Living in Italy vs the U.S. - Culture Shocks Between an American and an Italian, Including Cost of Living, Drivers License Exams, Breakups, Health Care, and the Drinking Age

Living in Italy vs the U.S. - Culture Shocks Between an American and an Italian, Including Cost of Living, Drivers License Exams, Breakups, Health Care, and the Drinking Age

Author: Catrin Skaperdas April 22, 2026 Duration: 52:49
Uncover where "Tuscany without the tourists" is and healthcare hacks that can save Americans money, and laugh with us through a cross-cultural roadmap between Italy and the US, on this episode of ITALIAN, FOR SURE. * Join the ITALIAN, FOR SURE Trip to Italy! https://italianforsurepodcast.beehiiv.com * Italian D.C. resident Amedeo Jashi, real estate and affordable healthcare entrepreneur and content creator, and host Catrin Skaperdas chat their way through cultural differences between Italians and Americans to bring you an entertaining and educational episode about Italian culture inclusive of:Amedeo's views of America and Italy, as an Italian that lives in AmericaAreas of Italy that feel more “Italian” vs lessCost of living in Italy vs AmericaIncome taxes for the employee vs employer in Italy vs AmericaWhy Amedeo thinks Abruzzo is amazingLiving like an Italian in Washington DCHow hard it is to get a drivers license in ItalyDrinking culture in Italy vs AmericaThe difference of Amedeo’s independence as a child growing up in Italy vs Catrin’s independence as a child growing up in the U.S.Gross vs net income in US vs AmericaCost of labor in Italy vs AmericaThe differences of American and Italian health careHow in Italy it’s more common than in the U.S. to have friends who are of the opposite sexBreakup “culture” in the US vs Italy Chapters: 1:08 Intro 3:50 How an Italian views America and Italy  8:06 The cost of living and taxes in Italy 9:58 Amedeo tells us about Abruzzo 13:03 Living like an Italian in Washington DC / An Italian’s view of America’s cost of living 16:39 Getting a drivers license in Italy 18:29 Saving money in the US vs Italy 19:13 Drinking culture in Italy vs America  22:26 Independence in Italy 24:58 The way Italians do business in Italy 28:38 Cost of labor in Italy vs America 31:28 How to be self-employed in Italy 33:54 Healthcare in Italy vs America 44:32 Breakups in Italy vs America 52:22 Why Amedeo calls people peasants 55:23 Outro To check out Amedeo on Instagram, click here https://www.instagram.com/amedeo_iasci/ This interview is available to watch on Apple Podcasts, Spotify and YouTube, and available to listen-only everywhere else you can get podcasts. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Curious about what daily life is actually like in Italy, beyond the well-worn postcard images? ITALIAN, FOR SURE | Conversations with Italians in Italy About Italian Culture is built on a simple premise: the best people to explain a culture are the ones living it every day. Host Catrin Skaperdas, an American who has made Italy her home, sits down with a wide range of locals-from artisans and chefs to historians and everyday families-in candid, meandering conversations. This podcast deliberately steps away from travel tips and tourist highlights to explore the nuances of Italian society, regional differences, and the small traditions that define the real Italian way of living. You’ll hear personal stories, passionate debates about food and heritage, and insightful reflections on what it means to be Italian today, all shared directly from the source. The dialogue is lively and personal, offering a more authentic and accurate portrait of the country. Listening to this podcast feels like pulling up a chair at a lively piazza table, where the conversation is always genuine and the perspectives are always, well, Italian for sure. New episodes arrive every other Wednesday.
Author: Language: English Episodes: 20

ITALIAN, FOR SURE  |  Conversations with Italians in Italy About Italian Culture
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