At first it felt like a curse, or at the very least, an inconvenience, having to leave Italy after every 90 day stay. I tell many people that who have never heard of such a thing. They usually respond with a question about going somewhere for a weekend and coming back home. That was the case when my mother lived in Canada as a homeowner, but US Citizen. She could cross the border, buy a soda pop, and go home. Italians are especially surprised regarding this fact about their country. I told my friend Giuseppe about it and he said, "Even though you bought a house?" "Yes, that's right. I pay taxes, too, but can't live in my house six months out of the year!" My other friend Giuseppe, in Sicily was indignant! He would not allow it. He was ready to tell them they had to let me stay, and even that we would be driving to see a lawyer the next day. His family is my surrogate Italian family for the past 25 years, though I'd only seen them twice in that time. Personally, I'm not bitter about the rule at all. That is their immigration law. I respect it, and observe it, and it allows me to live in Italy without technically having to jump through the many bureaucratic hoops required to legally emigrate. It is no simple feat getting residency in Italy. Much harder, even than in other EU countries.
How it works, is I arrive at the Italian border as a tourist with a US passport. I am allowed to stay up to 90 days for my "vacation". Then I must leave not just Italy, but the entire Schengen Zone, made up of 29 countries, for a minimum of 90 days. Many of them are also EU nations, but it is a special agreement between member nations that allows visa free (borderless) travel if one has nationality in any one of them. I'm in favour of Italy limiting immigration in the interest of its own citizens. It protects their economy to some degree, because a person must have a minimum income without working, or make a large investment, or bring a needed skill to the workforce. There are other visa options, but the way I feel about Italy is, they make the rules and I follow them. My friend calls the government stupid for kicking me out since in my situation it just means I can't spend money in the local economy for half of the year. The way I see it is I will take every second I can get and do whatever they tell me! That is how much I love the people, the country, and my life there.
I told someone the other day that maybe I don't want residency just yet anyway since I love to travel, and it forces me to explore places I've never been, rather than getting too comfy at home. If I had the option to stay, it is possible I would never leave! For example I arrived in Albania 8 days ago and absolutely love it. I didn't even know where Albania was, much less have an interest in visiting. It is full of natural beauty, wonderful food and so many kind and welcoming people. It is also incredibly cheap to live there as a foreigner. My rent is $300 a month and I have the most beautiful mountain, sea and city view of Vlore with all amenities within walking distance. Many things here remind me of my home in Perugia and I even get to practice my Italian with my B&B host, plus vendors in many of the markets and businesses. I'm starting to feel like I could be very happy during my stints outside of Italy, rather than heartbroken and homesick like the first time I left.
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