Navin Johnson
Footballguy
Looks like I'll be exediting my dual citizenship
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My Italian Ex-Pat adventure is ***Officially*** in progress 2025-2026 edition! (4 Viewers)
- Thread starter Chemical X
- Start date
Chemical X
Footballguy
adding this to the thread……i posted this in the thanksgiving thread in response to turkey day:
so, it was an interesting event. the turkey was moist and sliced well, coulda used some more seasoning. the sides were really good, though i think i do some versions better. cranberry sauce, corn pudding, sweet potato mousse, vegan and non vegan stuffing. gravy was thin. someone baked apple cake, punkin pie and carrot cake. lots of wine and they left the grappa on the table. most were over 70. we recently made friends with some in the ex pat community, so we had a nice table of some familiar faces. we are still in the newlyfriend phrase, but it’s nice to speak english a bit. one couple a bit older than us just went back to frisco/tahoe. one couple is married men. an eclectic group. if in the US would they be friends of mine? prolly not, but it’s nice to meet nice people when so many things areo so strange.
so, it was an interesting event. the turkey was moist and sliced well, coulda used some more seasoning. the sides were really good, though i think i do some versions better. cranberry sauce, corn pudding, sweet potato mousse, vegan and non vegan stuffing. gravy was thin. someone baked apple cake, punkin pie and carrot cake. lots of wine and they left the grappa on the table. most were over 70. we recently made friends with some in the ex pat community, so we had a nice table of some familiar faces. we are still in the newlyfriend phrase, but it’s nice to speak english a bit. one couple a bit older than us just went back to frisco/tahoe. one couple is married men. an eclectic group. if in the US would they be friends of mine? prolly not, but it’s nice to meet nice people when so many things areo so strange.
Chemical X
Footballguy
i have many updates, but a quick one today. we returned back here from the states and the next night our boy friends invited us for dinner, pretty awesome meal in fact. while we talked, they mentioned that they signed up for the national health insurance. it runs annually here, with a contribution one time based on income. based on what they told us and info required, we seemed to qualify. we had read that we needed to be comune residents. right now we have an italian permit to stay, but haven’t registered with our local town. so, our friend showed us to where the office is hiding and we brought our info today. we signed up and it cost us €2,000- combined, since we are students. a student here would be €700, but since we are married, we are now considered a family, kind of like insurance in the states. we picked our doctor and essentially will not have any more costs for medical services. not sure if prescriptions are covered, we’ll see. the big savings now is that we bought private cigna insurance we can cancel. obviously our premium alone well exceeds the €2,000. let’s see how the care is…..but for the cost, it already seems worth it.
The Z Machine
Footballguy
Good timing on the update, Chem.
Today I finally received my long stay visa for Switzerland in my US passport. Up until now I had been a tourist and had to do the 90 out of 180 shuffle. I travel back to Geneva tomorrow night. The visa arrived just in time.
I'm very happy to put this behind me. Many people have to go through much worse when moving to another country, but this still sucked. Being away from my kids for 50% of the time was not good.
I'll give an update on my life there at some point...
Today I finally received my long stay visa for Switzerland in my US passport. Up until now I had been a tourist and had to do the 90 out of 180 shuffle. I travel back to Geneva tomorrow night. The visa arrived just in time.
I'm very happy to put this behind me. Many people have to go through much worse when moving to another country, but this still sucked. Being away from my kids for 50% of the time was not good.
I'll give an update on my life there at some point...
Chemical X
Footballguy
also, we redid the eurocartt french auto scheme rental. got picked up at the harrport and received a brand new citroen c4 hybrid. if you rent for an extended period, i’d research these guys and peugeot, big savings over traditional rentals. i might buy this car off rental.
The Z Machine
Footballguy
FYI, I bought a used VW Touran. 1.4 TSI. Not sexy but gets the job done.
My wife and I have already gotten 3 speeding (camera) tickets in rental cars. Each is CHF 120, plus the rental agency charges an additional CHF 60 for "processing". This last time I was going 71 in a 60 kph zone. So lame.
My wife and I have already gotten 3 speeding (camera) tickets in rental cars. Each is CHF 120, plus the rental agency charges an additional CHF 60 for "processing". This last time I was going 71 in a 60 kph zone. So lame.
Navin Johnson
Footballguy
do you use waze? I got saved from two blitzers today?
The Z Machine
Footballguy
Nope. Google Maps.
Navin Johnson
Footballguy
Waze has speed camera warnings. You should try it out.
The Z Machine
Footballguy
Yeah, I think I'm gonna have to. I guess I'm just used to both higher speed limits and more leeway on excess speed over the limit.
ConstruxBoy
Kate's Daddy
It's like the Swiss just expect you to spend the whole drive in Neutral.
I'll see myself out.
The Z Machine
Footballguy
Ok, update time.
I received my "Carte de Légitimation" (aka CDL) from the Swiss government last week. This is my national ID card and I can use it along with my US passport to come in and out of the Schengen Zone however I want. Essentially a residence permit. It is tied to my wife's CDL that she has due to her role with the UN. My CDL (as a spouse) explicitly does NOT allow for me to earn money from working. I am now in the process of converting the CDL into a "Ci Permit" which allows me to work in Switzerland (but not in the EU...). The request to apply for the Ci Permit will take another ~2 weeks. Finally, once I receive that permission to apply for the Ci Permit, I can start the Swiss contract with my current company, continuing my job as a Swiss employee and cease being a US employee.
The number of steps and time it's taken to get this done is crazy. The UN makes it sound like this is an easy thing to accomplish, but it is not. They offer no guidance or checklists, only the ability to process forms. There are no websites that cover the process. It's basically, "complete Step X and move on to Step Y" but it's near impossible to figure out Step Z until you've gotten past Step Y.
Anyway, things are going OK here overall, although I'm back to sweating the finances again. Basically, my family is essentially breaking even to slightly in the red right now. We have no ability to save any money other than 401k. Can't contribute to kids' 529. Things are just so damn expensive here, and my MIL's doctor visits aren't helping... My wife supposedly is in the UN Pension system, but I have no details on that. No idea what will happen with my retirement (other than I can't contribute to 401k since I won't be a US employee any longer...) Maybe if I'm not contributing to the 401k, I'll have extra money to put in an IRA? Whatever, those are future problems... More pressing is how to deal with our taxes this year. It's gonna be terrible.
In better news, I'm hoping to go snowboarding this weekend after a 20+ year hiatus. Wish me luck! Kids have been skiing 3x already this winter.
I received my "Carte de Légitimation" (aka CDL) from the Swiss government last week. This is my national ID card and I can use it along with my US passport to come in and out of the Schengen Zone however I want. Essentially a residence permit. It is tied to my wife's CDL that she has due to her role with the UN. My CDL (as a spouse) explicitly does NOT allow for me to earn money from working. I am now in the process of converting the CDL into a "Ci Permit" which allows me to work in Switzerland (but not in the EU...). The request to apply for the Ci Permit will take another ~2 weeks. Finally, once I receive that permission to apply for the Ci Permit, I can start the Swiss contract with my current company, continuing my job as a Swiss employee and cease being a US employee.
The number of steps and time it's taken to get this done is crazy. The UN makes it sound like this is an easy thing to accomplish, but it is not. They offer no guidance or checklists, only the ability to process forms. There are no websites that cover the process. It's basically, "complete Step X and move on to Step Y" but it's near impossible to figure out Step Z until you've gotten past Step Y.
Anyway, things are going OK here overall, although I'm back to sweating the finances again. Basically, my family is essentially breaking even to slightly in the red right now. We have no ability to save any money other than 401k. Can't contribute to kids' 529. Things are just so damn expensive here, and my MIL's doctor visits aren't helping... My wife supposedly is in the UN Pension system, but I have no details on that. No idea what will happen with my retirement (other than I can't contribute to 401k since I won't be a US employee any longer...) Maybe if I'm not contributing to the 401k, I'll have extra money to put in an IRA? Whatever, those are future problems... More pressing is how to deal with our taxes this year. It's gonna be terrible.
In better news, I'm hoping to go snowboarding this weekend after a 20+ year hiatus. Wish me luck! Kids have been skiing 3x already this winter.
Chemical X
Footballguy
so, we made it to the michelin starred restaurant in our area last night, casa vissani. it seems that umbria has maybe 5 michelin starred restaurants, so having one about 20 mins away on lake corbara is fortunate. us and our guy friends had an 8p reservation and they serve an €85 fixed menu that gets you an app, main and second, along with a dessert. they brought piles of bread. we had 3 bottles of wine and several bottles of water and it worked out overall to €120 a head, i think a bargain for a michelin star.
Chemical X
Footballguy
no tip i assume? that’s a biggie here.
i forgot to stay that we arrived at 8p and left at 12.30a. no one bothered us and apparently our waiter left for the evening around midnight, without saying anything or passing us off. i think we might be still sitting there if we hadn’t gotten curious after 1/2 hour. i was actually waiting to order a macchiato. lol
Chemical X
Footballguy
we did a big favor for another friend today. essentially, we have made 2 sets of really good friends here. a guy couple from florida that are married and here permanently and another couple from tahoe via frisco, she got citizenship and he tags along. they went back to the states in november and she returned today and asked for an airport pickup favor (no judgments). he is back in the states handling some tahoe stuff. she was really grateful and brought me back 13 everything bagels and 2 bags of starbucks beans. this stuff is like cigarette currency in lock up. i think i can use a bagel to buy a gun from an american here.
Chemical X
Footballguy
some things i’ve learned;
-car vs pedestrian, car always has right of way. they will never stop or yield.
-when you drive, look once, twice and three times. then recheck. italians do not yield!! if you are backing out of a spot, they will not stop, just merely try to go behind you while you are moving.
-do not leave belongings in vehicles. if you rent a car from the airport, do not stop along the way for food or leave the car unattended. thieves are becoming more prevalent.
-do not pay extra for a hotel breakfast. if it’s included, that’s one thing. worst thing to do is have a hotel breakfast. breakfast is one the most culturally interesting things here and in europe. so diverse from the states. i say this because you can walk outside any hotel and find a bar with coffee and croissants and pastries for €5 total. but the sounds and energy remain fascinating.
-car vs pedestrian, car always has right of way. they will never stop or yield.
-when you drive, look once, twice and three times. then recheck. italians do not yield!! if you are backing out of a spot, they will not stop, just merely try to go behind you while you are moving.
-do not leave belongings in vehicles. if you rent a car from the airport, do not stop along the way for food or leave the car unattended. thieves are becoming more prevalent.
-do not pay extra for a hotel breakfast. if it’s included, that’s one thing. worst thing to do is have a hotel breakfast. breakfast is one the most culturally interesting things here and in europe. so diverse from the states. i say this because you can walk outside any hotel and find a bar with coffee and croissants and pastries for €5 total. but the sounds and energy remain fascinating.
Yambag
Footballguy
No tip, it was beautiful.
Chemical X
Footballguy
so, the first weekend of each month basically, arezzo has an antiques market that consumes the entire city. there is a fine line between antique and junk imo. arezzo is beautiful, but there are no real bargains. we went a week ago and my thought was to see if i could find some old and maybe valuable artwork that could be stolen. we actually came across an original haring and an original warhol. i took the haring to the vendor and was praying he’d say €10……he said €1800, lol. the warhol was €6800-. it was a nice drive.
Chemical X
Footballguy
here’s a tidbit of how socialistic medicine works. so, we just into the national system. in the last 2 weeks myself and my wife have received letters directing us both for cologuard type testing. i had a colonoscopy, so i passed. i took my wife’s letter to the local pharmacy, which is a do all kind of place here. they gave us a do do at home kit. do your thing and return it double bagged to the pharmacy, then they mail results in 1 week. my wife then received pre made appointments for a dr. papschmear and mammogram. all apparently free. the system is just so bizarre for an american.
Chemical X
Footballguy
also, i have team fluff and am giving 6 points.
The Z Machine
Footballguy
If this is Europe then Switzerland isn't in Europe. People slam on their brakes for pedestrians (in crosswalks), bagels and Starbucks beans can be had, and petty theft is pretty rare. I left skis, boots, snowboard, etc in my car overnight in a private, uncovered and easily accessible lot. But 5€ for any meal is unheard of. A cortado will run 5€ pretty easily in most cafes.
Navin Johnson
Footballguy
Where are you again? We have like 10 of them in Munich.
Navin Johnson
Footballguy
People like to slam socialized medicine. Our doctors have walk in hours (Sprechestunden) where you just show up without an appointment. Longest I have had to wait was 30 minutes which, IIRC, is on the low end in the US when you actually make an appointment. Mondays can be pretty rough, I see lines out the door sometimes, but hey, you are just showing up. I have had to wait over an hour when making an appointment with a specialist (Orthopedist.) Longest I have had to wait for an appointment was two days for an MRI.
Navin Johnson
Footballguy
They still tip here, but it's usually just rounding up, so you would give 80eu on a 77eu bill. I'll usually add another 5eu on top. Waiters will grease the hosts for seating Americans in their section.
Chemical X
Footballguy
the italians don’t tip….ever. i usually do the round up as well. not sure if other cultures follow suit.
The Z Machine
Footballguy
In Geneva when paying with a card, I typically unable to add a tip. I've done it in cash before, but it's rare. The cost is the cost.
Although I bought a bottle of water from a food truck vendor outside of the ski lift area and he told me it was 2.50€. When I gave him 3€ in coins, he didn't give me any change. I said, "uh, 2... 50?" in French. He looked at me and then handed me a 0.50€ coin. What a joiyk.
Although I bought a bottle of water from a food truck vendor outside of the ski lift area and he told me it was 2.50€. When I gave him 3€ in coins, he didn't give me any change. I said, "uh, 2... 50?" in French. He looked at me and then handed me a 0.50€ coin. What a joiyk.
Chemical X
Footballguy
i hate the dollar and two dollar coins.
Navin Johnson
Footballguy
Love them. Give it some time
eta---I bring back those orange prescription bottles to collect them in, they fit perfectly. Used to do the same thing with quarters in the States for parking meters
Chemical X
Footballguy
we also have .01 and .02 coins. eu would drive the doge crazy!
Navin Johnson
Footballguy
Chemical X
Footballguy
i usually have a handful of coins and take minutes trying to decipher how to pay the cashier. i just show them my coins and they grab what they need.
Navin Johnson
Footballguy
I just carry around the small coins to avoid getting more of them back if I'm not paying by card. Save the 1eu and 2eu to pay our refs - never know what the mileage costs are going to be
The Z Machine
Footballguy
I have finally signed and completed the Swiss based employment contract. Hopefully, I start to get paid in CHF starting this month. One interesting tidbit is that I think my company is going to pay me out the 9 unused PTO days I had at the end of the US contract. Then I get prorated PTO days on my Swiss contract. But I only got 20 days in the USA, and now I will get 21 days prorated. So, this might be a nice little bonus for me if it works out.
My work address did get updated to Zurich in the HR system, so at least it seems the back end of the HR stuff has been processed. Hopefully no more snags on this front.
I hired a CPA in the USA to deal with our 2024 taxes, which are stupidly complicated. I think that I'm gonna have to write a check for $20k to the USG and $5k to the state of Maryland... and then get the United Nations to reimburse us. Fun.
Oh, and I got another speeding ticket. 9 kph over the 40 kph limit. The speed limits are simply too low here!
My kids and I took a road trip to Italy about a week ago. Drove from Geneva to the Liguian coast through the Mont Blanc tunnel. It was good to get out of the grey skies and see some palm trees, even it was only like 10F warmer there. Visited Genoa and Turin, taking in an aquarium and a museum. We had a pretty good time and really enjoyed the food. They love the focaccia and pesto there! My son bought a Torino scarf because he doesn't like Juve.
My work address did get updated to Zurich in the HR system, so at least it seems the back end of the HR stuff has been processed. Hopefully no more snags on this front.
I hired a CPA in the USA to deal with our 2024 taxes, which are stupidly complicated. I think that I'm gonna have to write a check for $20k to the USG and $5k to the state of Maryland... and then get the United Nations to reimburse us. Fun.
Oh, and I got another speeding ticket. 9 kph over the 40 kph limit. The speed limits are simply too low here!
My kids and I took a road trip to Italy about a week ago. Drove from Geneva to the Liguian coast through the Mont Blanc tunnel. It was good to get out of the grey skies and see some palm trees, even it was only like 10F warmer there. Visited Genoa and Turin, taking in an aquarium and a museum. We had a pretty good time and really enjoyed the food. They love the focaccia and pesto there! My son bought a Torino scarf because he doesn't like Juve.
The Z Machine
Footballguy
I started riding my bike a bit more as the weather (and daylight) are getting better. It's a nice part of the world to ride your bike. Good hill climbing, great road conditions, and the drivers give you space without honking.
Now I need to find myself some French classes.
Now I need to find myself some French classes.
Beef Ravioli Part 2
Footballguy
See if you can get a speeding ticket on your bike!
The Z Machine
Footballguy
I was definitely going faster than the limit on my bike on Friday when I passed a camera. I held up the middle finger as I went by. Hope they caught that.
Chemical X
Footballguy
i’ll try to post a life update soon. we may have discovered something very interesting visa wise.
Navin Johnson
Footballguy
You can get a DUI on your bike here. 5000 eu fine and lose your driver's license
Chemical X
Footballguy
after nearly 2 years on the market we received an offer (quite low) on our original place. but, we basically decided that after 2 years, no offer was too low. it’s dead money we need to recoup. we countered a bit but are still below our ask, which we dropped 10€ from the original ask. we just want to wrap that place up and bank the euro. we can certainly put it up against something else at this point.
DA RAIDERS
Footballguy
The Z Machine
Footballguy
Wait, your place in Florida? Or the house in Italy? I'm confused.
Chemical X
Footballguy
grab your notebook…..our original apartment in italy.
The Z Machine
Footballguy
I didn't know you owned 2 places in Italy. You sold your primary in FL and kept the condo? You rent out the condo?
BTW, how are you handling taxes for 2024?
Chemical X
Footballguy
so, we sold our primary outside raleigh and kept a place on the shore. when we bought in italy in 2023, we still had our original apartment. after we closed on our new place, we put the other on the market, in 2023. 2 years for a low ball offer!
The Z Machine
Footballguy
Wow. Was it unoccupied this whole time or did you rent it out?
Chemical X
Footballguy
empty……
The Z Machine
Footballguy
Damn, I can't imagine paying a mortgage for 2 years and not getting any use out of it. Why did it take so long to sell? No housing crisis where it's located?
Chemical X
Footballguy
no mortgage. the location is on a white road in the countryside a bit. i needed a local really and all the locals are leaving.
gianmarco
Footballguy
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