English For many, moving means, in a way, running away from a reality they don’t like. It’s about looking elsewhere for something they feel is missing at home. But for others, it’s just curiosity – a desire to challenge themselves in a completely new environment. That was definitely the case for Kathy Jackson Christ. She decided to leave Florida to find the sea and the warmth that reminded her so much of home, in Bari, Puglia.
Kathy’s First Steps Toward Living in Italy
Kathy Jackson is originally from Jacksonville, Florida, where she works as a mortgage broker and leads a team of loan officers. As she started planning for retirement, about seven years away, Italy began to catch her attention.
“I considered Spain and Portugal too, but somehow Italy just felt right. Everything just worked out, and I knew it was where I should be. Plus, this place reminded me of Florida in many ways: the warm seaside climate, the friendly people, the slower pace of life..”
But beyond the vibe, Kathy also moved thinking about her health – not just physical, but spiritual and financial as well. Indeed, the cost of living is significantly lower, and on a spiritual level, being Catholic, she’s surrounded by Italy’s rich cultural heritage, including the many churches and local festivals organized in the area. Physically, she feels healthier too, since she doesn’t have a car and can walk everywhere she needs, thanks to having all the shops close by.
At first, Kathy had no particular city in mind. Being in the US, not speaking Italian yet, and needing a registered lease to apply for her visa made finding a place tough. After reaching out to about 100 people with hardly any luck, she finally gave in and said: “I’d take any place in Italy that would give me a lease.” Then, through a Facebook group, she found a beautiful rental in a suburb of Puglia, signed the lease, and landed there for the first time. The moment she arrived, she knew she was home.
Getting the Digital Nomad Visa
Since she works remotely, Kathy decided to apply for the digital nomad visa. She began preparing in April 2024 and quickly booked a consulate appointment, expecting a long wait. To her surprise, she got one for October of the same year.
“I was nervous. I was handling it all myself and really wanted to get it right”. She traveled to collect and certify documents, but just days before her October appointment, she realized she wasn’t ready and canceled. After reconsidering and finally feeling confident, three days later she unexpectedly secured a new appointment, scheduled for a few months later.
Her visa case was unusual: she’s self-employed but 100% commissioned by one company. Unsure whether she fit under the freelancer or remote worker category, she applied as self-employed since her income isn’t fixed or guaranteed:
“The appointment lasted over two hours, and the official spent most of that time trying to discourage me. He said I didn’t fit any category and probably wouldn’t get approved“. Despite this, she decided to submit all the documents: “I felt discouraged for weeks. But eventually I decided that even if it didn’t work out, I’d still vacation in Italy. I’d already paid rent on a place here”.
Then, in early April, the unexpected happened – an email from the consulate. Her visa had been approved. So she sent in a second copy of all her documents, and soon after, received her passport back with the visa inside. She got the final approval about four months after the appointment, and one year after first booking.
“At that point, I just moved fast” she says. In three weeks, she sold her car, rented out her house, hired a property manager, and packed up her life:
“One of the best things about Italy’s digital nomad visa is the long-term path it offers. You can renew it each year for five years, then apply for permanent residency. After another five years, you can apply for citizenship”. Not all countries make that possible, and for Kathy, who’s thinking ahead to retirement, that long-term option was key. “I didn’t want to choose a country where you’re forced to leave after a year. Italy offers stability, and that makes a big difference.”
Living the Slow Life in Bari
“Although there is an expat community, I came here knowing no one, with the goal of fully immersing myself in Italian life. Still, knowing that other people are having a great experience here too makes me expect more good days ahead.”
Kathy was looking for tranquility, which is why she chose to live in a more residential area of Bari. She even describes it a bit like a small town. What she appreciates most about living there is definitely that everything she needs is within walking distance: a hairdresser, bakery, deli, café, pizza spots, a steakhouse, a pharmacy, and even the beach.
“What I love is that I’ve become friends with many shopkeepers” Kathy says. “They patiently deal with my Italian every day.” Even though she didn’t speak much of the language at first, she found locals to be kind, encouraging, and eager to help her improve: “They let me try speaking, they respond gently, and sometimes correct me kindly. It’s like a shared experience.”
Of course, it’s not always easy to balance remote work in a new country, especially since she has to follow American working hours: “But the Wi-Fi is good, and even if it hadn’t been, Bari has several coworking spaces.”
If you’re considering moving to Italy but want to know practical details like internet connection, proximity to airports and train stations, climate, school quality, or towns with special 7% tax regimes, click below
On Learning Italian and Getting a Driver’s License
Learning a new language is always a challenge. But Kathy decided to face it bravely in the best way possible: by listening and practicing every day with the words she learns.
“When I first arrived, I made myself go out every day to hear and speak Italian. Now, I learn mostly from everyday life – from going to the church and listening to the priest’s speech, to practicing phrases whenever I’m out.”
Although daily life is walkable, Kathy decided to get a car and plans to start studying for the Italian driver’s licence in September: “I’m glad I didn’t have one at first, walking has made me healthier. And public transport is great, but trains stop around 10 or 11 pm, so that makes it hard to enjoy evening events. Plus, there are towns I want to visit that aren’t on train lines.”
Advice for Anyone Thinking of Moving to Bari
Kathy has been incredibly bold in this experience. She threw herself completely alone into a country she didn’t know. And she did it in a deeply human way, facing her fears and trying to ignore the voices that were working against her. If she had listened to the man who told her it would be a lost cause, she probably would never have left. But she decided to pause, think it through rationally, and then take the risk fully – diving headfirst into this adventure:
“I’d say, just do it! I mean, it’s Italy – how wrong could it really go? Honestly, if I were moving to a completely different culture, like somewhere in Asia, I might be more nervous because everything would feel so different. But Italy? It’s not that different, it just feels better. The food tastes better, the people are friendly, and it’s just..nice. It’s a cliché, but it’s true – now I really understand why people talk about la dolce vita.”
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