A US Navy veteran, Jason Salesberry, and his family made the bold decision to move to Italy in 2017, despite never having set foot in the country before. Today, they own a house in a hilltop town and are planning the harvest from their two-acre grove of olive trees.

A New Life in Italy

The family, including Jason, his wife Sherry, and their daughter, have transformed their life into a whirlwind of European adventure, from paragliding in Switzerland to enjoying the local beach and Neapolitan gelato in Naples.

Jason, who grew up in San Diego, California, and was previously stationed in Puerto Rico and Japan, had long been fascinated by Italian culture and dreamed of experiencing it firsthand. After meeting his wife Sherry, a fellow US Navy veteran, and settling down to start a family, that dream became an active plan.

The family’s decision to move to Italy was also motivated by practical considerations, including a desire for a safer and more stable environment for their young daughter. Jason had grown increasingly concerned about violent crimes in Chesapeake, Virginia, where they had been living since 2009.

Initially, the family faced some challenges adapting to the local culture, including learning to navigate the local traffic and waste management system. However, they soon fell in love with the local food scene and the slower pace of life in Naples.

As they settled into their new life, the family began to feel more integrated into the local community. They started taking Italian classes and learning about the local customs and traditions. Jason’s wife Sherry even became the most competent Italian speaker in the family, navigating daily interactions with a blend of vocabulary and hand gestures.

Today, the family is embarking on a new adventure, learning how to maintain their land and harvest their own olives. They hope to have some nice olive oil by October and are excited to see what the future holds for them in Italy.

Original reporting: KTVZ (Central Oregon) — read the source article.