Very interesting comparisons, Barbs. Funny enough, when I was reading this, I could have easily replaced Italy with Greece 🥲 or even Turkey. There are so many similarities among the Mediterranean countries. Beautiful places, but it's so hard for young people to make a living.
Thanks for reading and, sadly, confirming my suspicions about Mediterranean countries. I find it hard to understand how young people "forced" to leave could ever be patriotic
Love a bold statement! A saucy perspective on the "slow life" movement and the often idealized notion of living abroad in Italy (or any Mediterranean country, really). I have a lot of respect for this, and as someone in a completely reversed situation, I find it refreshing and important to maintain an open mind about how we perceive our life circumstances, whether or not we have chosen them.
That's a wise thing to say! I guess I'm disillusioned when it comes to Italy but I get the fascination many "reverse migrants" have for Italy (and yes, absolutely, any Mediterranean country)
This was so fascinating to read! And it made me think about how things are in The Netherlands, but I'm such a tourist here despite being born and raised here. So I must ponder a proper comment and if things click, I shall twirl by again. For now, I must google what the millenial bracket is, because I think I'm one. I always see these terms float by but never googled as it often floats right out of my mind again. ☁
Feeling like a tourist makes you sort of distance yourself with a lot of the politics and long -term planning right? If you remember a time before the internet you're likely a millennial but, as everything, it's a spectrum ;)
Thank you! you're so right with the vines! writing about it is cathartic, but back then I didn't know there were words to describe it, and I didn't know I was not alone in feeling this. I thought my Erasmus experience made me go into a quarter life crisis and it was all my fault.
I DO love superannuation. In the UK, your employer only adds to your pension fund (essentially the same thing) after they've taken a lump out of your paycheck first. :/
Hmm, no, insofar as my experience goes. They automatically enrol you in a pension fund after three months of employment if you don’t already have an established fund. But you can opt out!
As I was typing I was wondering what happened to all my philosophy classmates. I lost track of all of them! (I am also saying 'lost track' as if I made friends and insisted we all stay connected virtually or otherwise LOL)
Great article and thanks for mentioning me, Barbs! I like this question you asked "When you’re not hitting your adulting milestones, are you even an adult?"
Among the things you mentioned about Italy, however, I would add one more aspect (that, personally, drives me nuts): the omni-present sexist working culture! But that is I guess for another article ;D Anyway, very interesting to read about how Australia and Italy differ. Keep up the good work!
Your article was amazing, it inspired me to dig a bit deeper over here. My work experience in Italy is lacking so I might not be aware of the arcuate working culture you mentioned. Or is it the classic: bosses are men, secretaries are women?
Gorgeous photo and scarf. Interesting perspective. This sort of state is why I went back for my MA. 🙈 Seemed like the only option. Although it wasn’t free and Lit degrees are rarely funded to PhD level so I didn’t go as far as you (so proud of you 🤣🥳).
This also explains why one of my Italian colleagues who has to work from one of our Italian offices gladly does a three hour commute for the company as a chemical analyst because I guess the company pays well and has benefits and retirement. I thought he’d be mad to take a train on a three hour round trip for more than one day per week to work there. 😱
That sounds about right. Does he still live with his parents? (Sorry I'm curious!!) I have to say that some may even like returning home though. In your early 20s, when cleaning is sporadic and cooking is a hazard, it feels nice to be free and fed...
Very interesting comparisons, Barbs. Funny enough, when I was reading this, I could have easily replaced Italy with Greece 🥲 or even Turkey. There are so many similarities among the Mediterranean countries. Beautiful places, but it's so hard for young people to make a living.
Thanks for reading and, sadly, confirming my suspicions about Mediterranean countries. I find it hard to understand how young people "forced" to leave could ever be patriotic
Love a bold statement! A saucy perspective on the "slow life" movement and the often idealized notion of living abroad in Italy (or any Mediterranean country, really). I have a lot of respect for this, and as someone in a completely reversed situation, I find it refreshing and important to maintain an open mind about how we perceive our life circumstances, whether or not we have chosen them.
That's a wise thing to say! I guess I'm disillusioned when it comes to Italy but I get the fascination many "reverse migrants" have for Italy (and yes, absolutely, any Mediterranean country)
This was so fascinating to read! And it made me think about how things are in The Netherlands, but I'm such a tourist here despite being born and raised here. So I must ponder a proper comment and if things click, I shall twirl by again. For now, I must google what the millenial bracket is, because I think I'm one. I always see these terms float by but never googled as it often floats right out of my mind again. ☁
Feeling like a tourist makes you sort of distance yourself with a lot of the politics and long -term planning right? If you remember a time before the internet you're likely a millennial but, as everything, it's a spectrum ;)
Beyond the comparison there was quite a vibe to this - ennui, angst, adulting fatigue....loved experiencing this.
Thank you! you're so right with the vines! writing about it is cathartic, but back then I didn't know there were words to describe it, and I didn't know I was not alone in feeling this. I thought my Erasmus experience made me go into a quarter life crisis and it was all my fault.
I DO love superannuation. In the UK, your employer only adds to your pension fund (essentially the same thing) after they've taken a lump out of your paycheck first. :/
Hmm, no, insofar as my experience goes. They automatically enrol you in a pension fund after three months of employment if you don’t already have an established fund. But you can opt out!
That's good to know! Assuming super is taken out pre-tax and has a high return, why wouldn't one go for it ?
Aha! Thanks for enlightening me on the matter! Is superannuation mandatory for UK employers though?
Oh yeah, you portray Millennials so well! Man, did we get those degrees, thinking they would pave the way... :)
As I was typing I was wondering what happened to all my philosophy classmates. I lost track of all of them! (I am also saying 'lost track' as if I made friends and insisted we all stay connected virtually or otherwise LOL)
Great article and thanks for mentioning me, Barbs! I like this question you asked "When you’re not hitting your adulting milestones, are you even an adult?"
Among the things you mentioned about Italy, however, I would add one more aspect (that, personally, drives me nuts): the omni-present sexist working culture! But that is I guess for another article ;D Anyway, very interesting to read about how Australia and Italy differ. Keep up the good work!
Your article was amazing, it inspired me to dig a bit deeper over here. My work experience in Italy is lacking so I might not be aware of the arcuate working culture you mentioned. Or is it the classic: bosses are men, secretaries are women?
Sounds like, by moving from Italy to Australia, you jumped from the pot into the fire!
My view of australia may be the same as that of tourists flocking italy and saying 'oooh it's so much better heeeere'
Haha!!! Well, hopefully it has been good despite the not-so-good parts 😊 since you're still there it mustn't be too bad ❤️
Not bad indeed~
Gorgeous photo and scarf. Interesting perspective. This sort of state is why I went back for my MA. 🙈 Seemed like the only option. Although it wasn’t free and Lit degrees are rarely funded to PhD level so I didn’t go as far as you (so proud of you 🤣🥳).
This also explains why one of my Italian colleagues who has to work from one of our Italian offices gladly does a three hour commute for the company as a chemical analyst because I guess the company pays well and has benefits and retirement. I thought he’d be mad to take a train on a three hour round trip for more than one day per week to work there. 😱
That sounds about right. Does he still live with his parents? (Sorry I'm curious!!) I have to say that some may even like returning home though. In your early 20s, when cleaning is sporadic and cooking is a hazard, it feels nice to be free and fed...
🤣🤣🤣 I have no idea if he lives with his parents but I’d put him in the 30-40 bracket. 🤪
(side eye in italian) <.<