Learn the language as soon as possible, at least basic level. Bureaucracy is going to be hell, there’s no nicer way to put it. But I think you’ll enjoy living in Italy. You are not happy where you are now, so it’s great you’re doing something about it. Best of luck!
Wish I could help with the strategy. I don’t deal with this in any way, I genuinely don’t care if someone likes me or not. I actually don’t think about it. I understand this can be a problem and mess with one’s confidence in a situation like yours, but the numbers speak for themselves - you are in a good place.
I haven’t heard about mitochondria in so many years (obviously. why would I?) and I can’t explain why it feels so good reading this now.
It was bound to happen. When the pressure became too great, it backfired and had the opposite effect. I mean, I call it pressure, but of course, you can always refuse to tip. I read last year about how tipping culture in America changed. The question “Does everything require a tip?” kept popping up, and I really think all that led to where we are now.