What's it like bringing up kids in Italy (Pisa)?
Mar 12th 2007, 7:33 pm
#31
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Re: What's it like bringing up kids in Italy (Pisa)?
Hi Sarah
thank you for your prompt reply. where abouts do you live, are in actually in pisa or in a village close by? I am very excited about the thought of moving (if we decide to do it), but my only concern is the children really. God its hard making the descison, but I suppose like you once it has been made you will feel better.
do you really feel that you will move back home after 2 years? have you found a job in italy and friends? becasue we all worry about our children, but i supose at the end of the day while our husbands can work, we are the ones left to deal with everyday life.
Denise
thank you for your prompt reply. where abouts do you live, are in actually in pisa or in a village close by? I am very excited about the thought of moving (if we decide to do it), but my only concern is the children really. God its hard making the descison, but I suppose like you once it has been made you will feel better.
do you really feel that you will move back home after 2 years? have you found a job in italy and friends? becasue we all worry about our children, but i supose at the end of the day while our husbands can work, we are the ones left to deal with everyday life.
Denise
Mar 13th 2007, 1:42 pm
#32
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Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 72
Re: What's it like bringing up kids in Italy (Pisa)?
Hi Denise,
We live in a small village called San Colombano. It is nearer to Lucca than Pisa. If you look on a good map, it is NW of Lucca itself. Pisa is 40 mins by bus to the centre where the leaning tower is.
Yes, we are definitely moving back to the UK as we are going back for our eldest to start secondary school. We have only been here for 6 months so it is all still very 'new'. The only way I would stay for longer is if the children went to an International school (Florence or Pisa) as I am not over impressed with the content and methods they use here. I have to say, they have been welcomed with open arms and they are very happy to go to school and all the other kids are very friendly towards them and have taken them under their wings. The affection of the children and other adults towards our kids has really surprised me, it is so nice. I have heard other stories where things haven't gone so well. It really depends on the school as to how welcoming they are towards 'stranieri'. Personally, I think a small village school is a safer bet.
I am not working at the moment (not for money anyway!) as the kids are always here!! I work from home as a photographer so will pick it up again once the baby is born. My husband has his own business and works from home too, going back to the UK every month for a few days. We are very lucky in that respect.
Friends have made a real difference to us. I really missed 'chatting' with people. It took 4 months before we met anyone we could speak to and I was really lonely but, like the number 3 bus, several came along at once!!! Emma on this forum is someone we've met up with and her lovely family and they will hopefully be nearby once they find a place. All our friends are English speaking though (although some are also fluent in Italian) which I think you need as a bit of a break from trying to think of the words all the time. Do you speak Italian?
Are you planning to be here permanently? There is definitely a 'settling in' period. Tuscany sounds so romantic but there is still shopping and washing up to do and getting tired kids up for school in the morning!! The novelty wears off after a while but there are loads of plusses like the mountains, weather, coffee, beautiful architecture etc etc. I'm really glad we made the move and feel that we will always have links to this part now - we are hoping to buy a house at some point when the right one comes along for long summer holidays.
Anyway, I am rambling ... hope that helps! Sarah
We live in a small village called San Colombano. It is nearer to Lucca than Pisa. If you look on a good map, it is NW of Lucca itself. Pisa is 40 mins by bus to the centre where the leaning tower is.
Yes, we are definitely moving back to the UK as we are going back for our eldest to start secondary school. We have only been here for 6 months so it is all still very 'new'. The only way I would stay for longer is if the children went to an International school (Florence or Pisa) as I am not over impressed with the content and methods they use here. I have to say, they have been welcomed with open arms and they are very happy to go to school and all the other kids are very friendly towards them and have taken them under their wings. The affection of the children and other adults towards our kids has really surprised me, it is so nice. I have heard other stories where things haven't gone so well. It really depends on the school as to how welcoming they are towards 'stranieri'. Personally, I think a small village school is a safer bet.
I am not working at the moment (not for money anyway!) as the kids are always here!! I work from home as a photographer so will pick it up again once the baby is born. My husband has his own business and works from home too, going back to the UK every month for a few days. We are very lucky in that respect.
Friends have made a real difference to us. I really missed 'chatting' with people. It took 4 months before we met anyone we could speak to and I was really lonely but, like the number 3 bus, several came along at once!!! Emma on this forum is someone we've met up with and her lovely family and they will hopefully be nearby once they find a place. All our friends are English speaking though (although some are also fluent in Italian) which I think you need as a bit of a break from trying to think of the words all the time. Do you speak Italian?
Are you planning to be here permanently? There is definitely a 'settling in' period. Tuscany sounds so romantic but there is still shopping and washing up to do and getting tired kids up for school in the morning!! The novelty wears off after a while but there are loads of plusses like the mountains, weather, coffee, beautiful architecture etc etc. I'm really glad we made the move and feel that we will always have links to this part now - we are hoping to buy a house at some point when the right one comes along for long summer holidays.
Anyway, I am rambling ... hope that helps! Sarah
Mar 13th 2007, 2:17 pm
#33
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Re: What's it like bringing up kids in Italy (Pisa)?
Hi Sarah
I am not sure about moving over to Italy on a permanent basis as yet, but we are certainly going to research it thoroughly this year when we come over at easter and in the summer. We have a house near Fornoli, which the children and I spend all of the summer holidays there, and we all hate leaving when the time comes to pack everything away and return home. Although with the ever increasing cost of living in the Uk now (taxes, prices and quality and cost of food) I often think it would give us a better of cost of living if we sold up and moved to Italy.
my husband also has his own business and would work from home and commute back to the Uk occasionally and we also thought of perhaps we should open an office in Lucca instead of working from home so clients can visit etc... lots of things to discuss. mind you I have not told the children that if we do go that they would have to attend school for a 6 days, they will be shocked and refuse to go.
Denise
I am not sure about moving over to Italy on a permanent basis as yet, but we are certainly going to research it thoroughly this year when we come over at easter and in the summer. We have a house near Fornoli, which the children and I spend all of the summer holidays there, and we all hate leaving when the time comes to pack everything away and return home. Although with the ever increasing cost of living in the Uk now (taxes, prices and quality and cost of food) I often think it would give us a better of cost of living if we sold up and moved to Italy.
my husband also has his own business and would work from home and commute back to the Uk occasionally and we also thought of perhaps we should open an office in Lucca instead of working from home so clients can visit etc... lots of things to discuss. mind you I have not told the children that if we do go that they would have to attend school for a 6 days, they will be shocked and refuse to go.
Denise
Mar 13th 2007, 2:22 pm
#34
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Re: What's it like bringing up kids in Italy (Pisa)?
Hi Emma
I am new to this forum and have been incontact with Sarah and would like to say hello and see how you are enjoying living in Italy?
my family have a house in bagni di lucca and I am currently investigating if we should sell up here in the Uk and move to Italy, but with 4 children we are not sure what to do for the best, regarding schools, the language etc....
Denise
I am new to this forum and have been incontact with Sarah and would like to say hello and see how you are enjoying living in Italy?
my family have a house in bagni di lucca and I am currently investigating if we should sell up here in the Uk and move to Italy, but with 4 children we are not sure what to do for the best, regarding schools, the language etc....
Denise
Mar 13th 2007, 9:48 pm
#35
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Posts: 176
Re: What's it like bringing up kids in Italy (Pisa)?
Hi Denise
I can't say I've got direct experience but I've spoken a lot with my cousins here and Italian friends who grew up here and there are lots of advantages and disadvantages to the Italian educational system. It's, like Sarah says, very different from the UK, in that it's much more traditional. It's more O'Level style than GCSE let's say. One thing to always bear in mind though is that it always differs from school to school as to quality (just like in any country obviously!!), and facilities vary greatly from school to school. If you want to live in the countryside for example your children will probably adjust quickly as the school will probably be smaller and lots of the children will live locally and be your neighbours. On the other hand facilities and maybe even quality of teaching may not be as great as in the city where resources are greater... but schools may generally be larger and may have less of a personal touch. One thing I was always hugely jealous of my italian cousins when I grew up was their knowledge of philosophy and classics. They seemed much more widely read than I was at their age. I was one of the first to do GCSEs and that was a world away from any classical education... and in comparison to the amount of homework my cousins did I was downright lazy. It depends really what you want for your child. As they get older, beyond Scuola Media (until 14 years) the children attend more specialised schools depending on their prefered subjects/abilities, for example Liceo Linguistico where the emphasis is on languages etc or Liceo Scientifico where the emphasis is more on the sciences. It is very different from the UK and it is a lot more old fashioned and sometimes the kids are overloaded with work especially with homework. I've taught Italian children and adults and I've never found them to be ignorant or slow learners... just quite vivace, loving their "discussions"! We've decided to settle in Italy after years of travelling and I'm not worried about the children's education here. If you can afford to live in a good catchment area in the UK or send your kids to private school then education in the UK is great. But I think you're making a fab choice bringing up your kids here. They'll be loved by even the most random people on the bus
and grow up wanting to go out for a passegiata with friends to grab an icecream instead of wanting to go out wearing very little clothing in the middle of winter to get hugely drunk! Huge generalisation I know but it does cross my mind whenever we're out in the evening in Lucca and see groups of teenagers about... who don't scare me.... very refreshing! 
One thing I would say by the way is that private schools in Italy are not always the better choice over a state school. My little girl will have to go to a private school next year as we arrived to late to sign her into a state one but I'll definitely be putting her in the local state school as soon as she's able to get a place. Private schools are often religious and if nuns are teaching they do not always hold a teaching qualification. Be warned! The state schools (now!) have fully qualified teachers of course and are state managed.
A great blog by the way from someone whose kid's been through the system and isn't Italian is http://www.beginningwithi.com/italy/...igh_school.htm
Love Emma x
I can't say I've got direct experience but I've spoken a lot with my cousins here and Italian friends who grew up here and there are lots of advantages and disadvantages to the Italian educational system. It's, like Sarah says, very different from the UK, in that it's much more traditional. It's more O'Level style than GCSE let's say. One thing to always bear in mind though is that it always differs from school to school as to quality (just like in any country obviously!!), and facilities vary greatly from school to school. If you want to live in the countryside for example your children will probably adjust quickly as the school will probably be smaller and lots of the children will live locally and be your neighbours. On the other hand facilities and maybe even quality of teaching may not be as great as in the city where resources are greater... but schools may generally be larger and may have less of a personal touch. One thing I was always hugely jealous of my italian cousins when I grew up was their knowledge of philosophy and classics. They seemed much more widely read than I was at their age. I was one of the first to do GCSEs and that was a world away from any classical education... and in comparison to the amount of homework my cousins did I was downright lazy. It depends really what you want for your child. As they get older, beyond Scuola Media (until 14 years) the children attend more specialised schools depending on their prefered subjects/abilities, for example Liceo Linguistico where the emphasis is on languages etc or Liceo Scientifico where the emphasis is more on the sciences. It is very different from the UK and it is a lot more old fashioned and sometimes the kids are overloaded with work especially with homework. I've taught Italian children and adults and I've never found them to be ignorant or slow learners... just quite vivace, loving their "discussions"! We've decided to settle in Italy after years of travelling and I'm not worried about the children's education here. If you can afford to live in a good catchment area in the UK or send your kids to private school then education in the UK is great. But I think you're making a fab choice bringing up your kids here. They'll be loved by even the most random people on the bus
and grow up wanting to go out for a passegiata with friends to grab an icecream instead of wanting to go out wearing very little clothing in the middle of winter to get hugely drunk! Huge generalisation I know but it does cross my mind whenever we're out in the evening in Lucca and see groups of teenagers about... who don't scare me.... very refreshing! One thing I would say by the way is that private schools in Italy are not always the better choice over a state school. My little girl will have to go to a private school next year as we arrived to late to sign her into a state one but I'll definitely be putting her in the local state school as soon as she's able to get a place. Private schools are often religious and if nuns are teaching they do not always hold a teaching qualification. Be warned! The state schools (now!) have fully qualified teachers of course and are state managed.A great blog by the way from someone whose kid's been through the system and isn't Italian is http://www.beginningwithi.com/italy/...igh_school.htm
Love Emma x
Mar 22nd 2007, 3:38 am
#36
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Re: What's it like bringing up kids in Italy (Pisa)?
Hello all,
Emma hope you have settled in okay. Sarah, I'm 25 weeks now. How far along are you? Hope all is well.
I know how much a holiday rental of an apartment in Lucca would cost. But does anyone know how much it would cost to rent a 3 bed house/apartment for a longer term rental? I think I would like to see how it is to live there before I consider buying a property.
Anh x
Emma hope you have settled in okay. Sarah, I'm 25 weeks now. How far along are you? Hope all is well.
I know how much a holiday rental of an apartment in Lucca would cost. But does anyone know how much it would cost to rent a 3 bed house/apartment for a longer term rental? I think I would like to see how it is to live there before I consider buying a property.
Anh x
Mar 22nd 2007, 9:01 am
#37
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Joined: Dec 2006
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Re: What's it like bringing up kids in Italy (Pisa)?
Hey!
We're looking at 3 bedroom properties at the moment. It depends where you want to live. Inside the city walls you're looking at more than 1000 though we did see one place which was beautiful for 950... but there was no balcony or terrace and the 3rd bedroom was looking over the sitting room... but it was fab! Outside the city walls in San Marco, San Concordio, Borgo Giannotti or Arancio which are all within 5 mins walk of the walls 3 bed places range from 700 upwards and are mostly fine. We saw a 3 bed place in Arancio for 700 yesterday. Groovy 70s building, unfurnished but was actually quite nice with 3 terraces and lovely comunal garden for the kids to play in.
Hope that helps. And by the way we love it. Wish we had more money to play with as the salaries here are super low in comparison to what my husband used to earn but short term pain is definitely worth the long term gain. I'm just trying to convince Sarah to stay put permanently!!
Love Ems xxx
We're looking at 3 bedroom properties at the moment. It depends where you want to live. Inside the city walls you're looking at more than 1000 though we did see one place which was beautiful for 950... but there was no balcony or terrace and the 3rd bedroom was looking over the sitting room... but it was fab! Outside the city walls in San Marco, San Concordio, Borgo Giannotti or Arancio which are all within 5 mins walk of the walls 3 bed places range from 700 upwards and are mostly fine. We saw a 3 bed place in Arancio for 700 yesterday. Groovy 70s building, unfurnished but was actually quite nice with 3 terraces and lovely comunal garden for the kids to play in.
Hope that helps. And by the way we love it. Wish we had more money to play with as the salaries here are super low in comparison to what my husband used to earn but short term pain is definitely worth the long term gain. I'm just trying to convince Sarah to stay put permanently!!
Love Ems xxx
Mar 22nd 2007, 1:03 pm
#38
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Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 72
Re: What's it like bringing up kids in Italy (Pisa)?
Hi Anh,
I am almost 32 weeks now - unbelievable! Big celebrations today as we have finally registered with a doctor and I have my first antenatal appointment tomorrow!!! Aviva! I have had all my main blood tests and scans done in England but we only heard the heartbeat for the first time last week as we booked to have a 4D scan in Florence so we could take our other children too. We have also been to visit Pescia hospital in case anything should happen early - I didn't like the look of the stirrups though! And the fact that they had 2 birthing beds (only) and in the same room which was more like an operating theatre! So different from England but the people were very friendly and helpful. Did you find out what you are having???!
We are still planning on returning to the UK but not until 1st or 2nd May now and I am a little nervous that something may happen en route. We will be going by train! Due date is 20th May ...
I think you are wise to rent first. Getting the area right is so important. Mountain villages are all very well but if you have 4 school runs a day plus 2 football runs as we have today then it is not so practical! It also takes a while to get to know the area. Good luck.
Sarah
I am almost 32 weeks now - unbelievable! Big celebrations today as we have finally registered with a doctor and I have my first antenatal appointment tomorrow!!! Aviva! I have had all my main blood tests and scans done in England but we only heard the heartbeat for the first time last week as we booked to have a 4D scan in Florence so we could take our other children too. We have also been to visit Pescia hospital in case anything should happen early - I didn't like the look of the stirrups though! And the fact that they had 2 birthing beds (only) and in the same room which was more like an operating theatre! So different from England but the people were very friendly and helpful. Did you find out what you are having???!
We are still planning on returning to the UK but not until 1st or 2nd May now and I am a little nervous that something may happen en route. We will be going by train! Due date is 20th May ...
I think you are wise to rent first. Getting the area right is so important. Mountain villages are all very well but if you have 4 school runs a day plus 2 football runs as we have today then it is not so practical! It also takes a while to get to know the area. Good luck.
Sarah
Mar 22nd 2007, 1:12 pm
#39
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Re: What's it like bringing up kids in Italy (Pisa)?
Just a quick note while I'm here! Sarah, and anyone else in the area, have you thought about a home birth? I know it's probably way off course and totally not what you're after but I've met a mum here in Pisa who had her baby at home... so there are midwives out there that do it... sounds nicer than stirrups! So medieval nature of Italian architecture obviously extends to the nature of the hospital equipment!! But glad the staff were friendly... that is so important. I almost gave birth to Gaia in the corridor of the hospital in Cardiff as there were no beds available... but the staff were so lovely I didn't care!
Take care all and let's hope we all meet up soon in this lovely land!
Ems xxx
Take care all and let's hope we all meet up soon in this lovely land!
Ems xxx
Mar 22nd 2007, 1:27 pm
#40
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Posts: 72
Re: What's it like bringing up kids in Italy (Pisa)?
Hi Emma,
Yes I have thought of it and would still consider it if I could find out any info and met the right person! The worry is that I could be perceived as fairly high risk, considering my age, miscarriages, no of children etc etc. If we were still in England I would have opted for a home-birth as I know a private midwife and it would have been so much easier not to have to find a babysitter at 3 in the morning! Another concern is, if there was a problem, where I would be transferred to - best hospital for babies as far as I can make out is Florence! A little too far for comfort!
Thanks anyway, let me know if you come across an English speaking midwife!
Love Sarah x
Yes I have thought of it and would still consider it if I could find out any info and met the right person! The worry is that I could be perceived as fairly high risk, considering my age, miscarriages, no of children etc etc. If we were still in England I would have opted for a home-birth as I know a private midwife and it would have been so much easier not to have to find a babysitter at 3 in the morning! Another concern is, if there was a problem, where I would be transferred to - best hospital for babies as far as I can make out is Florence! A little too far for comfort!
Thanks anyway, let me know if you come across an English speaking midwife!
Love Sarah x
Apr 3rd 2007, 5:10 am
#41
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Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 23
Re: What's it like bringing up kids in Italy (Pisa)?
Hi Sarah,
No, I didn't find out what we are having. We are still going to wait for the surprise. I'm in California at the moment. Going to get married tomorrow. Spring here is great. How's the weather in Lucca at the moment?
Good luck with making your decision about where to give birth. I'm back in the UK at the end of April. My due date is 1st July.
Emma, hope you are well.
Anh xx
No, I didn't find out what we are having. We are still going to wait for the surprise. I'm in California at the moment. Going to get married tomorrow. Spring here is great. How's the weather in Lucca at the moment?
Good luck with making your decision about where to give birth. I'm back in the UK at the end of April. My due date is 1st July.
Emma, hope you are well.
Anh xx
Apr 3rd 2007, 8:20 pm
#42
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Re: What's it like bringing up kids in Italy (Pisa)?
Wow.. congratulations Ardua on your wedding! How exciting! Things are finally coming together as we've found ourselves a dream house. We just hope there aren't any more hitches before we move in... I'm not gonna stop crossing my fingers until my duvet is on my bed and I'm closing my eyes in the beautiful bedroom there!
Gaia starts school next week so I'm sure I'm in for a some ups and downs there but at least she's friends with one of the kids who goes there. Hopefully it'll help. I do worry but that's what us mums have to do it seems! Anyway hope to see you in Italy soon... the weather's been lovely!
Ems xxx
Gaia starts school next week so I'm sure I'm in for a some ups and downs there but at least she's friends with one of the kids who goes there. Hopefully it'll help. I do worry but that's what us mums have to do it seems! Anyway hope to see you in Italy soon... the weather's been lovely!
Ems xxx
Apr 4th 2007, 6:46 am
#43
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Location: Vicenza, Italia
Posts: 119
Re: What's it like bringing up kids in Italy (Pisa)?
As another expat member of the 'incinta' club (due October) I have been looking into my options and came across a few useful websites for home birth info in Italy. Sadly there does not seem a great deal that will be of any use to me in this area but I can forward the links on private messages if any of you ladies are interested - just let me know.
Carrie
(due October) I have been looking into my options and came across a few useful websites for home birth info in Italy. Sadly there does not seem a great deal that will be of any use to me in this area but I can forward the links on private messages if any of you ladies are interested - just let me know.Carrie
Apr 4th 2007, 1:13 pm
#44
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Posts: 72
Re: What's it like bringing up kids in Italy (Pisa)?
Hi Carrie,
Yes, I would be interested to hear about some home-birth sites just in case (not for number 5 but in case the baby comes early!!). At the moment, we are travelling back to the UK by train at 37 and staying in a Travelodge for 3 days and then a house so it is all feeling a bit complicated! My e-mail address is in my username dropdown menu.
Thanks a lot!
Sarah
Yes, I would be interested to hear about some home-birth sites just in case (not for number 5 but in case the baby comes early!!). At the moment, we are travelling back to the UK by train at 37 and staying in a Travelodge for 3 days and then a house so it is all feeling a bit complicated! My e-mail address is in my username dropdown menu.
Thanks a lot!
Sarah
Last edited by jdr; Apr 4th 2007 at 3:52 pm. Reason: removed email address to stop you getting spammed.
Apr 30th 2007, 5:32 pm
#45
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Joined: Apr 2007
Location: Livorno Area
Posts: 25
Re: What's it like bringing up kids in Italy (Pisa)?
Hi All,
I'm a newbie to the forum and have been reading the messages on this topic. Although I'm not a mother, I've been working a lot in the schools here in the Livorno area. I agree with most of what has been said about the schooling system here. I've been here two years and haven't found many English speaking friends. Would love to meet up some time and find out what you Anglophones get up to........... any events coming up?!? 'Tis hard to find similar minded folk here in "Leghorn"............
I'm a newbie to the forum and have been reading the messages on this topic. Although I'm not a mother, I've been working a lot in the schools here in the Livorno area. I agree with most of what has been said about the schooling system here. I've been here two years and haven't found many English speaking friends. Would love to meet up some time and find out what you Anglophones get up to........... any events coming up?!? 'Tis hard to find similar minded folk here in "Leghorn"............