Hello and Happy Humpday readers! I'm back today with the inaugural post for my newest series called "Ciao For Now" where I'm doing something a little unconventional- chatting with former expats who lived in Italy at some point in their life and ultimately left. We see so many blogs and stories about people who are currently living the fabled "dolce vita", but what about the ones who made the leap and then said "ciao for now", "arrivederci Roma", "alla prossima"? Being a naturally curious person, I see a ton of potential in making these stories known. Being an expat is not easy for anyone and sometimes I think Italy might be one of the hardest places to adjust to and I think that opening up this topic to discussion will hopefully help some of you who are maybe in a dilemma at the moment whether considering moving here or moving away from here. This is a series for all of us who have ever had a dream, lived it, and found a new one. It's a series for you, you with the little sing-song voice in your head saying- should I stay or should I go?
Introduce yourself.
My name is Estrella. I'm a first generation Salvadorian-American raised in the south, also lived in Miami for 4 years before taking the leap abroad and spending almost 2 years in Italy. I currently live in Los Angeles, CA. I come from a large family of 8 siblings (including myself) and have a toy poodle back home named Marley, who I adore.
My name is Estrella. I'm a first generation Salvadorian-American raised in the south, also lived in Miami for 4 years before taking the leap abroad and spending almost 2 years in Italy. I currently live in Los Angeles, CA. I come from a large family of 8 siblings (including myself) and have a toy poodle back home named Marley, who I adore.
When and where did you live in Italy?
I lived in Italy from 2016-2018 with a short stint back home the summer of 2017. I lived in Rome the entire time.
What brought you there?
I went for the love of travel and Italian culture. My partner and I vacationed in Italy for a week a year prior to moving there. We completely fell enamored with everything and it was during that 8 day vacation that we decided we wanted to live there.
What made you leave?
We found it difficult to imagine a life there long term as our financial situation wasn't the most sustainable there. We also were English teachers in Italy and wanted to go back to working in our respective fields pre-Italy, which is marketing and finance.
Where are you now?
I just relocated to LA 4 weeks ago!
I lived in Italy from 2016-2018 with a short stint back home the summer of 2017. I lived in Rome the entire time.
What brought you there?
I went for the love of travel and Italian culture. My partner and I vacationed in Italy for a week a year prior to moving there. We completely fell enamored with everything and it was during that 8 day vacation that we decided we wanted to live there.
What made you leave?
We found it difficult to imagine a life there long term as our financial situation wasn't the most sustainable there. We also were English teachers in Italy and wanted to go back to working in our respective fields pre-Italy, which is marketing and finance.
Where are you now?
I just relocated to LA 4 weeks ago!
Any regrets?
Not one. Moving to Italy has been one of the best decisions I've ever made.
Do you think you'd ever return to Italy?
Absolutely! Given the right time and circumstance, I would in a heartbeat.
Not one. Moving to Italy has been one of the best decisions I've ever made.
Do you think you'd ever return to Italy?
Absolutely! Given the right time and circumstance, I would in a heartbeat.
I asked two more questions to Estrella:
What do you miss most about Italy?
What advice would you give someone contemplating leaving Italy?
To see her answers, click here to head over to her blog, La Casabloga! Grazie mille Estrella for being part of this series and being the very first guest interviewed! Keep an eye out for more additions to this series, and more importantly, if you would like to share your story, send me an e-mail!
If you enjoyed this post, you may also like to "dare un'occhiata" at these ones or at the Expat Life category on the sidebar:
Popular Posts on Dating and Relationships in Italy:
How to Lose an Italian Guy in 10 Days
The Differences Between Dating an Italian and a Canadian
What Do Italian Men Married to Non-Italian Women Have in Common?
Why Are There So Many American Girls with Italian Boys?
Why We Love Italian Boys
The Double Standard Between Italian Street Harassment and American
Can Men and Women Be Friends? Here's How My Italian Colleagues Responded
Dating Diversity: Italy vs. Canada (and North America)
Cross-Cultural Dating: My First Jaw-Drop Moment with an Italian
Italian Men: The Unofficial Guide for Wives and Girlfriends
How to Snag (and Keep) an Italian Man
Asians and Italians…The Perfect Cross-Cultural Cocktail?
Popular Posts about Language Struggles:
How to Fight and Make Love in Two Languages
Immunity to Accent Attractiveness: Can the Italian Accent Stop Being Sexy?
The English Stare and Getting "Englished" Living Abroad and How To Deal
What I'm Really Thinking While Speaking Italian as a Second Language
Popular Posts about General Expat Life:
A Step-by-Step Guide on How to Hate Living in Italy
My Hypothetical Italian Teenagers Won't Have Varsity Jackets or Homecomings
My Canadian Identity Abroad in Italy: The Conundrum
FIVE Ways I've Become More ITALIAN in Canada
Annoying Things Non-Canadians Say About Canada
Two Sides of the Italy Coin
Dating Diversity: Italy vs. Canada (and North America)
Daily Things I Never Did Before Moving to Italy
What do you miss most about Italy?
What advice would you give someone contemplating leaving Italy?
To see her answers, click here to head over to her blog, La Casabloga! Grazie mille Estrella for being part of this series and being the very first guest interviewed! Keep an eye out for more additions to this series, and more importantly, if you would like to share your story, send me an e-mail!
If you enjoyed this post, you may also like to "dare un'occhiata" at these ones or at the Expat Life category on the sidebar:
Popular Posts on Dating and Relationships in Italy:
How to Lose an Italian Guy in 10 Days
The Differences Between Dating an Italian and a Canadian
What Do Italian Men Married to Non-Italian Women Have in Common?
Why Are There So Many American Girls with Italian Boys?
Why We Love Italian Boys
The Double Standard Between Italian Street Harassment and American
Can Men and Women Be Friends? Here's How My Italian Colleagues Responded
Dating Diversity: Italy vs. Canada (and North America)
Cross-Cultural Dating: My First Jaw-Drop Moment with an Italian
Italian Men: The Unofficial Guide for Wives and Girlfriends
How to Snag (and Keep) an Italian Man
Asians and Italians…The Perfect Cross-Cultural Cocktail?
Popular Posts about Language Struggles:
How to Fight and Make Love in Two Languages
Immunity to Accent Attractiveness: Can the Italian Accent Stop Being Sexy?
The English Stare and Getting "Englished" Living Abroad and How To Deal
What I'm Really Thinking While Speaking Italian as a Second Language
Popular Posts about General Expat Life:
A Step-by-Step Guide on How to Hate Living in Italy
My Hypothetical Italian Teenagers Won't Have Varsity Jackets or Homecomings
My Canadian Identity Abroad in Italy: The Conundrum
FIVE Ways I've Become More ITALIAN in Canada
Annoying Things Non-Canadians Say About Canada
Two Sides of the Italy Coin
Dating Diversity: Italy vs. Canada (and North America)
Daily Things I Never Did Before Moving to Italy
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