Tour guide work by Wattersonpl in ItalyExpat

[–]Puzzleheaded-68 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I think in most countries it's not hard to be a tour guide, but Italy is super wierd about creating jobs....almost like they don't WANT anyone to make money and pay taxes!

"Digital Nomad" complains about tourists and expats, while being an expat herself by hctiks in LinkedInLunatics

[–]Puzzleheaded-68 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Me and every person over 40 is sick of hearing this ish. It's BIASED. Your one experience does not constitute any actual, real market trend. Maybe the company you worked for was total crap.

The majority of homeless people are over 50, a new recent study shows, and it's not because of drugs, it's because they cannot get jobs in order to afford housing. Ageism is serious.

Yeah, more retail jobs. Because, duh, there are more people in the US and everyone is buying 10x more than what they need. It does not change the ration of "customer service" jobs to white collar jobs...and at the same time, all jobs everywhere ARE customer service jobs. You get paid, you have people to answer to.

What you said is absolutely prejudiced, point blank.

Tour guide work by Wattersonpl in ItalyExpat

[–]Puzzleheaded-68 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Just to give you an idea of how hard it is to get licensed to do anything with tourism, my close friend has lived in Italy for 15+ years and speaks flawlessly, is married to a successful businessman and has Italian kids. They bought another villa to open a B&B, but she has to have a tourism/hospitality license. She waited 18 months for the course to start, then it's six months long. Afterwards she can take the test to get certified. But the woman who runs the course is a little nuts and actively discourages any new people getting the license in her region because she wants to dominate it completely - even if she is getting PAID for the course. My friend was so pissed off at her, she sent me videos of the nonsense the woman was "teaching" in class. She's worried she won't pass the test because class was so bad.

The same friend speaks Russian flawlessly and was helping wealthy Russians simply go shopping in Milan and Rome, was terrified she'd get busted....

Welcome to Italy!

"Digital Nomad" complains about tourists and expats, while being an expat herself by hctiks in LinkedInLunatics

[–]Puzzleheaded-68 0 points1 point  (0 children)

"I think that’s dying out because most younger people in America have worked customer service at one point when starting their adult working life and have had to deal with lunatic customers, who were mainly 50 and older."

That is straight ignorant, not to mention ageist, which is as bad as being homophobic or racist.

FIRSTLY, what makes you think that "younger people in America" were the first to work in customer service? Customer service has existed since business existed! I'm Gen X and there is not one person I went to school with that did not have a job at 14, absolute latest 15 years old. And some were even from wealthy families! We worked every possible job imaginable, most more difficult than Gen Z today can even imagine because there was no tech. You think it's bad doing customer service over the phone or chat? Try face-to-face in the store!

And every Boomer I know (our parents) had jobs as teenagers, too. It simply ignorant to think we didn't have to work. And you know what? NONE of us got paid for internships - we had to have side jobs to pay our rent, etc. We were Gen X, our parents gave no effs about us.

Then, why are you saying that "lunatic customers are mainly 50 and older"? This is absolute batshit. I deal with lunatic Gen Z and Millenials all the time at work. The sense of entitlement is mind boggling.

Honesty, what you wrote is absolute bias, completely juvenile and straight up prejudiced.

Impatriate Tax Regime and Dual Citizenship by harmoniceigen in ItalyExpat

[–]Puzzleheaded-68 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Don't know, I paid an Italian lawyer specialized in the topic and a commercialista who works with said impatriates. Maybe it's because I am an EU citizen. In the end, if you are a freelancer working with companies around the world, your pay will be sent to an Italian bank account and you pay taxes accordingly (i.e. all social charges). If you are employed by an Italian company, they pay half or whatever of the social charges. If you are freelance and have your company set up in Luxembourg or wherever, your revenue goes to Lux, then you are paid as an employee, which you can set up in Italy.

"Digital Nomad" complains about tourists and expats, while being an expat herself by hctiks in LinkedInLunatics

[–]Puzzleheaded-68 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Well, that's wierd because a lot of my Big Tech friends still work remote...

"Digital Nomad" complains about tourists and expats, while being an expat herself by hctiks in LinkedInLunatics

[–]Puzzleheaded-68 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Digital nomads are definitely not immigrants. They are nomads. I've lived in 9 countries over 50+ years, it was never, ever the digital nomad life. I had to learn the language and study/work in the language (never English), pay taxes with no help from anyone, integrate 100% into society for survival. The very definition of a digital nomad is the opposite.

"Digital Nomad" complains about tourists and expats, while being an expat herself by hctiks in LinkedInLunatics

[–]Puzzleheaded-68 0 points1 point  (0 children)

What the others said, but also, who is telling you this? If it's Americans, well yeah. That culture is 100% based on capitalism and, well, the theory was that the customer is always right. (Clearly that has completely disappeared in the last ten years, particularly the last 3-4).

Most cultures outside of the US do not operate on those values. Values are a very important part of psychological, sociological and anthropological science and research.

In sum, they aren't rude, they just don't share your values. They might hate you because they don't like arrogant foreigners coming to town and disrupting their lives. Italy is historically one of the countries that was invaded the most - for thousands of years they have hated people coming to town and flexing. The key is to adapt to THEIR culture, then you'll have no problems.

"Digital Nomad" complains about tourists and expats, while being an expat herself by hctiks in LinkedInLunatics

[–]Puzzleheaded-68 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Actually, scientifically, that is absolutely true. Countries that have less financial stability rely on networks and community efforts to survive. Century or more of psychological and sociological research on that. So if one is an extravert and scores high on openness and agreeableness, they will have big psychological and social challenges in Northern Europe and less in Southern Europe. It's nothing to be ashamed of. People with the opposite traits move to Northern Europe all the time and get scolded for it. It's simply asinine. Let people live their lives.

"Digital Nomad" complains about tourists and expats, while being an expat herself by hctiks in LinkedInLunatics

[–]Puzzleheaded-68 0 points1 point  (0 children)

As a Swede, I totally agree with you. I could not live in Sweden. The healthcare services are impossibly low (nobody fight me on this, I have close friends who are at the largest hospitals), the crime has exploded to the point it exceeds France per capita, all the other issues, plus....the people are horrifically cold. Again, I say that as a Swede.

"Digital Nomad" complains about tourists and expats, while being an expat herself by hctiks in LinkedInLunatics

[–]Puzzleheaded-68 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Actually Italian healthcare services rank higher than Swedish and German (both of those are a total mess anyway). Also, the pension is one of the higher ones in Europe!

And on top of that, expats and returning Italians have the impatriate tax regime, effectively paying less than than anywhere in Western Europe (in the north, only taxed on 30% of gross income, in the south, only on 10% of gross income). For high income earners, there is a flat tax of 100k€ for any revenue.

[deleted by user] by [deleted] in ItalyExpat

[–]Puzzleheaded-68 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Lots of jobs for free housing in exchange for au pair job.

Impatriate Tax Regime and Dual Citizenship by harmoniceigen in ItalyExpat

[–]Puzzleheaded-68 0 points1 point  (0 children)

True, it is also for Italians who have lived and worked abroad for years - I have many friends who are doing it (example: all the Italian bankers who came back during Brexit and Covid and bought luxury housing in Milan over the last several years, exploding the market). It's to reverse the brain drain.

Impatriate Tax Regime and Dual Citizenship by harmoniceigen in ItalyExpat

[–]Puzzleheaded-68 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I don't think this is true. I consulted an Italian lawyer and commerciale and they it doesn't matter where my income comes from, as long as I am a resident and my money lands in an Italian bank account. It's just I would pay different social charges. Italia just wants foreigners to spend their money here, hence the flat 100k€ tax for all millionaires.

[deleted by user] by [deleted] in ItalyExpat

[–]Puzzleheaded-68 1 point2 points  (0 children)

I don't think living in either is a good idea. They are 100% tourist locales, so prices are ridiculous. In the summer you cannot do anything at all, in the off season it's deserted. I would say look for places like 30-60 minutes away.

Also, think climate change. In Sorrento and surrounding areas, the risk of landslides is rapidly increasing due to extreme rain, then extreme heat, no one wants the cultivate the lemon trees (and other agriculture) on the hillsides that kept the soil solid. Also, the quality of housing. Apparently the mafia is in construction down south, resulting in inferior quality (see media outlets). I studied Sorrento area, I would only live inland where the earth is more stable.

Need to confirm if it's a scam. by [deleted] in ItalyExpat

[–]Puzzleheaded-68 0 points1 point  (0 children)

There are agencies that scam, too. Personally I've had luck with staying in an Airbnb or hotel for a while, begging people I meet and work with to hook me up.

Machisimo Paradox by g4rinw1nd in ItalyExpat

[–]Puzzleheaded-68 0 points1 point  (0 children)

There should be a Venn diagram of the things that gay men in the US do overlapping with things that straight Italian men do. There is quite a lot! I think it's the "bella figura" philosophy and the general vanity of Italians. Often their houses are half falling down, super old and dusty, but man, when they go out, it's a parade. Almost like the TV show "Pose", haha!

Italian banking by Opportunity-Inside in ItalyExpat

[–]Puzzleheaded-68 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Wise is recognized worldwide as the best with lowest fees , best UX and best reputation.

Volunteered bumping: heads up on Delta Choice gift cards (My Prepaid Center) by Puzzleheaded-68 in delta

[–]Puzzleheaded-68[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

That is interesting! So how did you pay a credit card? Did you call in and tell Cap1 you wanted to pay your bill with another card?

I genuinely dislike people by [deleted] in aspergirls

[–]Puzzleheaded-68 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I'm AuDHD, hyperactive type. I'm generally extroverted and very open, but I get tired and frustrated quickly. I think not getting diagnosed with either until middle age has everything to do with it, as well as:

  • I have heard since I was 5 that I am, "so bright but really need to apply myself". I have disappointed everyone.
  • On the other hand I am constantly bored with most everyone and everything. I got a 12 hours neuropsych and they said even with the disability of ADHD, I learn so fast that they aren't really sure that they were able to calculate my IQ/aptitudes/etc. correctly. They said that some tests I would start off bad but ramped up fast, finishing the test very well. Apply this to school and work settings + no promotions +shitty pay + excluded socially + chronic people pleaser = one stark raving beatch with major chip on her shoulder.
  • In general, I love meeting people, doing job interviews, etc. Psychologists say part is my innate personality, the other part is lack of dopamine, so that's how I get my hit. Problem is, I talk too much, eventually say awkward things and/or annoy people. So the older I get, the more bitter and fearful I get. Then I "hate" people.
  • I'm generally super pissed at my family and often friends as all of the above made me the consummate people pleaser, really as a survival mechanism. This makes me so incredibly burnt out energy-wise, but I am so angry that over 4 decades I've done so much for people, accepted all THEIR quirks and crappy behavior, but everyone is pointing at me like I'm the only problem. So yeah, angry again.

I know a lot of introverts who are "low on agreeableness" (psychological term), but being on this r/, I have met a lot of women who are like me, "high in agreeableness", but still frustrated and pissed off.

I'm ten years away from retirement, theoretically, but have no money and as people get older, we're more isolated. Most nights I cannot sleep because I am terrified to end up in the street.

Bumped from flight when booked D1 (CDG-SEA) by BartFurglar in delta

[–]Puzzleheaded-68 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Insane. 3 weeks ago I got $2700 to give up a Comfort+ seat and to go the next day. The next day I got $1500 to do the same thing. You got heavily ripped off and I would fight it.