Help.... traveling to Italy... cinque terre

I've typed this once, but I don't see it. So forgive me if it shows up again.

I have made plans to travel to Italy in 5 yrs. Don't laugh! The way the economy is looking it might be longer, but that is what I'm shooting for.

I'm looking for some kind of contact/pen pal in Italy. I would like to make a friend there so when I do go... I might have someone to hang out with or such.

Does anyone know of anyone or some place I can go to look for a pen pal?

Any help is greatly appreciated. Thank you!

Five years is a long time! Surely you could go with a friend so that you'd have someone to travel with? Plus, I recommend taking some Italian courses either at your neighborhood college's continuing education curriculum or buy some CD's (Pimsleur makes some good ones) so that you can converse with the locals, even if you're not fluent, they appreciate that you try. I'd love to go to Italy & one of these days, once I've saved some money, I'm going...& I have taken some Italian classes & would take some more, it's a beautiful language. You might also check the meetup. c o m site for your area...they might have some Italian groups getting together for a meet & greet on a regular basis where you can try out your language skills, plus they would probably know some people over there that you could contact on your trip.

I lived in Italy for four years - you'll have no problem meeting the locals. It's their culture to be friendly without trying so hard. Kibbie's suggestion is right on - learn the language as much as possible before you go then allow the fluency to come with time. Italians are all about socializing and will appreciate your willingness to learn their language/culture. It's why their kitchens are the largest rooms in their homes - lots of banter/socializing while enjoying the dee-lish cuisine/wine (marvelous memories for me). I've lived/traveled 9% of the globe .. Italy by far is my personal favorite. I will return one day (maybe permanently) so as to share the experience with someone very special in my life.

I'm curious - why the relocation to Italy? Is this a personal or professional choice? Ciao Bella!

All the previous suggestions have been great, let me offer you a few more.

First, a warning, I moved to Japan and tried to do the same thing as you are doing now. The sad thing is that most of the people that I met before online once I met them in offline it was quite disappointing. Most of the guys that I met first online did not want just to be friends but wanted something more even though I clearly stated I just wanted friends. Most of the females were fine though. Don`t worry though, I made many new friends though in Japan also once I got here. Even though you talk to them for a few years, until you meet them face to face they are still strangers so make sure you meet them in public places.

Do you have icq or skype? It is like msn or yahoo but you can search easily for the country you want. They both have a mode that if you can search for people who are willing to chat with anyone.

Call the Italian counsulate to see if they can give you any help.

Check out your local university or college or English school for students from Italy studying English or studying abroad.

Call the more upscale Italian restaurants in your area to see if they have an authentic Italian chef.

Call Churches, especially Catholic ones to inquiry about who attends. There might even be a chiefly Italian Church in your area (Catholic or not).

If there is no Italian culture group in your area, start one! See if you can meet at the community center.

Good luck and keep us posted!

Thank you for everyones comments!

I will be looking into language courses. Unfortunately I live in a very secluded area, but I will over come.

I do not plan to move there. I have always wanted to go for atleast a month or two. Travel around and stay in rooms above restaurants. b and b's, rooms etc. I like to mingle with the "locals." It's more fun!

I did exactly what you want to do...although in Germany & Austria several years back & I loved it! I was there for 3 weeks & the person I went with had relatives over there that we stayed with for some of the time. Maybe you could find someone like that and/or take in an Italian exchange student to get more versed in the culture over there, plus work on your language skills. Ciao!

Check out Fodors.com and go to the talk forum. You can do a search on any subject and see what posts come up.

A suggestion: Cinque terre is a magical placeandinmy opiniononeofthe most romanticplaces in all of italy. The history of the "five towns" is that Mussolini did not have a way or access to these five isolatd town so he blasted a whole throughthe mountains and a train goes connecting these five small towns. To this day, there are no vehicles allowed in these towns. One must park outsideof the five towns and walk alonga the edge of the mountain which last tiem I was there can be a very dangerous walk as it looks down several hundred feet in some areas doen into the sea. You can still see the nonnas picking their grapes and olives on the mountainous areas and in the second town, it is known for an art school and all its aspiring artist. THere are not many plces to stay- an alberg or two when I was there and hopefully it hasnot changed as it will lose its charm. The tunnel where somany come back from WWII to write on the walls declaring their love after 50 years "Ti voglio bene, ANa Maria! dopo 50anni!" I love you my ana after 50 years are the things that fairy tails are made of...

I loved Cinque terre-realized I was not with the man I love when I was there ... it can be a revelation. Go to the colleges that have exchane programs and travelprograms and speak to the directors of the programs who run the student programs. Tell them you want to travel there and speak with the director and students that have traveled to Italy before. Go to as many Colleges and Universities in your area. It is the SAFEST and the SUREST way to avoid any problems as the world is not the same for Americans abroad. GoodLuck.

I have lived in Italy before and to be honest with you once you check into your hotel/village you should ask at the front desk regarding local hang-outs. Please do not be fooled though by folks saying you must know the language. Italians take English as a second language and it's a must so, Yep! They do speak a lot of English. Check -out Yahoointernational.com