Moving Mondays: Eat, Dance, Live In Vicenza

Hello everyone!

Annie, an Army spouse who blogs at Blonde Glambition, kindly shared with us last week what it was like living in Oahu, Hawaii. Today, she’s back to chat about her experiences eating gelato, teaching Zumba and living in her new hometown of Vicenza, Italy. 

Enjoy and ciao!

Kristina

Annie, who blogs at Blonde Glambition, and her husband, who is in the U.S. Army.

Q: When did you arrive in Italy? What were your first moments in the land of pasta and gelato like?

A: We originally moved to Italy in November 2005, and were stationed here for three years. We moved back this February 2012. Both times it was a bit of a shock. Winters in Italy are far from pretty, and coming from a warm environment to a cold one was a shock to the system. You're also immediately thrown into a completely different culture, language and way of living. I think everyone feels overwhelmed to an extent when they first get here. We made sure to get out and explore the immediate area as soon as possible, much of which included stuffing our faces with Italian food and gelato. Pretty sure that's the culprit behind the 10 pounds I gained when I moved here...haha :)

Q: Speaking of food… Italian cuisine: love it or hate it?

A: I've never been a big fan of pasta or ice cream in the U.S. However, in Italy you are surrounded by both and they have a completely different taste here. I'm in love with gelato! It has a lighter taste to it, but it's packed with flavor....blood orange and fresh strawberry are my fave. And they have gelato shops on every corner here like they have Starbucks in the U.S. (and no you won't find Starbucks in Italy). I'm still warming up to the pasta dishes. My faves so far are the bigoli and pear fagottini pastas, and the mushroom & asparagus risottos. Love the arrabiata (spicy) & pomodoro sauces, as well as fresh spinach and ricotta stuffed jumbo tortellini. The thin crust pizza is also delicious, especially when it has rucola & fresh parmesan on it. Italy also has fresh bread and pastries galore...it's a carb lover's paradise!! And the fiorentina steak in Tuscany is the best steak I've ever had in my life!! 

Gelato from one of the many gelaterias in Italy.

Q: Do you think you’ll need to learn Italian to get by over there? Are you interested in taking classes?

A: I think it's necessary to learn the basics like numbers, food and simple questions about where to find things and asking for help. Some Italians speak a little bit of English, but it's not something to count on. The post does offer language classes at the ED Center and USO for a fee, and ACS for free. I would like to take a class, but unfortunately none of the times work with my current schedule. However, I practice as much as I can when I'm out and about, which has helped my broken Italian improve tremendously in the last few weeks.

Q: Have you gotten a chance to explore Italy yet? If so, what are some of your favorite places you’ve visited so far and what were they like?

A: There was so much we didn't get to see the last time we were here, and so much we wanted to see again, so pretty much from the get go we've been traveling to different parts of Italy as often as our schedule permits. Tuscany is by far my favorite. The rolling hills with vineyards and olive trees for miles are breathtaking. Tuscany also has amazing wine tours and food. The medieval hilltop towns are also fun to venture through for lunch & shopping. 

The view from the agriturismo in Tuscany that Annie and her husband stayed at on a trip.
The medieval town of San Gimignano peaks out from the hills in the background.

Q: You are a licensed Zumba instructor. Is this a passion you’ll get to indulge in in Italy?

A: I'm so excited that I get to share my love of Zumba with the military community here. Dependents are only allowed to work on post as per the SOFA agreement, so there was a bit of a wait for an instructor opening at the gym. Thankfully, I was given a few slots to teach Aqua Zumba this past month, and I start teaching regular Zumba classes next month!

Q: Your husband is (or is about to be) deployed. Is it tougher experiencing a deployment while living in a foreign country? How will you keep busy and sane while he is gone?

A: I don't think it's necessarily tougher; it's just different. My traditional support system (family & friends) is thousands of miles away, but I look at this time as a chance for me to personally grow as an individual and face my fears. To keep me busy, I'll be teaching my Zumba classes, as well as attending other workout classes. I have a gazillion house and craft projects I want to work on, and I'll be working on my masters. A few trips are in the works, and I have a friend coming to visit me. Other than that I figure I will take each day and challenge as it comes. It's scary, but I know I will survive and conquer this deployment.

Annie and her husband in front of the Roman Colosseum in Rome.

Q: Do you live on base or off base? What is housing like?

A: I live off post. They do have a version of post housing, although it's a few miles from the actual post, however we were not eligible for it. We lucked out with a house. Most Italians live in apartment dwellings. Our biggest concern was having enough space for all of our HHG, so it was a bit of struggle finding the house that we ended up with. Every house has shutters on the windows (Either wood or metal. We have wood.). Gas stoves are the norm, and every bathroom has a bidet in addition to a toilet. The houses/apartments also don't come with built in closets (we bought custom wardrobes from Ikea and housing issues temporary wardrobes), and everything in general is smaller...rooms, kitchens, garages, roads, etc. 

Q: What is it like to get basic services installed?

A: Patience is a must when it comes to getting basic services involved. I am not a patient person. We just got the Internet installed at our house last week. It took three months, and endless appointments and complaints, to get the Internet installed. Services in general take several weeks, if not months, to be completed. Italians do not rush unless they are driving or waiting in line. 

Q: Anything else you think is important to add, like tips or advice for those about to make the trek to Italy?

A: Come with an open mind, and try not to expect the same accommodations or conveniences found in America.

Fast food is practically unheard of here, although there are a few McDonald's sprinkled here and there. If you dine out, expect to be there for a minimum of two to three hours. Most stores are closed Sundays, and for Reposa (12:30ish to 3:30ish), and they are usually closed for the night around 8 p.m., although restaurants can stay open as late as midnight.

Annie's favorite pizza in Italy is topped with fresh rucola, tomato and parmesan.

Be prepared to be an aggressive driver, park in tiny parking stalls, and navigate your way down narrow roads and alleyways.

Expect to be frustrated, but it's all part of the experience and nothing a glass of delicious Italian vino can't fix. The local wineries are the best place to pick up wine...only three to six euro a bottle!! Bring along all of your must have faves from America whether it be clothing, bathroom/makeup products, home decor/furniture, even some foods. It's always nice to have a few comforts from home when you're here.

And most of all get out and explore the immediate area, and further, as soon as possible so that you can fall in love with your temporary home...it may take 4-8 months to fall in love though. Not everyday will be peachy, and some days you'll be so homesick or frustrated that you want to get on the next flight home, but living overseas is a fantastic opportunity to travel and experience new cultures.

There are two Facebook groups for spouses that are extremely helpful, probably the most useful tools anyone can have here: Army Wives Caserma Ederle and Vicenza Travel Page. Living in Vicenza is also a good website to find out local happenings.

* Do you want to know what it’s like living at a particular duty station? Need tips on how to prepare for a move? Or advice on how to handle a deployment? Tune in each Monday for tips and stories aimed at helping your next move or deployment go more smoothly. If you have questions, tips or stories you would like to share, send a brief email to mytravelingtroop@gmail.com for consideration.