Brindisi and Me: An Expat Memoir of Teaching, Travel, and Life in Southern Italy

Sent to teach in Brindisi and the wider Puglia region, Jonathan Kuiper found himself face-to-face with culture shock, language barriers, and a lifestyle that wasn’t exactly “user-friendly” for an introvert. Yet, amidst the challenges came unexpected joy—connection with the people, a slower pace of life, and the Mediterranean spirit that saturates this corner of Italy.

Part memoir, part travelogue, Brindisi and Me explores the realities of living in Italy as an expat, teaching abroad at an international school, and adjusting to visas, siestas, stray animals, and seaside holidays. Jonathan reflects on the refugee crisis in Southern Italy, the Italian idea of “la dolce vita,” and what it means to truly call a foreign place home.

Perfect for readers interested in expat life in Italy, international school teaching, moving abroad stories, and travel memoirs set in Puglia, this honest and humorous book offers a heartfelt glimpse into the joys and challenges of starting over in a new culture.