Interview with Stefanaccio in Abruzzo

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Name: stefanaccio1

Website:   http://www.angelfire.com/film/casale

Date of Interview: September 15, 2006

Area of Italy you live or will live in?

Abruzzo

Let us know a little about yourself?

Am married and spend most of the year in Bethesda, Maryland.

Why did you decide/have you decided to move to Italy?

I can retire in 3-6 years and plan to spend 1/3 - 1/2 of my time in Italy.

What type of process did you go through to be able to move here?

I am a dual citizen of USA and Italy

What problems did you run into during the initial process and how were you able to fix them ?

Getting my dual citizenship was complicated a bit by the fact that one of my sons was born in Belgium (I had to locate documents, get them translated from French to Italian, etc etc) and the other was born in Italy (the consolato in DC says that he is a citizen of Italy but his records in Italy have not been located after 2 years of countless letters and searches).

If you haven't gotten here yet, what steps are you in the process of ?

Have built a house in Valle San Giovanni, a small village near Teramo in the Abruzzo Region of Italy. I even started a website http://www.vallesangiovanni.com for this town

What type of adjustment problems have you had?

I have learned to depend on my relatives even more. Also, to be more patient, things usually get done in their own time.

What do you wish someone had told you before you made the leap?

1. Put a wood burning stove in your house.

2. Don't put a flat roof on part of your house.

What inside secret could you pass on to others looking to move over?

Don't compare Italy to other America or England. Learn the meaning of the word, "americanata"

Do you have any disappointments, things you thought would happen but haven't for whatever reasons ?

Our closest cousin died shortly after our house was completed. A great loss.

What has changed about you since you have been here ?

I have made contact with people from Abruzzo living all over the world and now have an even greater appreciation for the life lived in this area 100 years ago.

Do you think that you will stay forever?

No. America has its advantages also.