Well, it’s been less than a week and I’m already missing my friends and wondering when we can move back to France….
Let’s just get the challenges out and cleared.
Challenge 1 – The Visa
Remember how I said that I’m constantly needing to remember to stay fluid and flexible? Well, the promise of a smooth Italian transition was not to be…. A few days before we were set to leave, we were informed that there is some need for a Type D visa, aka National Visa, aka WTF? This is before we can finish our Elective Residency Visa (ERV) that we were told would be easy-peasy-lemon-squeezy. Too good to be true? “Pfft”, my husband said as he waved off my inner angst at this new twist…
Well, “pffffft” right back at him as I re-learn to breathe, meditate and tell myself not to lose my cool.
A “simple” Google search, as I was nonchalantly told to do, reveals nothing clear regarding how to get this mysterious Type D visa. A brief message exchange with someone else suggests that the aforementioned ERV should be the same thing as this D-visa. Other inquiries bring up more questions and confusion.
Breathe. It’s fine….
Or not…
At worst, I would have to apply for said visa at the Italian embassy/consulate in the US. At best, we will look back in a few weeks and wonder what all the stress was about…. In between is the more likely scenario, we will be heading back to Nice to apply for said D-visa at the Italian consulate there using M’s French residency and my application for it to get the visa, then we come back and continue as planned.
As a recovering worry-wart, who occasionally relapses, I am concerned being a US citizen who has overstayed my Schengen visa with nothing but a registration number legitimizing my presence and should an official be having a bad day could blacklist me from the Schengen area altogether for ten years, which would greatly hamper our current European settlement. Also, with COVID, there are extra issues at play with vaccines, travel, etc.
So, while a forced visit home would not be the end of the world, leaving it could be a challenge as would be being with my man as a non-US citizen…. Anyway, will keep fingers, toes and everything else crossed that the best scenario happens or go with the in-between.
Challenge 2 – Connectivity
Everyone knows that being connected is life. Despite my loathe of social media and avoidance of most things online, I am heavily dependent on the Internet for entertainment – including reading a book – or basically anything AND, most importantly, I can choose to not use it when I want to disconnect.
Furthermore, M’s work requires Internet. The very meaning of digital nomad requires the ability to be digital. Without it, he cannot work, make money – thus provide our lifestyle needs/wants -, etc. and his mood reflects on the ease in which he can do these things; thus, also affecting my sanity!
Like anywhere, it takes some effort and time to work out how to get a new SIM card or access WiFi points. Without either of us knowing the language, there is the everyday/regular stress of figuring out how to communicate and understand what we need or what is available to us.
We are staying in an old stone-walled apartment that is cold, dark, and small. Our Italian SIM cards, while successfully and rather easily obtained, cannot defeat medieval structures meant to keep out everything that was not originally permitted within. This means, TV cannot be watched. Computers cannot be used. Livelihood cannot be achieved. Therefore, M stresses causing T (me) stress!
The remedy?
We shall likely be moving to a bigger space with an outside garden (also the cats will prefer it) and easier permeability. We shall figure out with the help of “friends” what exactly we need to make the WiFi work within rather than sourcing it from outside.
At least this is a fairly easy fix. <sigh>
So, those are the main challenges that are making life feel stressful. They are challenges of the privileged, but so is my life. π However, to end on the bright side:
Restaurants and cafes are open. Since our apartment kitchen is too small to inspire the in-house chef, we have eaten out for every meal. Pizza and delicious pasta has been my daily happy moments. Thank goodness we only eat one big meal a day around midday or we’d have to add on a gym membership! π
Also, the countryside is absolutely gorgeous – dare I say, even more so than in France!
On that happy note, I leave you until next time….
~T π
