This Is Italy
Can you get your Ed & Heleen out I leave remember? Heleen has now also written a book about their experiences in Umbria. The route to their Vista sull'Oliveto was not exactly a bed of roses. But they persevered and now run a successful 'country house' with apartments and breakfast and sell olive oil from their own olive grove. Heleen describes their departure in Bye the Netherlands! Hi Italia!.
I'm leaving-bingo
We received Ed and Heleen – the book from publisher Grenzenloos, which publishes more emigration books. Either: Bye the Netherlands! Hi Italia! with the subtitle 'A private bed & breakfast in Italy'. In the book there is a lot of space for the search for a suitable house and the perils surrounding the rent of the property they now operate.
Of course everything will pass again: the permits that have not been completed, the culture problems, the conditions at the bank, car breakdown, the lack of knowledge of Italian, lack of income, an unsold house, the problems with the landlord and so on. . I believe we have the I'm leaving bingo card complete!
Have you ever been to Italy on holiday?
It immediately starts well when it turns out that Ed & Heleen hardly know Italy. In the distant past, Heleen has been to Italy exactly four times. Her partner Ed got no further than one trip to Venice. But Tuscany looked great on television. That's why they decided to go to the green Tuscan hills during their next vacation.
Once on holiday, Ed spoke the words 'I would love to live in Italy and open a B&B there'. He shouldn't have said that. Because what follows is an agony along dilapidated houses, cunning brokers and much under disaster. This part of the book seems to be mainly a warning to people who also have similar plans: don't do it!
'Ambruzzo'
They soon find out that Tuscany might be a bit ambitious. A decent house for a decent amount is not to be found. Therefore, they descend further south. It is remarkable that she The Marches find nothing and also Apulia but find a dirty place. The Abruzzo (consistently called 'Ambruzzo' by Heleen in her book) they aren't either. Tuscany continues to attract.
It will eventually Umbria, after they have decided that renting is also an option. What follows is a lengthy account of contracts, negotiations and rent levels that you wish an editor had intervened in.
In any case, the whole book seems rather unedited. Neuter words are always referred to with 'this' and 'that', there are many mistakes against the singular and plural in the book and regularly there are parts that make you think: haven't I already read that?
Book or personal blog?
Only when Heleen has emigrated does she come to the village for the first time. Even then, things turn out to be far from running smoothly, as we are used to from the I am leaving stories. It is funny to read how the makers of the TV program send them out to shoot nice images: 'Go and buy some bread.' Be assured that this produces nice pictures for TV, if you barely speak Italian.
The adventures of Heleen and Ed can be read as a series of blogs on their own website. To write off their personal frustrations. We regularly see the same 'jokes' in a book that otherwise contains little humor or putting things into perspective.
For example, the statement about the 'Vista sulle More' (view of the blackberries), before they have taken care of the garden. Although there are certainly nice parts in it, someone could have deleted a lot.
Ready to see how Snowflake works?
Bye the Netherlands! Hi Italia! is a nice story to read, especially if you enjoyed the broadcast of I'm leaving. But where the TV broadcast had good editing, the book lacked that. As a result, it is at least 100 pages too long and the report looks like a rough, first version.
Fun only for future emigrants and for I'm leaving fans who would like a behind-the-scenes look at the TV show. But beware: there is a good chance that after reading this you will decide not to emigrate to Italy!
We have to give compliments for the courage that Heleen and Ed show. Despite all the setbacks, they persevere and they do not hesitate to write down their silly mistakes in the book and have them filmed by the team of I am leaving.
Watch the broadcast of I'm leaving here again.
Bye the Netherlands! Hi Italia!
by: Heleen Sloots
364 pages
€ 18,95
Publisher Borderless, 2014
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