Lost in Garfagnana
 

Hello to everyone, I am not totally new to the site, but new to italy and to be honest, feeling a little lost and isolated, having moved here november without language friends or family...
Anyone living near to Garfagnana please?!!!
Internet consists of an hour huddled in my car as house has no reception phone or telly, so communications scatty to say the least.
Contact most welcome! lol

Re: Lost in Garfagnana
 

Hi Almond and welcome,

Where is Garfagnana, I've never heard of it ??!! Sounds like you must be far down south if you have problems of internet connections!!
Why is your location still listed as Berkshire ?

I have lived in Benevento for 23 years and I also found it very hard to adapt without family or friends.

A presto :)

Re: Lost in Garfagnana
 

Hi and thanks for the reply. My locations set to Berkshire as I am not good with technology and havent thought to alter it! Garfagnana region is northern Tuscany, and I am in between 2 mountain ranges in a valley, so reception's impossible. I have a car charger and internet plug in but dont think the chargers working well so its hit and miss even when i drive out to get reception. Late at night on mountain roads alone with a 13yr old's not brilliant either.

Re: Lost in Garfagnana
 

Hi and welcome. A lot of the regulars are in the u.k. for xmas. Don't know if there is anyone your way.

Re: Lost in Garfagnana
 

Hello - Give it time! You could also try offering free help with English to anyone who wants to hone their skills - maybe even a conversation group? Once you've found a way in people will be very friendly.

Re: Lost in Garfagnana
 

Thanks everyone. We are near Castelnuovo di garfagnana, so if anyone is nearby, I'd be so so pleased to hear form you!
Happy new year too

Re: Lost in Garfagnana
 

It is a while since I have been to the Garfagnana, but for being in rural Italy it has a suprising number of English speakers in and around Barga, not far from castelnuovo. There was a lot of Italian emigration to Scotland and then many returned back, including some of the local restaurant owners. From what I can remember there was even a Scots -Italian museum there.Some of the locals there may be able to give advice on your connection problems. Hope this helps.
dock32

Re: Lost in Garfagnana
 

Hi almond! I'm in Florence if you are ever in for a trip! I know there are other Brits around there as I remember someone off another site having a house in your area, so they do exist! Keep in touch - you could get a different charger from one of the big electrical shops in Prato or Sesto if you think it's that.

Re: Lost in Garfagnana
 

hi almond? hope you had a good christmas and new year.
what made you move to the hills?
must be hard without friends and family.
i live in windsor in u.k. but in the spring or summer at the latest i hope to be moving to emilia-romagna, not too far from where you are.
ive been looking at buying a renovation project somewhere between sestola and Castelnovo ne'Monti.

Re: Lost in Garfagnana
 

Hello, I live in Florence with my husband so if you find yourself down here let us know. We came here in November too and are getting a bit sick of each other's company!

Re: Lost in Garfagnana
 

Hi Almond,

I think WWOOFed near there (terrible experience!). It is pretty isolated though if I remember and cold this time of year (altho we didn't have heating). I'm in Rome, but if you fancy getting away from it to the capital for a while, I'll be happy to meet up for a drink! :drinkwine:

How did you come here, what are doing up there?

Re: Lost in Garfagnana
 

Thanks AmyJB, it certainly is bleak.....
I think its made so much worse by having no internet, phone or tv. We are between two valleys and theres no signal, and the driving out in terrible weather to find internet is not fun at all.
I wasnt meant to be here alone, but my husbands had to stay on in the UK to work so its left me and our 13 yr old here to get on with it, which I dont seem to be doing. Sobbing into the laptop at all hours in the cold isnt good for the soul. But thank you for any small communication because it helps. x

Re: Lost in Garfagnana
 

Is there any reason you can't move slightly towards a bigger city? I have just moved to Milan - the thought of moving abroad was scary enough, so having a big city with lots of people and facilities really helps to make things comfortable and I am making new friends every day (can't speak Italian yet though!).

Home internet in Milan is amazing - twice as fast as the connection I had working for a large company in central London and only €15 per month!!

Have you looked at satellite internet and tv? In theory, that should work well from anywhere as long as there is some sky above you!

I hope you manage to sort out your teething problems soon :)

Re: Lost in Garfagnana
 

Hi Almond,

Very distressed about your plight. I also have a house in The Garfagnana but unfortunately I'm not there at the moment - so can't offer any practical help.

My friend has a son of 13 at the High School in C di G - Is this where your daughter attends? - If so send me a mail and I'll get him to seek her out (he speaks perfect English and Italian)

Can I also suggest IF you do want to use the Internet to use the Computer shop/Internet Cafe in C di G (it's opposite the newsagent) it's quite cheap (E3 an hour) and would save you sitting freezing in your car.

If I get a reply from you - I will do my best to help you.

Best Regards

McGuinty

Re: Lost in Garfagnana
 

Hi Almond, hope things work out for you. If you can get Sky, you could get Sky News, BBC Entertainment and several other english channels. I never feel isolated (as I used to way back) and love being able to watch what's going on back home on Sky News, there's something about the British humour, not to mention professionalism that can never be matched by Italian TV. Take care, we are here if just with a short message.

Lost in Garfagnana
 

Hi Almond,
I live in Viareggio - got back yesterday from the snows in England. If you are in this area, feel free to contact me. There is quite a big Brit community in Lucca. Try buying the local magazine Grapevine for expat info on the area. Hope you soon settle in and start enjoying this beautiful area.

Re: Lost in Garfagnana
 

Thank you all so much. It helps to talk a bit, and its feels taboo to admit this is not at all what I wanted.
Theres a guilt about building up to this and now not being happy with it.
Thank you x

Re: Lost in Garfagnana
 

Probably not a solution to your immediate issues, but your exploits to access the internet made me think I should pass this on. Try contacting Eutelia about their wide area wireless internet. Here's the link:

http://regionetoscana.eutelia.it/

Their engineers come an put a little box on the outside wall of your house and this communicates wirelessly with an aerial somewhere up the valley. Your computer then connects to a box on the inside either with a LAN cable or wirelessly with a router they can supply (I had my own which they configured). We have had the service since last spring and it works a treat and we are just down the valley from you.

There are a dozen or so different tariffs. We picked the fastest speed, which produces between 5 and 7 MB broadband pretty regularly and includes a phone and 10 hours of free local and national calls a month and is only €20 a month. Skype works pretty well on it too so you can talk to anyone in the world that also has Skype for free. Basically I only pay for calls to mobiles. There is a €150 set-up fee for this tariff, but there are others with lower set-up costs and pay-as-you-go rates.

There is a shop, Stormdrop, in Ghivizzano, that has the kit on display and I think they have the installation concession for the area. In that Italian way, they have been very attentive, technically competent and speak a bit of English. There was a presentation in our village when the service was first set up and we signed up there, but I am pretty sure you can sign up at the shop or on the internet.

Anyway, hope that helps.

Re: Lost in Garfagnana
 

Almond, I go through phases of love and absolute detestation!! I am not near you at all, but it's early days. The biggest thing for me is the lingo and cultural differences. Have you noticed how all those nice afternoon telly programmes they used to show in the UK never tell you about those?? and the fact that most of us don't learn the language in two weeks of 'being immersed in it'??!! In fact, in my case, I just stayed in my house and hid and cried and pretended all was fine whenever anyone at home asked me. This was one of the first places that I admitted that I hated it and why I hated it and after that it does seem to get better.

We are always here if you fancy a moan about it or even if you need some help with things. It was a bit unfortunate you came here over Christmas but normally we are a lively bunch, always willing to lend a helping hand or a shoulder to cry on when you need it. xxxxxx

Re: Lost in Garfagnana
 

I'm so glad to hear someone else say that. All last year my husband and I were desperate to get here, studying italian every day, looking at photos of our flat. Now I'm here i feel a bit like it's all gone wrong! I've had gastric flu for the past month and have only just started to get better.
I've joined a book group and I'm going to an aperativo for English speakers in Florence tomorrow, I'm starting to feel like it might be possible. I hope things start to look up for you too. As my sister said to me "you just have to be bold and brave". I find that really hard but I guess it's true. We'll be fine.:)

Re: Lost in Garfagnana
 

Glad you're feeling better Almond. We've all been laid up in our house with that dam bug over xmas and it does seem to drag on a while. Wish those tv programmes wouldn't make things look so honky dory. It takes a lot of hard work to settle in. If you're looking for a particular book ask us. If someone has it they'll often post it on.:)

Re: Lost in Garfagnana
 

We used to use a cafe in Farringdon/Clerkenwell called the Garfagnana. Always wondered where the name came from.

Re: Lost in Garfagnana
 

Hi Almond

we're down near Pisa, if you fancy a coffe with my wife and I and maybe a good moan, or if we can just give you any advice, just let me know.

Good luck and keep thinking positively.

Ciao

Matt

Re: Lost in Garfagnana
 

Hi Almond
I have just read your messages and really feel for you. I live in Barga, just a few miles from you. I have lived here for over three years (after coming here on holiday for around 4 years). I have a 17-year old daughter who came over here knowing no Italian, and who goes to the local school in Barga. I know how how you feel as I have my ups and downs about living here, some things I love and some things frustrate me like mad. Let's meet up really soon and have a chat. I think you need a big hug first!!! Just leave me a message on here ( I will be away from Barga from 6th Feb - 13th Feb) but I will check my messages every day. In the meantime, try to get out of the house.

Julie

Re: Lost in Garfagnana
 

Hi Almond

Me again. I speak Italian pretty fluently so I'd be happy to help you to get Internet, British TV (if you wish - I cannot bear Italian TV) or with anything else you need.

Julie

Re: Lost in Garfagnana
 

Almond

I have just sent you a private message with my mobile phone number, please give me a call
Julie

Re: Lost in Garfagnana
 

Hi Almond
Sorry to hear your plight - but I'm sure it will get better. You are in area where there are alot of expats and sooner or later you will make lots of friends. Dont worry - I think all of us on here have days where we wouldnt live anywhere else and other days where we would pack our bags and be out on the first flight (or boat as for scaredy cats like me who dont like flying ;))

Anyway good luck and welcome to the forum - its a good place where you can come and let off steam and even though we're all quite far apart - I think we all help each other :thumbup:

Re: Lost in Garfagnana
 

Hi Almond,
Sorry you finding things hard here - but hopefully getting better.....
Know, sometimes things do seem to be tough and life 'a b***h', but think you have come to nice forum where people do care and will help if they can....ask away.....someone will always answer you..... Take care and keep in touch....

Re: Lost in Garfagnana
 

Hi Almond,

I've just moved to Garfagnana too, I am actually from Rome but I spent the last few years teaching Italian in Canada, Scotland, England and Ireland.
Garfagnana is not the easiest place where to move to, I know how isoleted it can get here, especially in winter!
Contact me if you fancy a chat and maybe a lesson, I think can give you some tips about the internet too.
ciao

Re: Lost in Garfagnana
 

Hi Almond, just joined this community and saw your post. Hope you're settling in now. Almost bought a house near Garfagnana a few years ago but it fell through. Now live on the other side of the Appennini to you in Emilia Romagna, about 2 hrs drive away. Pop over to your side of the hill in the winter to go skiing at Abetone - have you been? It's a fantastic resort. When we arrived a few years ago it was a bit of a shock - new country, new language, no TV etc. My only advice is to get to know your neighbours, go to all the local festas, learn the language if you can, and when driving around wave at anyone you're seen more than once!! Craig and Tracey

Re: Lost in Garfagnana
 

Hello Craig and Tracey and welcome to the forum.

Sounds like you are settling in to Italian life. How are you liking it so far?
There are lots of friendly people on this forum so stick around and read some of the other threads and just shout if you ever have any questions.

Re: Lost in Garfagnana
 

Hi Lorna, I guess like everyone we love the food, wine, people, scenery but hate the bureaucracy, utility prices and the driving. We registered our UK car here a couple of years ago which was enough to drive us both nuts and we still haven't worked out how to pay the car tax on time! Luckily we've met a great group of locals who seem to find it quite amusing that we would want to live here, and who are happy to put up with our poor Italian. Still find it amusing when someone asks "why did you want to move here?". Cheers.

Re: Lost in Garfagnana
 

Yep - you like and hate the sames things as the rest of us here :D

Re: Lost in Garfagnana
 

:)What happened to almond? I hope she's now settled in, and will let us know how she's doing.
ciao for now,
'o nonno