Living in a centuries-old borgo in Liguria, Italy, has its drawbacks but for American expat Megan, accepting the downs as well as the ups is all part of the experience. Here she talks about some aspects of her expat life in Lerici, where she lives with her husband, the growth of her business,and everything that makes it all worthwhile.	Megan McCaffrey-Guerrera

-Where were you born?
Newport Beach, California, USA

-In which country and city are you living now?
Lerici, Liguria, Italy

-Are you living alone or with your family?
I live with my (Italian) husband and our lab, Lucy.

-How long have you been living in Italy?
Off and on almost 4 years.

-What is your age?
39

-When did you come up with the idea of living in Italy?
When I was 13 (you can read that on my blog!) I fell in love with Italy and traveled here about 15 times before making the move. I started a business which allowed me to travel here more often. Once I met Luigi, it was a done deal. I didn’t move here for him, but I am happy to stay for him.

-Was it hard to get a visa or a working permit?
Which time?! Yes, but with some “Italian” strings and lots of patience, everything fell into place.

-Was it difficult for you to get medical insurance before you went there or when you first arrived?
No, I had good expat insurance and now that I am married, I am part of the health system here. So far, so good!

-How do you make your living in Italy? Do you have any type of income generated?
I run a “Personal Travel Concierge” service which I started in between stays in Italy a few years back. I was fortunate enough that it has blossomed into a viable company and made the move here inevitable. I am proud to say I created it all on my own, but am really hoping my husband comes to work with me soon so we can grow it together!

-Do you speak Italian and do you think it's important to speak the local language?
I do speak Italian fluently (with a few hiccups, of course!). I understand even dialects now, that was a big hurdle. I first went to school in Florence which gave me a good foundation, but it was when I moved in with Luigi’s family that it all started falling into place. Even though I live in a somewhat touristy area, there are not as many English-speaking people as one might expect. I like this because it forces me to learn more and more.

As for customs, geez, I live in a 500-year-old borgo where most of the residents are over 70 and still members of the labor party (aka communists!). There are so many of them, I can’t keep track. Maybe the one that sticks out the most is RESPECT YOUR ELDERS, and Italians do that pretty well.

-Do you miss home and family sometimes?
YES, YES & YES. This year it will be 13 months between trips. Usually my parents come to visit in between but for different reasons cannot make it this year. And none of my closest friends will be visiting this year either. It is difficult, some days worse than others. But then I think of Luigi and I realize I would not want to be anywhere else.

WHAT I MISS: Mexican food (I make it sometimes, but it’s not the same as my “dive” in SoCal), beach volleyball (my rear end misses it too!), Target (nothing like one stop shopping!), Emerald Bay (the beach I grew up on), outdoor shopping malls (ok, superficial but true!)…

-Do you have other plans for the future?
Hopefully working with my husband and building the business more and also a bambino or two (sooner rather than later for us would be good!).

-What about housing, have you bought, or are you renting a home? How much do you pay for it?
We rent an old typical Ligurian house. It is old and has some ugly furniture, but it also has a garden for Lucy, a covered outdoor kitchen and dining area and a million dollar view of Lerici and the Med. Our rent is also ridiculously cheap for the area, so I limit my complaints on not having hot water in either kitchen!

-What is the cost of living in Italy?
Where we live is very expensive. In fact, it is one of the most expensive areas in Italy. It would be very difficult for us to buy something decent here. Even a rustico is a rip-off.

-What do you think about the Italians?
Truthfully, I think the people of Lerici are not so great. They are notorious for their “backwards” mentality. It is a very difficult place to make girlfriends (bummer). Most ladies I have become friendly with live elsewhere (Florence, Piemonte, Venice, etc.) – and many of them are American. I hope I don’t sound too harsh!

-What are the positive and negative aspects of living in that country?
POSITIVE: Beauty beyond belief at times, gorgeous food and wine, the work to live not live to work attitude (as cliché as it may sound, it is true for most), so many things to do and see and experience, change of seasons (I am from SoCal so…), my husband.

NEGATIVES: Backwards mentality as stated above, lack of organization, nosy neighbors (ok, and sometimes in laws!), lines at the post office, stupid “movie of the week” television shows.

-Do you have any tips for our readers about living in Italy?
Do not think it will be all “under the Tuscan Sun.” Life can be hard here in a way I can’t really explain. You have to live it, to get it. I am sure there are expats like me who know what I am talking about. Be prepared for things not to work out as planned and to take enormous amounts of time (and sometimes money). I once read that there are 4 steps to living in Italy: the first is the honeymoon stage, the second is denial and rebellion (it can’t really be like this?!), the third is acceptance and the fourth is full integration. I am in #3.

-Do you have any favorite Web sites or blogs about Italy?
My site: www.bellavitaitalia.com
My blog: http://bellavitaitalia.blogspot.com/
My favorite place (biased as I met my husband here): www.portovenere.it