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[QUOTE=SallyinVerona]Dear all,

I wonder anyone can help.....I am a student currently living in Verona, and i'm finding it extremely hard to meet people. I'm studying music at the conservatorio, and cannot speak very good italian (although im really trying to learn it) so i can't really socialise with the other students. Does anyone know of any English associations, book clubs, choirs etc in Verona? I have tried all other avenues, but my lack of language skill is proving a problem.

Thanks Sally[/QUOTE]

Can't help very much I'm afraid Sally. I can only think of one sure way to meet other English speakers. That's to contact a local English language school i.e. British School, Shenker Institute and place a posting on their staff notice boards. Much the same wording as you've place here but with a telephone number.

Good luck :)

hello sally, i have lived in verona for 8 years now and have only met 1 other english person during all the time I have lived here :rolleyes:
There are no ex pat clubs (like in florence, milan etc). If you need any help with anything dont hesitate to ask :)

Dear Sally,

We lived in the Veneto for a while and at first it was quite a lonely experience - the folk there don't seem as gregarious as elsewhere in Itay always returning home immediately after work and the dinner party is not an established tradition unless you are a man and like shooting little birds and collecting mushrooms.
However, in Verona there is the University and some international companies like Price Waterhouse Coopers so there should be an expat community of some kind. Perhaps you could contact a few organisations and ask if anyone would like to join you in carol singing for a good cause. It is what my brother's friend did in Paris many years ago - outside M&S - and it bacame a very popular event. It continued on long after he left but I wonder what they do now that M&S has closed all its continental stores.

If you like mountains you should join CAI (club alpino italiano), they will all be ½ûÂþÌìÌà but very welcoming and they organise all kinds of activities.

You could also investigate Venice for choirs and book clubs and there is a society that you can contact through the British Consulate called "Ladies in Venice"!

You could of course nip down to Florence for one of the following:
British institute - book club - one Monday a month
or
British institute - film night each Wednesday
or
English church choir practice each Thursday.

All the best.

Thanks everyone for their helpful replies. People on this forum as generous with their advice as ever. I'm certainly joining the CAI in January as i love hiking anyway. I joined the gym and am doing some classes there. The instructor for 'body mind' has taken me on and sees my lack of supple-ness as a challenge, and also uses me to try out his english!! Also the people at the University have been very helpful and set me up in a language tandem with a nice italian guy....so hopeful once my italian improves, so will my social life!!

Oh also if anyone lives in the Veneto and has children who want to learn the Clarinet or Piano (or adults too!) send me a pm. Trying to make a little teaching business!!

Sally (having less difficulties!!) :)

[QUOTE=SallyinVerona]
I have tried all other avenues, but my lack of language skill is proving a problem.

Thanks Sally[/QUOTE]

You may have found something by now but I recently received a message from some English friends who used to live in Verona. In reminiscing, they mentioned a bar/pub called 'The Highlander' where apparently alot of the younger expat Brits hang out in Verona. It is owned by an English speaker, don't know from where, but it might be worth investigating. Good luck.