La Maestra Maldestra
It’s been a long time since I last published a Word of the Day post, but I figured this was fitting. Today we’re going to learn about the word ricominciare.
ri (again) + cominciare (start) = to start again
And that’s exactly what I have to do with this whole Italian Visa process, folks.
Grazie to all of you who took the time to leave a comment, send a message, say a prayer or light a candle for me when I went to apply for my Italian work Visa a couple weeks ago. Things didn’t quite go as planned (obviously) and now my team of trusty friends and I have to ricominciare da zero (start back at square one) with the whole process.
Back to the drawing board…
Having to re-do things because they weren’t quite right the first time isn’t as disheartening, however, as hearing that something’s impossible. And I’m (thankfully) sitting in the first camp. So now I know how things go. Now I know what to do, who to see, what to send and what to sign. This Visa is still within reach, and so is my dream of living and working in Italy (again).
So, to ricominciare is not all bad. No, not at all. Besides, I’m not the only one who has to fare salti mortali (jump through hoops) to get something done on the Visa or Permesso di Soggiorno (permit to stay) front.
Take a look at these posts from other great Italy bloggers to read their trials and tribulations:
Girl in Florence – How to Survive Your Next Permesso di Soggiorno Renewal
Italy Project 365 – How to Obtain a Permesso di Soggiorno per Lavoro
The Florentine – Let’s Talk About Visas II
And just because we are still talking about our Word of the Day, take a listen to Adriano Pappalardo’s 1979 hit, “Ricominciamo” (Let’s Start Over).
(If the original music video is available in your area, take a look. The guy looks like a pro wrestler-turned-singer!)
Not Just Another "Dolce Vita" 
Good luck with your visa… And thanks for the Andrea Pappalardo video! I’d forgotten about the song but it’s great and he’s a really unique guy indeed!
Reblogged this on Kappa Language School Blog.
I’m so sorry it didn’t work out but, as you said, now you know what it is you have to exactly do. Much better than having the door closed in your face!!! I’m beginning to think getting dual citizenship is actually the easiest route, and that certainly was an exercise in frustration and patience as well as a miracle conducted by friends!!!
Very sorry to hear but you are a persistent one 🙂 Does Italy not have a grandfather/grandmother clause for citizenship (I am able to get UK citizenship because my Grandmother was born there and maintained her citizenship).
Hi Chris, thanks for reading and commenting. Italy does have this sort of arrangement, but since my grandparents and father all gave up their Italian citizenship before I was born, I’m out of luck. Oh well, I’m already working on attempt number two!
Hang in there, Sarah! I’m sorry to read that you have to go through this all over again, but wishing you buona fortuna for the next application. 🙂