Im Going to Milan, Italy To Be With My Love Of my Life Im Italian But From Chicago, Are Things Very Different?

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iTaLiAnA

yes is very very different in Italy than it is in America.... but most Americans I have known who have visited Italy love it..... plus if you are with the love of your life, it will make it even better for you!!! good luck and have a great time!!!

jalady

Get ready for a culture shock.
You should love it though.

Deacon Dan

Milan is a large, modern city. Don't expect to find the picturesque Italy of the South. It is famous for factories and fashion.

xekm.auburn

Well of course.
The Italian you're used to has been influenced A LOT by American culture.
You are in for a culture shock.

WOW. Now looking at your additional details...

Domenico Nesci = Guy from A Shot at Love with Tila Tequila..MTV.

Good try, though.

Genius Cook

Hello Love.... from big city Chi-town to very urban Milan you should not have too much difficulty adjusting. You'll find the traffic a bit confusing in Milan and the air heavier... it doesn't have the lake you've got in Chicago. You'll find common ground city wise.... but you'll soon realize that you are years apart culturally. And if you don't speak Italian you may even feel isolated.
If the love of your life is culturally flexible and sensitive enough to help you through the first weeks and months then you will have no problem adapting.
Your mission is to understand and speak Italian within SIX months. You can do it easily buy believing in yourself and moreover... your relationship. Should you need some consolation from other English language speakers then contact the Professional (business) Woman's club. Call the Milan American Chamber of Commerce or the US Consulate there for the number and for contact info on the rest of the English language expat groups based in Milan.
I lived and worked in Milan for many years and found that the English speaking expat community very well organized to help eachother, to socialize and to (job) network.
Best of luck to you!
GC

Cycwynner

Pal, are you going to need adjustment.
The biggest shock is in the â€œserviceâ€ sector, in the States â€œyouâ€ are the customer, â€œyouâ€ are king. In Milan, although one of the most rational of Italian cities, you have to â€œwooâ€ those behind the counter. Then you might even be treated in a much better way than in Chicago. The second shock is in the Financial world, keep touching base with your Chicago connections, you'll need them. Thirdly in taxation, itâ€™s a maze of guessing what the best road to honesty and success is. Fourth in the lack of specialisation, because in Italy you have to improvise half the time. I could go on a while, but I donâ€™t feel like discouraging you, after all I sailed â€œSouthâ€ and never regretted it. But then again I brought the love of my life with me and we chose to live in Italy and the Eternal City of our own free will. The positives are the weather, the food, the really loveable people (not the smile because youâ€™re paid kind) and the feeling that you are â€œreallyâ€ an individual with friends in a friendly country.
Donâ€™t be nervous, either of you, youâ€™ll get by and after a while you wonâ€™t want to leave the country any more. One important item: plant a tree somewhere, together, then watch it grow.

Mari76

Yes, things are very different. I'm American but I live in Italy. Most Italians don't even consider Italian-Americans real Italians. The Italian food is sooooo much better and nothing like the Americanized Italian food you eat in the States. Even if you think it tastes authentic, it's not. Not every Italian in Italy has olive-skin complexion and dark hair and eyes. Family is very important in Italy...in fact, it's not strange to see siblings and cousins all living in the same town (or even in the same apartment building). Bureaucracy sucks, but no country is perfect. Northern Italy is more industrialized and has more work, but Southern Italy has more beautiful scenery (but very little work opportunities). Etc. Etc.

Andrea

Probabily you are leaving from a country were find an emploj is possible for a conutry were find an emploj is very difficult.

thatonekeed27

Never been there but I have it in my blood. Good place. I'm from Chicago too, Jeff Park area, you know the area, when you get back, go to Roselli's pizza, find it in Italy too.

Barbara

It is different. It is an old style city.

But it's beautiful, you'll like it!

Eggplant

It is SOOOOOOO different-in good ways, mostly!

Natty M

if you really love him/her that much, would it really matter?

it is a different country ( and continent!) so i assume its a bit different.

Sandcastle

of course.
the weather is warmer.
landscape and scenery is beautiful.
amazing food.
gondolas.
many tourist attractions and points of interest.
agreed with the first answerer, definitely a culture shock.
GORGEOUS males.
different language and accents.

of course it will be different. you're going overseas. a new stream of fish down there.

Frank N

Yes, very .......
It's a man's world.
When in America women's rule.
But they say love is blind.
All the luck to you and may your dream come true.
www.yamuca.com

ozzie.1947

Yes. Very different. Major cuture shock. Milan is like the state in 1930 or 40...except it's Italian, of course. You'l like it, it's beautiful but it ain't Chicago!

Soccer Boy13 :]

we live very close to chicago, my dad's been to chicago and milan...you will be amazed at how different they are! my dad also said that for being in italy so long, you'll be kissing the ground when you get back to america, because it's so different, and this country gives so much more. kinda. i thnk you know what i mean. bottom line, they are VERY different!!!!

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