Guys, I’m not gonna lie. Today is a pretty great day.
Why, you might ask?
Because I just got my motherflippin’ Permesso di Lavoro today. As in, this bitch is now legal to work in Italy for the next 2 years. HIGH FIVE!
Now, for those of you who are unfamiliar with the lovely legal proceedings of living and working in Italy, you should know one thing–dealing with immigration laws in Italy is the hardest thing you will ever do here. The sheer terror of actually spending an entire day inside the Questura, or as most expats I know like to call it, Satan’s Lair, is enough to deter even the most sane and patient person (which we all know I am not). And while it would take an encyclopedia-sized book to explain how to go about the whole process, here’s a list of things ain’t nobody got time for:
1. That.
Anyways, suffice it to say that the process I went through in order to get my permesso di lavoro was a long, painful ordeal and both me and my boyfriend’s wallet are thankful that it’s over (for now). I can happily say that I can now go about trying to apply for a carta d’identita, residency (eek!) and most importantly of all, health insurance! (Trust me, the older you get, the more important this last thing becomes.)
Wait a minute, didn’t I just go through all of that pain-in-the-ass bureaucratic crap when applying for my permesso? There’s MORE?!
Thanks, Italy. You’s a bitch.
The Florence Diaries 
So excited to have found your blog today! I’m a California girl as well and we may be relocating to Tuscany this year (between Pisa and Florence). We have a labradoodle and I don’t speak a lick of Italian (besides my usual phrase “porca miseria!!!!”) Love to see how you’re adapting to the Italian language and culture, it’s getting me so excited about our potential move. And your recommendations are super helpful! Thanks for sharing and maybe one day we will meet in Florence.
Well if I had to choose between the two cities, I’d definitely have to say FLORENCE. No contest. Your labradoodle will agree with me, I promise. Thanks for reading and hopefully we get to see you around here soon!