Hi, I’m Niki
I was born In London, England and I‘m living in Positano in Salerno, Italy
I am now living with the family!
I moved here in March 1999 and I am 32 years old.
Originally Posted March 27th, 2007
When did you come up with the idea of living in Italy?
It was all by chance, nothing was planned. I was visiting friends in Positano; one of them offered me a job for the summer. I decided on the spur of the moment to accept, thinking I could learn some Italian and then go back to London.
I enjoyed the lifestyle so much that I stayed on for the winter, and then I met a man, fell in love and have been here ever since.
Was it hard to get a visa or working permit?
I didn’t need a visa because I am already European. The working permit was harder because you can’t get a job if you haven’t got a work permit, and you can’t get a work permit if you haven’t got a job contract.
But, I found that asking help from ‘important’ people helped. I asked the owner of a well known hotel to call the office where the permits are issued and he helped speed things along. It is all about who you know.
How do you make your living? Do you have any type of generated income?
The town I live in is a tourist resort, so there is always work for those who speak English. Since I have lived here I have worked in an art gallery, a clothes boutique, a nightclub and a 5-star hotel.
Finding a job here is all done by word of mouth, or by looking for signs in shop windows. The pay is low and the hours are long, and most people only get one day off a week. It is also seasonal. From November to March everything is closed, so there is no work to be found in the winter.
In England, I was a TV makeup artist, so here I supplement my job by doing makeup for brides and giving manicures and pedicures.
Do you speak Italian and do you think it is important to speak the local language?
Yes, I speak fluent Italian. It took me about nine months to learn. I always had the radio on, with a dictionary by my side, and I read Italian children’s books and talked, talked to anyone who had the patience to listen and correct me.
I think that anyone living in a foreign country should try to learn the language. It is wrong to assume that everyone else should speak your language.
Do you miss home and family sometimes?
I do manage to visit my family two or three times a year. If I feel homesick, I have all sorts of things to comfort me. I might listen to an English radio station via the Internet, or watch an English film, or make a proper cup of tea and treat myself to a trashy magazine.
But in Positano there are over 30 expats, many of whom are English or American. We tend to help out each other.
Do you have other plans for the future?
Not really. But bearing in mind the fact that this town is vertical (built into a steep mountainside so that you are always climbing steps) I have said to my partner that when we are old and can’t manage the steps, we are moving to flatlands!
What about housing, do you rent or have you bought a house?
It is very expensive to buy here in Positano. A two-bedroom apartment can cost €600,000. We rent an apartment, and are expected to pay for everything, including maintenance and upkeep.
On average, renting a two-bed apartment costs about €800 a month. But it is very difficult to find somewhere to live all year round because the landlords can get more money renting weekly to tourists.
What is the cost of living?
Well, generally wages are low. Children’s clothes and shoes tend to be more expensive than in the UK. Medicines are more expensive too. It is easy to get ripped off with ‘tourist prices,’ but if you hunt around you can find bargains everywhere!
What do you think about the Italian people and their culture?
Well, as this is a tourist resort, they are used to seeing lots of foreigners, but the attitude towards tourists is that they are all rich.
There are over 30 expats living in this town, I have been here for eight years, but I find that although they’re normally friendly, the locals don’t want to be friends. There is definitely a divide between the locals and the ‘foreigners.’
What are the positive and negative aspects?
Positive: the lifestyle is more laid back, less stressful. The weather is generally better. When I finish work I can go to the beach. The food is wonderful. There is always someone willing to talk, or pass time with.
Negative: The driving is terrifying. The local school offers NO sport for children. The winter months are hard; the apartment has no heating, no double glazing, no carpets, and it can get very cold and damp.
In winter, the town is almost deserted, all the restaurants and most of the shops and bars are closed, and there is not much to do. The small town attitude can be painful at times!
Do you have any tips for our readers?
Be patient. It will take absolutely ages, but in the end it will get done. (This refers to everything). Do not be ashamed about making mistakes when learning the language; mistakes are good.
If someone laughs and then corrects you, you probably will remember what they tell you.
-Do you have any favourite websites or blogs about Italy?
I write a blog called The Life I Chose, about all the quirky things that happen to me while living as a foreigner in a small town.
I also like Expats in Italy, which has a forum where you can ask for advice and get help, or even just chat with lots of other expats living in Italy.