‘We wanted to try something new’: This US family moved to Italy sight unseen nine years ago and never looked back
A Leap of Faith: American Family Discovers New Life in Italy
We wanted to try something new – Jason Salesberry arrived in Italy without ever having visited the country before. The October 2017 relocation marked the beginning of a remarkable chapter for the American family. Nearly a decade later, Jason now possesses a residence perched atop a hill in southern Italy while anticipating the olive harvest from his two-acre orchard. Since that initial journey to Naples without prior knowledge of the destination, their existence has evolved into continuous European exploration.
Activities range from soaring through Swiss skies via paragliding to exploring Greek waters through scuba diving. Local beach days and Neapolitan gelato rounds out their daily experiences. “Living in the heart of Europe has unlocked a world of adventure for our family,” Jason shares with CNN Travel. This transformed lifestyle surprised the US Navy veteran, who spent his youth in San Diego, California, and served in Puerto Rico and Japan before this unexpected move.
From Dream to Reality
Italian culture had captivated Jason for years, inspiring visions of experiencing it personally. Following his meeting with Sherry, another US Navy veteran hailing from Trinidad and Tobago, the couple established roots and began building a family. That aspiration transitioned into concrete planning. “I never imagined my life’s path would lead to a hilltop town in southern Italy,” Jason reflects. “It really was just an adventure. We wanted to try something new.”
Practical considerations also influenced their decision. Growing anxiety about escalating violent crime in Chesapeake, Virginia—where they resided since 2009—pushed Jason toward seeking alternatives. He desired security and stability for his young daughter. “When I compared European crime rates to those in the US, the decision became clear,” he explains. Securing employment at a military installation near Naples sealed their fate.
Convincing Sherry
While Jason embraced uncertainty enthusiastically, Sherry needed substantial persuasion. “I pretty much protested on coming here,” Sherry confesses. She ultimately consented under one firm requirement: a three-year maximum stay. “I’m an only child, and my mom did not want me to come.”
Treating the relocation as temporary, they retained their Virginia three-bedroom home instead of selling it. Packing minimally due to housing uncertainties, the family—comprising Jason, Sherry, their daughter, and their dog—reached Naples in October 2017. Initial anxiety dominated their early days, with doubts about their choice constantly surfacing.
Jason remembers their inaugural evening vividly. The overwhelming sense of unfamiliarity reduced Sherry to tears. They eventually secured rental accommodation on the US Navy complex in Pozzuoli, an ancient town built upon a volcanic caldera. While the location provided stunning vistas, it simultaneously created separation from authentic local experiences, trapping them “in an American bubble.”
Embracing Italian Rhythms
Gradually, the family developed affection for Naples’ culinary landscape and unhurried lifestyle. “Back home in the US, everyone’s busy,” Sherry observes. “You have your nine to five, then you have to prepare to go to school and work the next day. It’s not like that here.” She humorously notes their adjustment to dining customs where meals extend two or three hours. “We had to learn the art of slowing down,” Jason adds. “Yet, the benefits have far outweighed the adjustments.”
Naples, recognized as pizza’s birthplace, delivered endless gastronomic opportunities. The family delighted in neighborhood establishments, appreciating how each kitchen presented unique interpretations of traditional pasta and pizza dishes. However, local timing created initial culture shock. Dinner establishments seldom opened before 7 p.m.—an hour when the family typically relaxed. Compounding this challenge, both Jason and Sherry, who works for a bank, frequently maintained American office schedules.
Naples’ aggressive driving style terrified Sherry considerably. She required eight months before gathering sufficient confidence to drive independently. “I still can’t get used to it,” she admits, describing local motorists as highly unpredictable. “In America, you know what the other driver is doing. Here, they do whatever they want.”
Waste management presented additional complications. Residents must sort refuse into five distinct categories, with regulations varying between neighborhoods. Financially though, the family discovered their American currency purchased considerably more than in Virginia. The reduced expenses for fresh produce and daily necessities made their budget stretch remarkably further, validating their courageous decision to embrace an entirely different way of life across the Atlantic.
