My company might be sending me to Italy for 18-24 months. I plan to agitate for a FIRST team at the place I'll be working. But don't expect anything for another couple of years. First I have to get there, then I have to figure out how to engineer in Italian.

Not having to cross The Pond for a competition would make it a lot easier. Having FLL available would be a good FIRST step too. That way you can focus on issues like concept development, handling, and programming without having to figure out how you're going to make something. Though it would be nice if you could glue the robots together. They'd be more durable that way.

I just hope I don't have to try explaining a game like last year's, that was hard enough in English.

ChrisH