefmaster-in-fabriano/
XoXo
Oh, my, yes! I just checked out your post on them and that would be heaven for me!
WOW!
Lydia, I’m sure you would enjoy it so much! Looks like your a great fan of Italian cuisine!:-))
XoXo
As an Italian gal living in the U.S., I would move to Italy in a heartbeat if I could. I love the culture, the laid-back life, and the love of family and food. I enjoyed this in depth interview very much. Thank you!
Nancy,
Thank you so much for your lovely comment!:-)
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Thanxxxx!!!
Lovely interview. Great questions and her personality really came across.
Thank you Joan!:-)