How to Italy

A former colleague of mine in America has now become the International Service Representative for the Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation.

And she told me about this great opportunity to raise funds for charity.

So, for anyone that likes runing and will be in Rome in May, why not join in the Race for Cure?

Komen Italia have organised the 5k run on Rome 21 to raise awareness and funds for the fight against breast cancer.

A competition will also be held to find the biggest group taking part in the Komen Roma Race for the Cure, along with the "più simpatico".

And for those of you who don't like working up a sweat, there is also a 2k walk open to everyone.

For more information contact the http://www.raceforethecure.it/ or www.komen.it

Emma Bird is the founder of www.howtoitaly.com

Retraining as a teacher and working in-company in Milan was the best thing that ever happened to me.

By working in Sephora, Unilever, Ernst&Young and Accenture to name just a few, I got to network at a high level: after all, I was helping project managers, inhouse accountants, lawyers and senior executives brush up their language skills.

Admittedly, the pay was poor (we're talking Eur10 an hour gross) and it seemed I was forever on trams and busses to get to the next company. Some days I got up at 6am and finished teaching at 10pm. I was doing so much teaching I was even dreaming of it at night.

Yet, three years later and I'm still in touch with most of my former students - and the teaching has paid off.

I've been asked to work on other language projects in Italy and out-of-the-blue I got a phone call last week offering me a contract.

Although I'm now in Sardinia living the life of my dreams, I wouldn't be where I am today if I hadn't have taken the first step teaching English in Milan.

Teaching English introduced me to the Italian-speaking business community. But more importantly, it allowed me to get to grips with the cultural diversity, communication gap and business etiquette.

And today that means I'm comfortable with doing business in Italy and taking part in meetings. I know I shouldn't procrasinate to confuse people and I shouldn't be polite if I don't mean what I say. Instead, I should use an extensive vocabularly and wave my hands and use my face a lot.

Of course, there's more to it than that. A lot more.

We'll be revealing more in our new workshop Meeting of Minds soon.

Emma Bird is the founder of www.howtoitaly.com

Good news:

Our Swapping City Stress for Beach Address Workshop on moving to Sardinia has now sold out.

Sardinia is a beautiful island with some of the best beaches in Europe but it's not like Italy. Unemployment is high and the island is cut off from the mainland, both geographically and in terms of mentality.

Still, if you are determined to jump the obstacles in your way and are a go-getter, it's a great place to be.

As for our Building a Business in Italy workshop, we've got one place left. I'm really looking forward to meeting those people booked on the course. We've got a mixture of nationalities who all have one thing in common - the drive and determination to set up a business in Italy in order to provide financial stability and a means to really enjoy La Dolce Vita.

If you can't make these workshops but want How to Italy to come to you, then let us know. Send us an email with your name and nearest town and state which workshop you would like to attend.

Emma Bird is the founder of www.howtoitaly.com

I haven't blogged for the last week because I've been very busy with consultations.

So this weekend it was all about 'me' time.

Saturday started off with breakfast in the sunshine and when we realised the warm weather was going to carry on all day, we popped into the Marina area of Cagliari, picked up some home-made olive and walnut bread and headed to Poetto for an improvised picnic on the beach.

And yesterday, I swapped the gym for the city's Parco di Monte Clara where there is an outdoors circuits track.

It left me feeling refreshed - if a little sore - and ready to face the week ahead.

Emma Bird is the founder of www.howtoitaly.com

Last week I was profiled by the Daily Echo Bournemouth, the paper that led to my love affair with newspaper reporting and where I did my first stint of work experience aged 15. You can read the piece here

On the back of that, I'm going to be in Dorset, UK, next month for face-to-face consultations about living and working in Italy.

On Saturday February 25, I'll be in the pretty market town of Wimborne and on Monday February 27, I'll be in Bournemouth.

Each consultation only takes place after you've filled in a detailed questionnaire about your situation. I'll review the information beforehand and draw up a strategy plan unique to you. That means that your precious time during the consultation isn't taken up with me asking you pointless questions.

I've got four consultation slots available on Saturday and four on Sunday so if you're interested, email me at emma.bird@howtoitaly.com.

Emma Bird is the founder of www.howtoitaly.com

Although Italy is a beautiful country with stunning architecture, good food and friendly people, a lot of would-be expats are put off from moving to Italy because of all the red tape.

Admittedly, finding a job is difficult but it's not obviously not impossible because the country is full of happy expats who have great jobs and wouldn't choose to live anywhere else.

Teaching English is perennially popular for people wishing to move to the Bel Paese but make sure you have the qualifications before you go. CELTA, from the University of Cambridge, is the preferred TEFL certificate in Italy. And the schools that don't want you certified in any way are normally not professional or pay much lower wages.

A lot of new teachers don't realise the scope of options open to them. Teaching English is not confined to general classes in private language schools. You can teach in private nurseries, state schools, in-company and in your own specialised subject: Aviation English, Medical English and Legal English being three popular subjects.

Trying out the different styles is the best way to find out what suits you the best.

Emma Bird is the founder of www.howtoitaly.com

It may be winter but it's warm and sunny here today. With days like this is makes me realise just how much I love living in Sardinia.

Tuscany and Umbria may be the traditional housing markets for expats but I believe Sardinia will soon come into its own, too. After all, with its mild climate, six months of summer, gorgeous beaches which don't get crowded even in the height of the tourist season, this Mediterranean island has a lot going for it.

With many international stars already owning homes here, it's clearly the place to be. And it seems would-be expats are beginning to see that, too. Our workshop Beach Address on Loving Life in Sardinia is nearly sold out - we've only got two places left.

And this month we are busy working with clients from the UK and South Africa who are in the middle of buying properties and who will be making the permanent move in the next couple of months.

We've conducted a home search for them and are busy sharing our contacts so that when they do move they'll be on their way to feeling as much at home on this sun-drenched island as us.

Emma Bird is the founder of www.howtoitaly.com

When I was made redundant in Milan after I got back from my summer holiday, I couldn't find a job anywhere. And,as you know, it wasn't for lack of trying. No matter how much effort I went to, the doors of opportunity just didn't open.

And now I know why.

It wasn't because I wasn't skilled or good enough - I was. It was because I hadn't sat down to envisage exactly what I wanted my new life to be like. I would have had more luck trying to fit square pegs into round holes. That's just how off-track I was.

Now, whenever I need to think about my life in Italy and all the really small details, I take myself off to an inspiring place and let myself daydream. No matter how impossible my thoughts seem, I write them down on a piece of paper. And I don't move until the entire page is covered with my handwriting.

Then it's back to the office to break down my scribble into logical steps.

And if you don't believe it works ask Stephanie Clement, an American currently working as an account manager in Turin for the Winter Olympics.

She fell in love with Italy during a semester in Florence and, like me, vowed she'd be back.
Stephanie doesn't have an EU passport but that didn't put her off because she was determined to realise her dream of living the Dolce Vita.

So just how did she get her sponsored work visa to move to Italy?

Stephanie says: after graduating from university, I returned to Europe on a back-packing trip and visited Torino shortly after it had won the bid for the 2006 Winter Olympics. When I walked out of Porta Nuova station and saw the banners in Piazza Carlo Felice congratulating the city on the recent success, I decided to make that my goal to return to Torino for the Games.

"I volunteered as an Italian interpreter/translator at the Salt Lake City Winter Olympics in 2002 and again in Athens in 2004. During these experiences, I was able to meet other professionals at the Olympics and network my way to my current position at the Winter Olympics in Torino 2006."

"I couldn't have gotten where i am today without networking and making my interests known to others."

Stephanie will now be leading Weaveaweb Torino, bringing together professional Italian-speaking women for monthly events.

Emma Bird is the founder of www.howtoitaly.com

With the office closed for the festive period, I've been putting my feet up and enjoying Christmas and New Year on the south coast of England.

And of course I've been recharging my batteries for the coming year because there is lots I want to achieve in 2006.

I love swapping the Sardinian sea for the English Channel and being away from Italy and slipping back into my old ways means I can evaluate my two lifestyles more objectively.

One of the things I value most about living in Italy is eating healthily. I love my food and have no problem washing down several courses with a good red wine.

But over here I eat less so why have I put on so much weight?

Admittedly, part of it will be due to all that chocolate I've been pinching from the Christmas tree, but I have a sneaking suspicion it's also to do with all the additives contained in the food.

In Sardinia, I don't eat so much as an E number and it shows in my bounce-out-of-bed-in-the-morning energy levels and my clear, glowing skin.

I also love the attention to customer service - especially at the petrol station where I sit in my car or enjoy an espresso at the bar and a homemade piece of cake while the attendant fills up tank.

McDonalds may be making inroads in the Italian market and eating paninis is all most teenagers do but the Dolce Vita is still there, and I intend to enjoy it while it lasts.

Buon Anno!

Emma Bird is the founder of www.howtoitaly.com