🇦🇺🛬🇮🇹“We moved our life from Australia to Bologna, having never visited the city before!”
Troy packed up his life in Oz and moved his family to Bologna—without ever stepping foot under a portico. While Italian is a beast for an Aussie dad, his three girls are already fluent in hand gestures.
Why Bologna?
Why not! We had planned to visit Italy in 2020 to scope out a few different cities, but COVID put an end to that. We had no choice but to do all our research online. On paper, Bologna seemed perfect: not too big, not too small, and not too touristy. It's the food capital of Italy, the craft beer capital, and the music capital. Plus, it’s a major public transport hub and close to the mountains (we love to hike!). The quality of life is high, and the cost of living is relatively low. It is a university town full of life, culture, and very welcoming to everyone. So, we moved our entire life to Bologna, having never visited the city before! I am pleased to report that after living here for four years, it is indeed all of those things—and more!
Any good surprises since you arrived?
Bologna is full of good surprises! Where do I start? You are never more than 50 meters away from an espresso or an amazing glass of wine. Dogs are treated like actual people here; they are welcome just about everywhere. And did I mention there is a thing called pistachio cream… or warm crescentine filled with friggione? The list goes on!
Any bad surprises?
To be completely honest, no. Bologna really is a great town. I saw that it was just named the “Happiest City in Italy,” and I am not surprised at all. I guess one thing that did catch me off guard was that learning the language has been a little harder and a lot slower than I expected. There are a few reasons for this, including my aging and not-so-absorbent brain!
What do you miss most about Australia that is hard or impossible to find here?
Well, we live in a second-floor apartment. While it is beautiful—and completely different from our home in Australia in the best way possible—it was missing something I love: an outdoor BBQ! I do miss regularly cooking outside over an open flame.
How do you handle the slower pace of the administration?
Slowly, and with plenty of patience! While it can be frustrating at times, I actually think it has been a good thing for us. We came to Italy for an adventure, but also to slow down and focus on spending time together as a family. It has reminded us that the urge to rush and get everything done today isn't actually that important. Focus on what matters first!
The healthcare system: what do you think?
We have been incredibly impressed with the healthcare system in Bologna. From dentists to doctors, with three young children, we have needed our fair share of medical help over the last few years. While the medical language barrier has been challenging at times, it has been an extremely positive experience overall. We now have a great network of medical professionals that we, quite literally, could not live without!
Have you found a place with decent beer, or have you officially switched to Spritz?
While Italy is definitely the land of wine, there is still plenty of excellent craft beer around. It is not quite as "in your face" as it is in Australia, but there is a lot to choose from if you know where to look. Don't get me wrong, I am thoroughly enjoying my mission to sample every Italian grape variety—and I am going to need quite a bit longer to achieve it! But let’s be honest, who doesn't love a Spritz on a hot summer's day?