Location: Sigonella

[Brandi]

please note, all of these questions are generic and will be asked for all locations so some may sound silly. The questions underneath each area are only there to help you think. Please feel free to skip things that don't apply or to elaborate on things that I did not mention.

Housing:
(How is military housing there? Which area did you live in and did you like it? Is it affordable to buy or rent in town and if so what areas would you recommend? Any additional thoughts?)


Schools:
(Which schools did your kids attend? Did you like them? Did your kids like them? How do you think the school system was overall? Any schools you would recommend over others? Did you go to college while you were there? If so, which college and how did you like it? Any additional thoughts?)


Shopping:
(How are the commissary and NEX? Do you shop there or out in town? What stores are available out in town? What is the local shopping like? Malls? Any places you recommend? Any additional thoughts?)


Cost of living:
(What is the cost of living like? High? Average? Low? How did it effect your family? Was there anything special you had to do to make ends meet? Any additional thoughts?)


Military Community:
(How is the military community? Are there resources for family and spouses? Any likes or gripes? Additional thoughts?)


Recreation:
(What is there to do in the area for adults? For kids/families? Is there anything within a few hours driving distance?)


Weather:
(What's the weather like? Mild? Seasonal? Hot? Humid? Rainy? Cold? Are there seasons?)


Overall:
(Would you go back again? Why or why not? What are your main likes and gripes?)

[Elizabeth]

Housing: You must live in Govt quarters here if you have dependents currently. There are housing units, Marinai & Mineo. Marinai is 10-15 minutes away from base. It has a child development center in the area, playgrounds, and courts. The units are 3 & 4 bedroom townhomes. This past winter there was a very bad flood in the Marinai housing area, people lost everything on their bottom floor, and it took a couple months to get back into your home. Nothing has been done so far to correct the problem, because they aren't sure why it happened. The units are rented from an Italian company, but Navy maintains a housing office on the grounds. There is also a self help with supplies and tools for upkeep. I don't know anything about Mineo. I do know it's at least a 30 minute drive to base from that area.

Schools:
I do not have children, but I do know all the kids go to Stephen Decatur school on base, and the buses pick them up from all over both housing units. The kids I have spoken to seen to enjoy it a lot. The high schoolers eat in the NEX food court which is different.

Shopping:
The commissary is actually pretty nice, they have a decent selection of things from home. They will accept coupons, even expired so that helps out a lot. The NEX is fairly small, and because you are overseas it's really the only option. They are slowly expanding though. Requesting things helps sometimes. If you are getting ready to move here & need furniture & are picky, defnitiely buy it before you come here! It took about 4 months for our couches to arrive that we ordered from the NEX. There is some in the store, but it's a gamble really, depending on what they actually have in stock!

Cost of Living:
Gas is more expensive here but you can buy gas coupons which sometimes end up cheaper than gas in the states. You receive an overseas cost of living allowance for being here which is nice. We are saving a lot of money here, it just depends on how much you go out into Sicily and travel. I think Internet is a lil costly, but it's an important link to home so it's worth it imo. Also, you have to buy phone cards to call the States, but I found some online that have good deals. Most people hop SpaceA flights to avoid paying for airfare back home for visits. Insurance for cars can be expensive due to the craziness of Italian drivers! There is a bus system that goes from both bases to Marinai housing unit hourly all day so that is a nice help.

Military Community:
There are always base activities going on here. It's very different for me here though, not having kids, cause most things center around their activities. Fleet & Family is very hepful here. The Italians that work in there are always willing to help you figure things out, help you find things in town, help with language barriers.

Recreation:
There is a movie theater on base. The movies get her a lot later than the date they come out in the states but the tickets are only $3 so people see a ton of movies here. The gym is huge, lots of different classes there. There's a rock climbing wall there as well. There is a very big, nice pool with lots of slides and things for kids. They recently built a skate park on base for kids as well. I'm not sure what sports there are, but I definitely know there are soccer teams for kids. The ITT office has trips all over Europe and local daytrips all over Sicily every month. There is a small library with computers and internet access. It's Italy so there are always things to go see in the area if you want to go out in town.

Weather:
Sicily has all 4 seasons. Winter is cold and very rainy, snow in some areas. Summer can be up to 100 degrees Hot! Spring & Fall are somewhere in between.

Overall:
I'm not sure we would come back again, it's a very big transition and came at a weird time in life for us. Plenty of families with kids enjoy it here very much. Every command besides us (EOD) come here on shore duty so it's like a nice vacation. It's harder for us because I am left here alone for long periods of time. Even though, the area is beautiful and I enjoy the time we have together here to explore. I can sit on my couch and look out the glass doors at Mt Etna, it's a very beautiful area. Maybe later in life when I am done with college and life is more settled we will want to come back here and enjoy it a lil more! Moving here is a good idea if you are flexible, and enjoy exploring new places.

[Kellie]

Housing:
We lived in Mineo. It's about 30 mins from base. The drive wasn't bad. When we were there noone was aloud to live off base. Housing is nice and spacious. 3-4 bedrooms, your own laundry room, with a half bath in it.Marinai has bigger backyards, then Mineo did.Mineo is named for the Town up on the hill.Marinai is right down the road from NAS 2.There is 1 base, but they're divided into 2 . Called Nas 1 & Nas 2(not N-A-S,but nas like the word).Mineo has Playgrounds basketball court, and baseball field,and picnic tables with grills. There is a play group,and a MOMS club. and since Mineo is about 30 mins away.Mineo has it's own Commisary(it's very small, but has meat, fruit , veggies, milk, can goods, it has alot for it being small,and if you need something you just tell the manager,and they'll get it from the big commisary on base.They have a little video store so you can rent movies, and they had a Bee bar(sells italian coffe, cappocino, icecream, french fries) I don't know if that is still there. But I heard that they either built or replaced the Bee bar with a sports bar at Mineo. that had a pool table,served liquor, and had TV's in it. and other things. Which is good since it is a little drive from base. They have a Gym there too. We(my neighboors and i) would either walk the whole housing complex, or go to the gym and workout.


Schools:
There is Stephen Decatur. from Kindergarten through 12th grade. They have a football team ,Soccer,and cheerleading. They don't have Pre-K. They have sure start, but what we were told was thst it was for E-4 and below. So you can put your child in Italian School. We did this with Ashtin and she loved it. she went to an Italian school went on field trips with the Italian kids, and learned some Italian.When we were there they had a ballet class on base. Or your child could go to Ballet out in one of the Italian towns.


Shopping:
The NEX was nice smaller than what we were use tobut not too bad. They have furniture,Italian Wine,a florist, perfume,and eyeglass center, jewelry counter, name brand clothes. patio stuff(grills,coolers,patio furniture).They bring in the Italian wine makers and they do Wine Signings, and wine tastings. This was really nice,and one thing I really miss about sicily. You can have an unlimited Wine shipment done with your packout. I think it was a minimum of 40 bottles that you had to have in order to do the wine shipment.Some of the bottles are expensive, but they're worth alot of money in the states, ecspecially if they're signed.
Auchaun is out in town. It's almost like a super walmartjust italian style. They have food on one end, and clothes, electronics, household goods on the other end. We use to go and get our pasta from there,and some wine(they have a HUGE selection compared to the base),and Liqour.And after we shopped we would get some Gelato.They have the markets. The one in Catania is big. it has shoes, clothes, veggies, fruit,&things for your house to decorate it.There's a food court on base, with Taco bell, subway, popeyes,and italian pizza place. There burger king on the other base. But they don't taste the same to me.There is a mcdonalds in Catania.Oh and you can find ceramics,and pottery everywhere. I loved shopping in sicily.



Cost of living:
We actually made money while living over there. Gas is High,but like Elizabeth said you get Gas coupons. You only pay for phone and internet while living in housing. You get AFN.And like Elizabeth said also, insurance is higher over there becuase of the way the Italians drive,and the breakins(we never got broken into). Just don't leave cd's and things laying out in your car when you out in town. Our Insurance for 1 car was $220 a month(our poperty insurance was included in that).But we did pay off bills, and had alot of spending money to play with.


Military Community:
They have things like Shake your shamrock for St. Patricks day,and they bring in rides,and have a DJ come in,and italian venders come in,and lots of food(I miss the Philipino food they would have ).They have a big thing for the 4th of July with Fireworks, and rides.They have a sports bar on base, they were rebuilding the bowling alley when were we leaving. They have rebuilt that base, alot of stuff is new. They have apool, they called it a water park it has slides,and a kiddie area for the children.



Recreation:
They have ITT trips. They go all over Europe, and Italy. And the prices are really good. They have activities on base for holidays, Like St. Patrick's day they have rides, and food, and a dj. And they bring in Italian venders.They do something for the 4th of July, Christmas, New years,etc.


Weather:
It snows on Mt.Etna,and in alot of the cities that sit on top of a hill or the mountain. in the summer it's really HOT.It got up to 115 degrees the first summewr we were there. The Winter is cold but not too cold, and the rainy months are Nov.and December. And when it rains it rains and doesn't stop. It rained straight for 2 days didn't let up,and the housing flooded, I did have pics.I'll have to see if I still have them. But they fixed the problem sot hat the water runs out into the field and not into hosuing,and they made the wall higher. The spring time is beautiful. the wild flowers are out and they smell soooooo good. everything is green.


Overall:
Yes I would go back. Phillip would if he had too just because he hates to fly. It is an adjustment. but you learn to get use to all of it. I miss not being able to experience it. If Phillip stays in we will go back there.

Oh and I forgot to mention about the hospital it's not bad, There were alot of women Pregnant when we were there. I had a neighboor that had 2 of her kids there. And Dental is FREE, yup free. since you can't go out in town it's free.if you need your wisdom teeth out, it's free. if they have to sedate you ,it's free.