David (serving), Steph, Rory, Brodie and Ralph the dog
How long have you been an Army family?
Nine years.
Time in current overseas location?
A year.
How many other military families live in the location?
Currently there are around five families based around Varese.
What’s your quarter like?
Our quarter is unique, as it’s pretty new, which is difficult to find in Italy. It’s a bungalow-style home, very modern with great outside space for sunny days.
Are there any employment/ training opportunities?
Employment is very limited, as with other assignments in Europe. Steph is using the time to study for when we return to the UK.
What about schools/ childcare?
Schooling and childcare vary. There are opportunities for service children to attend schools in Como and Milan and childcare is available with English and Italian spoken.
Where do army families get together and who supports you?
Families generally get together socially on occasion. With so much to see and do in Northern Italy most get out exploring the various cities and lakes.
How do you find the cost of living there?
The cost of living in Northern Italy is expensive. We have seen a large increase in our monthly shopping bill and car insurance is very expensive. However, restaurants seem to be more reasonably priced than most places in the UK.
What are the best and worst things about living there?
The best thing is the travel opportunities in some of the most beautiful locations in Europe. You can be on the slopes of the Alps within a couple of hours in the winter and be sunning yourself by Lake Como within 40 minutes – it’s bellissimo! The worst thing has to be bureaucracy, Italy is amazing with food and drink, but not so much with paperwork.
Would you recommend it as a family posting?
We would recommend Northern Italy to families, it’s beautiful and full of culture. Families need to do their homework though, there are some trade-offs that are both positive and negative. You have to arrive with realistic expectations and a sense of adventure.
Want to share your experiences of army family life? Get in touch by emailing editor@aff.org.uk