September 2025 Newsletter

9/29/25, 12:23 PM Gmail - Right Start Italy Newsletter: 101+ Things I Wished I Had Known Before Coming to Italy

Right Start Italy Newsletter: 101+ Things I Wished I Had Known Before Coming to Italy

👋 Welcome! About every two months, I’ll share stories, lessons, and insights from life in Italy—things I truly wish I had known earlier.

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🇮🇹 Three Things We’ve Learned While Living in Italy

🍝 Don’t Cook Italian for Italians

Inviting Italians over? Resist the urge to make lasagna or carbonara. It’s like trying to cover Purple Rain—you can’t outdo the original. Instead, surprise them with American or Mexican dishes (burgers, chili, sloppy joes). Italian food is sacred, tied to family recipes, and comparisons are inevitable.

💬 Topics to Avoid

Three things Italians rarely discuss socially: money, work, and complaints. Italians value allegria—joy and positivity. Skip the work rants and financial talk. Keep it light and uplifting, and you’ll be invited back.

👔 Dress & Presentation

Appearance matters. Italians notice when you look sharp. Jeans are fine, but they should fit well, be clean, and paired with a nice shirt and shoes. Confidence, manners, and presentation go a long way here.

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🎉 Building Connections Through Celebrations

Relationships in Italy grow through small gestures and shared traditions. Joining local festivals is one way, but sharing your American holidays is just as meaningful.

🎃 Halloween: Gaining popularity. Decorate your home—you’ll be a hit with trick-or-treaters.

🦃 Thanksgiving: Italians are curious about turkey, stuffing, and pies. Tip: skip the buffet. Italians prefer seated meals.

🎄 Christmas: Sacred in Italy, but add your own twist. We carol around the neighborhood and share hot apple cider—something Italians find both unusual and charming.

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🏡 The Italian Experience

When we returned to Italy for the third time—after 16 moves—we thought we knew what mattered in a home: size, style, location. We even fell in love with a villa overlooking the mountains, complete with an olive grove But then we asked: what makes a home Italian?

The answer: community. Walking to the bakery, chatting with neighbors, living the rhythm of daily life.

So, instead of the villa, we chose a smaller duplex in town. And we gained something bigger: a deeper Italian experience. 👉 No regrets.

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✨ Thanks for being part of the Right Start Italy community! Share this newsletter with a friend who’s new to Italy—or just dreaming of life here.

Saluti da Friuli Venezia Giulia

Greg & Gabi

Founders of Right Start Italy

📬 rightstartitaly.com | 📸 @rightstartitaly

The relocation brings you to Italy. Your connections makes it home.