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From Miami to Italy

On December 2000 I met my wife in the city of Philadelphia. She had been there studying and basically having fun with her many colombian and puerto rican friends. I, in the other hand was more of a religious guy, obviously not the "rumbero" kind, however we fell in love and ended up getting married on December 2002. She had to quit going to college and I had to work twice as hard to pay the bills. Then the attack on America came and we were very afraid for our safety. This lead us to change our plans of staying in the US and we came to Italy in the beginnig of 2003. Prior to our arrival in Italy, my wife went to Miami. She fell in love with the city and asked me if I'd like to live there. I personally lived in the area for a couple months, but the humidity and heat were'n just my thing. I didn't say anything about it and just nodded.After three years here in Italy, we're doing fine. We bought an apartament and have steady jobs. However, since the day we arrived, I started to notice she was different. She wouldn't go out or have fun like before. Mainly because here things are not like in Queens or South Philly. She has been very depressed, but never said a word about the reason why she felt that way. Then recently she told me that the one thing that would make her happy is if we go back to the States and settle in Miami. I was about to tell her almost the same thing, only I had Bogotá in mind, not America. Does anyone feel like giving advise?

By danlek2330 on Jan 28, 2006, 13:51 in Friendly Talkzone.

SPECTRASORT says on Jan 28, 2006, 14:49:

Issues Firstly , I take it you were in the USA on work/student visa's , the whole visa process since 2002 has been very much complicated , to find a job and a sponser in the US will be hard if you are based in the EU , Have you considered other EU countries.?.

Currently I am bumping into many Colombians that have Moved to Spain , here you will have no language barriers and no real visa issues.

I would not advise moving back to the USA at present , things are not great , jobs are hard to come by and Visas also , especially as you are Colombian I take it.

Heading to Bogota may not be such a bad idea , but its very hard to find a job job there.

I would suggest looking at other EU countries , London will be more like NYC , there is a small Colombian community in London.

Also Holland , Spain , France , Portugal are worth looking into , The EU will give you a better lifestyle then Colombia , have you considered another part of Italy more southern , warmer etc.?.

SPECTRA.

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utopiacowboy says on Jan 29, 2006, 06:05:

In the interest of maintaining at least some loose connection to reality on PBH, I have to disagree with your statement that "jobs are hard to come by". The unemployment rate here is 4.8%, jobs are plentiful and the cost of living is low. My wife easily found a job in spite of the fact that her English is almost non-existent and on Monday, she is starting an even better job at the new Toyota truck plant opening in San Antonio.

Disclaimer: any comment I make is inane and is not to be taken seriously, and is so patently ridiculous that no one should take it seriously, even as an insult.

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Miguel says on Jan 29, 2006, 06:20:

In the interest of maintaining at least some loose connection to UC, you are asking for the impossible! De todos modos, que bíen que tu comandante tiene su puesto nuevo... Are you going to retire now?

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danlek2330 says on Jan 29, 2006, 09:32:

America is still a number one destination I 've considered many options before thinking of moving out of Italy: Canada, Australia, England, you name it. But is not as easy as it seems. Even though we hold both Colombian and Italian passports, immigration these days is turning into a nightmare with all the terrorism fear there is. However, I'd go back to the States in the blink of an eye, even if that means leaving everything I've done here behind. I basically grew there and every day when I wake up I wonder when is going to be the last day I have to stand this crapy life style I've been dealing with for the last three years. Italy is a nice place, but is not just what the doctor ordered.

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SPECTRASORT says on Jan 29, 2006, 09:58:

JOBS When I say jobs are hard to come by , what I should say is that since 9/11 jobs in general have been hard to find , It was easy to find work in the USA pre2000 , now it is most definately easier in the U.K as the economy is better there now.

It all depends on what work you are seeking I guess , but in the skilled sector its very difficult , and with the ammount of outsourcing / layoffs that are going on in the Multi national companies its only going to get harder.

It may be that still the USA gives the best standard of living , although thats debateable unless you have actually lived worldwide , but even that so called "best standard of living" is beibg eroded at an alarming rate

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utopiacowboy says on Jan 29, 2006, 17:58:

No one I know is having a hard time finding a job. In fact the reverse is often true and many companies are finding it hard to get the skilled labor that they need. Toyota was thrilled to hire my wife even though her English is really bad.

Disclaimer: any comment I make is inane and is not to be taken seriously, and is so patently ridiculous that no one should take it seriously, even as an insult.

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danlek2330 says on Jan 30, 2006, 12:09:

In 1992, I applied for a job at Mc Donalds and they called me the very same day I did the application. Back then, jobs just needed to be looked for in order to be found.

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