Right, I'm moving to Milan -what do I need to know?
Discussion
Stuff at work has resulted in me either moving to our Milan office or not having gainful employment. This isn't a bad thing, I'm well up for it. So! what do I need to know?
It'll likely be a minimum of 2 years. What should I do?
What are the rules with tax/mot/classic cars, I might try to get something interesting while I'm over there.
Where's good nearby?
What's the situation with track days over there?
Are there any wierd cusoms?
What are the police like?
etc,etc.
Cheers, Dan
It'll likely be a minimum of 2 years. What should I do?
What are the rules with tax/mot/classic cars, I might try to get something interesting while I'm over there.
Where's good nearby?
What's the situation with track days over there?
Are there any wierd cusoms?
What are the police like?
etc,etc.
Cheers, Dan
You've obviously sorted a flat, garage (essential! there is nowhere to park), etc.
Before you start thinking about classic cars/customs/police...
1. Can you speak Italian?
(N.B. Shouting and speaking slowly doesn't count)
If you can, well done. If not... oh dear!
2. Getting things done- the faster you want it the longer they will take to do it and the more they will feck you around. Knowing somebody is the only way, AND they will expect you repay the favour. Oh yeah, 2 years you say? You should have your Italian driving licence just before you are due to come home.
3. Don't expect to get laid unless you pay for it or drive a Ferrari and are prepared to supply confirmation of a large bank balance.
4. Don't drink cappuccino after 11am or order double espresso or chips with your pizza.
I could go on... but I can't be arsed.
Before you start thinking about classic cars/customs/police...
1. Can you speak Italian?
(N.B. Shouting and speaking slowly doesn't count)
If you can, well done. If not... oh dear!
2. Getting things done- the faster you want it the longer they will take to do it and the more they will feck you around. Knowing somebody is the only way, AND they will expect you repay the favour. Oh yeah, 2 years you say? You should have your Italian driving licence just before you are due to come home.
3. Don't expect to get laid unless you pay for it or drive a Ferrari and are prepared to supply confirmation of a large bank balance.
4. Don't drink cappuccino after 11am or order double espresso or chips with your pizza.
I could go on... but I can't be arsed.
for trackdays there's http://www.track4fun.it/ which organizes trackdays in Italy and neighbouring countrys or you could go at a trackday organized directly by the race track such as Monza which organizes its own trackdays during winter, or Varano (near Parma 120km from Milan) which also organizes its own trackdays throughout the year
Where in Milan will you be living, mechanics are hard to find and harder to trust.
I agree with get a garage, parking hell and scrapes galore.
Drink on the Navigli, eat on the Navigli, jazz on the Navigli and if you can Live on the Navigli, I also happen to have a great mechanic there.
I agree with get a garage, parking hell and scrapes galore.
Drink on the Navigli, eat on the Navigli, jazz on the Navigli and if you can Live on the Navigli, I also happen to have a great mechanic there.
blueyes said:
You've obviously sorted a flat, garage (essential! there is nowhere to park), etc.
Before you start thinking about classic cars/customs/police...
1. Can you speak Italian?
(N.B. Shouting and speaking slowly doesn't count)
If you can, well done. If not... oh dear!
2. Getting things done- the faster you want it the longer they will take to do it and the more they will feck you around. Knowing somebody is the only way, AND they will expect you repay the favour. Oh yeah, 2 years you say? You should have your Italian driving licence just before you are due to come home.
3. Don't expect to get laid unless you pay for it or drive a Ferrari and are prepared to supply confirmation of a large bank balance.
4. Don't drink cappuccino after 11am or order double espresso or chips with your pizza.
I could go on... but I can't be arsed.
Err, no I haven't! Boss called me into his office on Friday:Before you start thinking about classic cars/customs/police...
1. Can you speak Italian?
(N.B. Shouting and speaking slowly doesn't count)
If you can, well done. If not... oh dear!
2. Getting things done- the faster you want it the longer they will take to do it and the more they will feck you around. Knowing somebody is the only way, AND they will expect you repay the favour. Oh yeah, 2 years you say? You should have your Italian driving licence just before you are due to come home.
3. Don't expect to get laid unless you pay for it or drive a Ferrari and are prepared to supply confirmation of a large bank balance.
4. Don't drink cappuccino after 11am or order double espresso or chips with your pizza.
I could go on... but I can't be arsed.
"we're re-jigging the roles of the UK office, you have a choice of what you want to do. The sales department in Milan really need engineers, so you can go and work there (I've been there a few times, know a few of the guys) We'll put you up and get you italian lessons and a hire car. The other option is redundancy."
bit of a shock!
crofty1984 said:
blueyes said:
You've obviously sorted a flat, garage (essential! there is nowhere to park), etc.
Before you start thinking about classic cars/customs/police...
1. Can you speak Italian?
(N.B. Shouting and speaking slowly doesn't count)
If you can, well done. If not... oh dear!
2. Getting things done- the faster you want it the longer they will take to do it and the more they will feck you around. Knowing somebody is the only way, AND they will expect you repay the favour. Oh yeah, 2 years you say? You should have your Italian driving licence just before you are due to come home.
3. Don't expect to get laid unless you pay for it or drive a Ferrari and are prepared to supply confirmation of a large bank balance.
4. Don't drink cappuccino after 11am or order double espresso or chips with your pizza.
I could go on... but I can't be arsed.
Err, no I haven't! Boss called me into his office on Friday:Before you start thinking about classic cars/customs/police...
1. Can you speak Italian?
(N.B. Shouting and speaking slowly doesn't count)
If you can, well done. If not... oh dear!
2. Getting things done- the faster you want it the longer they will take to do it and the more they will feck you around. Knowing somebody is the only way, AND they will expect you repay the favour. Oh yeah, 2 years you say? You should have your Italian driving licence just before you are due to come home.
3. Don't expect to get laid unless you pay for it or drive a Ferrari and are prepared to supply confirmation of a large bank balance.
4. Don't drink cappuccino after 11am or order double espresso or chips with your pizza.
I could go on... but I can't be arsed.
"we're re-jigging the roles of the UK office, you have a choice of what you want to do. The sales department in Milan really need engineers, so you can go and work there (I've been there a few times, know a few of the guys) We'll put you up and get you italian lessons and a hire car. The other option is redundancy."
bit of a shock!
did 5 years for a bank over there, bought a house, met the wife (Brazilian model) now back in the UK. awesome time...
fashion capital of the world and if you have a good income you have a licence to party like you couldn’t possibly understand now (im assuming you live in LDN?)
It'll likely be a minimum of 2 years. What should I do?
GO - it will be the best time of yr life.... assuming you are single and hetrosexual!! if yr HR dept is run out of italy i will be happy to give you specific advice on dealing with them, u will prob need it. need a PM for that.
What are the rules with tax/mot/classic cars, I might try to get something interesting while I'm over there.... Forget the car, get a vespa from London (UK plates) and have it shipped over. its what i did. get the car in month 6 when you know what you are doing. make friends with a few Milanese and get them to drive you to the beach in summer.
Where's good nearby? beaches and skiing 2 hours from milan. you choose.
What's the situation with track days over there? Monza for kicks but need the car 1st.
Are there any weird customs? ohhhhh yeah.... s
tloads. lets start with you getting straight down the gym now bro.... get ready to enter the weird world of 'bella figura' .... PM again for this. What are the police like? good question, depends on who you get and how good you are at talking. my experience was you can (if you are creative enough) talk your way out of most things being a fine upstanding Englishman ! in addition... at some point you will meet/make friends with a few cops, they will be invaluable.
bobo said:
did 5 years for a bank over there, bought a house, met the wife (Brazilian model) now back in the UK. awesome time...
fashion capital of the world and if you have a good income you have a licence to party like you couldn’t possibly understand now (im assuming you live in LDN?)
It'll likely be a minimum of 2 years. What should I do?
GO - it will be the best time of yr life.... assuming you are single and hetrosexual!! if yr HR dept is run out of italy i will be happy to give you specific advice on dealing with them, u will prob need it. need a PM for that.
What are the rules with tax/mot/classic cars, I might try to get something interesting while I'm over there.... Forget the car, get a vespa from London (UK plates) and have it shipped over. its what i did. get the car in month 6 when you know what you are doing. make friends with a few Milanese and get them to drive you to the beach in summer.
Where's good nearby? beaches and skiing 2 hours from milan. you choose.
What's the situation with track days over there? Monza for kicks but need the car 1st.
Are there any weird customs? ohhhhh yeah.... stloads. lets start with you getting straight down the gym now bro.... get ready to enter the weird world of 'bella figura' .... PM again for this.
What are the police like? good question, depends on who you get and how good you are at talking. my experience was you can (if you are creative enough) talk your way out of most things being a fine upstanding Englishman ! in addition... at some point you will meet/make friends with a few cops, they will be invaluable.
Thanks Bobo, I'll be finding out more in the sext week or so, I'll PM you when I know a bit more where I stand.fashion capital of the world and if you have a good income you have a licence to party like you couldn’t possibly understand now (im assuming you live in LDN?)
It'll likely be a minimum of 2 years. What should I do?
GO - it will be the best time of yr life.... assuming you are single and hetrosexual!! if yr HR dept is run out of italy i will be happy to give you specific advice on dealing with them, u will prob need it. need a PM for that.
What are the rules with tax/mot/classic cars, I might try to get something interesting while I'm over there.... Forget the car, get a vespa from London (UK plates) and have it shipped over. its what i did. get the car in month 6 when you know what you are doing. make friends with a few Milanese and get them to drive you to the beach in summer.
Where's good nearby? beaches and skiing 2 hours from milan. you choose.
What's the situation with track days over there? Monza for kicks but need the car 1st.
Are there any weird customs? ohhhhh yeah.... s
tloads. lets start with you getting straight down the gym now bro.... get ready to enter the weird world of 'bella figura' .... PM again for this. What are the police like? good question, depends on who you get and how good you are at talking. my experience was you can (if you are creative enough) talk your way out of most things being a fine upstanding Englishman ! in addition... at some point you will meet/make friends with a few cops, they will be invaluable.
Cheers,
Dan
bobo said:
in addition... at some point you will meet/make friends with a few cops, they will be invaluable.
A biker friend of mine was a Police officer, the Italian Police were not particularly concerned with speeding (outside of towns etc) unless 'excessive' but when riding with him we had a 'licence to speed'. Like many things in Italy it's who you know not what you know that's important.
In bocca al lupo!
exactly... its a great country with great people... (although the milanese & milan will drive you nuts in the end!)
you get to learn how to be a latin (v funny!!), learn a new language, explore a new country....soooo much fun to be had there, good food and real coffee (miss the coffee soooo much!!!) become an expert snow boarder in winter and have a permanent tan from feb/march till sept/oct.
dont be too english and just embrace the cultural differences and have no fear. cant go wrong ... as catzo says in bocca al lupo!
you get to learn how to be a latin (v funny!!), learn a new language, explore a new country....soooo much fun to be had there, good food and real coffee (miss the coffee soooo much!!!) become an expert snow boarder in winter and have a permanent tan from feb/march till sept/oct.
dont be too english and just embrace the cultural differences and have no fear. cant go wrong ... as catzo says in bocca al lupo!
Ciao tutti,
I've made it here safe, flew in on the 9th (yes, 2 and a half weeks to move country!) Have to say so far I'm absolutely loving it! I can already say "la macchina non va" and "non comprendo" I'm staying in a flat on a golf course near Busto Arsizio (sp?) very nice, though a little out the way. I'll be moving somewhere more permanent in September. I know what you're all saying about being able to speak Italian! Can't wait for my lessons to start (also September) Thanks for all your advice,
Chi Vediamo, (or however you spell it)
Dan
I've made it here safe, flew in on the 9th (yes, 2 and a half weeks to move country!) Have to say so far I'm absolutely loving it! I can already say "la macchina non va" and "non comprendo" I'm staying in a flat on a golf course near Busto Arsizio (sp?) very nice, though a little out the way. I'll be moving somewhere more permanent in September. I know what you're all saying about being able to speak Italian! Can't wait for my lessons to start (also September) Thanks for all your advice,
Chi Vediamo, (or however you spell it)
Dan
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