Here I just jot down thoughts about my move and transition as an early career researcher with a family (2 young kids), so maybe if I have time later I can put it into a blog article, but for now, at least I share this info in bits.
Financials
1. I had to pay 80 euros upfront before starting the position, for work insurance. It is a one time yearly fee. I needed to ues cash. So, it has to be included in a budget, if you have a tight budget.
Transportation
Taking the metro is not cheap in Rome, but I was able to get the monthly pass which was much cheaper than even 1-2 day passes. 2-day pas cost me 15 euros. But the monthly pass cost me 30 euros! I can take bus, tram, and metro with it. I did not need CODICE FISCALE. I did need my passport and a photo. I got my monthly pass at the Anagnina station in Metro Line A (last station), at the kiosk, I had to fill out a form. I could take the photos in the photo booth in the same station, and could pay with my credit card for the photo booth. We tried first with coins, but the machine ate up the coins but did not work. It appears that you can reload the Metrebus (monthly pass) card then at machines, for example, at the train station, but I have not tried this yet.
Form central Rome, I used to take metro A and then bus 509 to IAPS/INAF at FOsso Cavaliere.
Now, in Frascati I use another bus, SChiaffini bus. The monthly pass is 20 euros, you can buy with cash at a TABACCHI. Single tickets that you prepurchase at the Tabac-kiosk are 1.10 euros, but on the bus 2 euros (cash). There is an app, but does not have a feature to buy tickets online, maybe just for navigation. The stop is number 13, and then you have to walk a bit to get to IAPS campus.
Apps to use for Transportation
Google Maps (has only Cotrla bus line info, no Schiaffini info)
Citymapper (has only Cotrla bus line info, no Schiaffini info) -> Click ‘See All’ to see the buses that will stop in a place.
Moovit (free version has lots of ads, but has Schiaffini bus times)
Schiaffini Travel (very limited)
Cotral
Lunches
I work at IAPS/INAF. There is a cafeteria in the morning with coffee and small snacks till about 3pm, also has sandwiches. There are automatic distributors of coffee, light snacks, and water in the building (need app where you load money or cooins). Also the cafeteria on site serves cooked warm lunch with several courses (veggies and pasta and meat options) at affordable prices, but the lines at peak hours might be long. You can usually pay with a credit card, but once I ordered and had to pay with cash due to system outage.
Apps for food
Coffee cApp -> used for buying things from the dispenser machine (load a few euros, scan the QR code of the machine, and choose your snack/beverage).
Integration
There is no “Welcome 101” document that I was given at my new place, so everything is learned as I go. I have not found one myself either. Lots to learn then. But it would have been nice to have a welcome packet in some sort of media with resources given regarding at least the practicalities. But some institutes have a more extensive welcome packages for internationals which cover both the work related and life related issues, including any family related matters, with at least phone numbers and where to go.
Language
I am adding this section to my post here, because I am motivated myself to learn Italian language. It is not required for astronomers (usually) to learn the language of their institute, because we move typically every few years or so. However, in this case, I decided that I need to.
Why?
First of all, I am inspired by my husband (James Stone) who already in about a month self-learned so much Italian and I enjoy and am impressed how he handles everyday Italian for many situations, including enrolling our kids into school and paying for their school lunches in strange offices.
Second, my baby got into the hospital and I felt very disadvantaged due to the lack of Italian language. This mama needs to learn this language and fast!
Third, I enjoy languages and language is also a way to learn about a culture, to understand people and the country.
Fourth, even at my job, I would love to do outreach, and with a little bit more Italian, I will be able to share science and astronomy wonders to wider audiences in Italy, perhaps, or so I was told.
Fifth, as I am trying to forge a career path, I thought that learning the language of my institute would be an advantage for my career as well – at least even for this postdoc because most of my coworkers speak Italian and the IAPS working environment in general is in Italian. Even my email stubbornly keeps switching back to Italian, even though I tried to change every setting to English that I could find.
Problem and Solution
At the time of writing this post, which is October 6th, 2025, I discovered that there are no resources for language acquisition at IAPS, like I found at the University of Turku or in my community in Helsinki when I was learning Finnish – the numerous language meetups, coffee and chats, language circles, online courses from Tampere and within the University of Turku, Library resources, I did not find yet any such thing for Italian. But, even though my usual channels where I would find language learning resources were not there, I found many materials because hei, Italian is one of the most learned languages, and there are definitely many materials to choose from even if your place of work directly does not have it. So I start compiling the ones I use here. I am a total beginner, so this might be too basic for you.
Resources for Italian Language – online and free
1. From MIT open courses (free)
https://ocw.mit.edu/courses/es-s41-speak-italian-with-your-mouth-full-spring-2012/
2. From my alma mater library – San Jose State University (King Library)
https://library.sjsu.edu/openresources/languages
https://library.sjsu.edu/c.php?g=230269&p=1528947
3. Cambridge university
https://www.mmll.cam.ac.uk/italian/online-resources
4. Other
https://wanderingleopard.angelfire.com/italian.html
https://www.bbc.co.uk/languages/italian/
https://www.bbc.co.uk/languages/italian/guide/
https://www.langmedia.fivecolleges.edu/languages/italian
https://www.languagetrainers.com/free-resources-italian.php
Family and kids
Health
Play areas
Playgrounds exist. In Frascati there are two, but hard to access without a car (bus might not be practical, walking is hard as it is a trecharous road with parts lacking pedestrian walkways and the hike is up from the bottom of the hill – remember Frascatti is on a hill).
Stroller
Generally, there is a lack of places for stroller parking, even at daycare and even in the residential apartment buildings.
Elevators might not service all floors, so you will have to walk up from the ground level and carry the stroller, and then again carry the stroller if the upper floors lack elevator service.
Especially in Frascatti, it is difficult to operate a stroller due to the trecherous roads with parts lacking sidewalk access and the streets are mostly cobble-stone, and the roads are hilly.
Daycare
Breakfast is not served at daycare, only lunch and snacks.
Most of the time kids (in our experience so far) do not live the inside. They play inside, in stark contrast tothe outdoors activities in Finnish daycare system.
Food
Food in general is amazing.
Fruits.
Daycare food is great too. You need to bring in a backpack for children (of all ages in daycare) waterbottle and a placemat (clothes, foldable) for lunches.
Prices are in general cheaper as well.
Kids enjoy the food and enjoy trying new things.
Ice-cream is great.
Pasta, cheeses, salami.
Pizza etc.
Groceries, clothes, discounts
For clothes, there is no strong second-hand store culture for children’s toys and clothes.
Library
Frascati library is a quiet place, not a place like the Oodi Helsinki library where there is a play area for kids.
You need codice fiscale (tax code) to open a library account.
The basic account is free, but limited only to that particular library. You have to pay to be able to use the whole library system of the area. Sometimes there is a promotion to pay a cheaper price for the whole family.
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