10 Culture Shocks I Experienced Living in Italy (As an American Expat)

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Our advisor in Italy:    / ciudadaniaenitalia  

When I moved to Italy on a student visa, I had romantic ideas of what life would be like. But in reality, it was full of surprises.
In this video, I share some of the culture shocks I experienced while living in Northern Italy—from the housing hunt and the language barrier to the differences in daily routine.

➡️ Whether you're planning to move to Italy or just curious about everyday life here, I hope this helps you understand the differences a little better.

🎥The Travel Video Toolkit: ✈️ Your Shortcut to Travel Videos You’ll Love - https://stan.store/IanCFrancis/p/how-...

Tips on housing, cost of living, public transport, paperwork, and more:
⏱️ Timestamps:
00:00 Intro – Expectations vs Reality
00:38 - 10 Housing Differences
01:00 - 9 Finding an Apartment
01:24 - 8 Laundry
01:49 - 7 Coffee Culture
02:43 - 6 Groceries
03:22 - 5 Public Transport
03:50 - The Travel Video Toolkit
04:34 - The Passeggiata
05:09 - Moderation
05:35 - Bureaucracy & Language Barriers
06:58 - Cultural Programs Worth Knowing
07:50 - Bonus Round
08:55 - Reflections

📍 I lived in Alessandria and commuted to Torino daily, so everything I share is based on my experience in Northern Italy. As I always say, Italy is a diverse and complex country. Your experience might be totally different depending on where you land.

💬 Have you experienced culture shocks abroad? Share them in the comments!
I read everything and love hearing your stories.

📸 CONNECT WITH ME
Instagram:   / iancfrancis  
Website/Portfolio: https://www.iancfrancis.com/

📌 Watch Next:
🇮🇹 Learning Italian in Italy →    • I Moved to Italy and Learned Italian  
🏡 What I Learned Living in Italy for 8 Months →    • 8 Months in Italy: What I Learned  

📬 Subscribe for videos about moving abroad, slow travel, and building a creative life overseas.

Thanks for watching, and see you in the next one
— Ian

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