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When I was 24 years old, I spontaneously decided to move to Italy from my hometown of New York City. I was tired of life in the city and wanted to slow down and experience something different.
I was studying to be an opera singer and even had a big break when I was invited to sing as a soloist at a concert for one of the then-leading tenors of the Metropolitan Opera. I was also working as a private chef with a catering business. But I had no time for meaningful relationships and felt like something was missing. I knew I wasn't happy and didn't want to do what I was doing anymore; I wanted to find a new way to live.
So, at 24 years old, I left behind my old life and bought a house in a small town in the south of Italy called Guardia Sanframondi, just an hour outside Naples. I moved completely without a plant. But it was the best decision I ever made and led me to the life I have now, where I am happily married with two beautiful children and work as a public relations consultant and writer. I've created my own version of happiness and have never looked back.
When I moved to Italy, I wasn't sure what I would be doing. I had stopped singing, and though I still loved cooking, I knew I didn't want to work in a restaurant. I wanted to find a way to create a flexible career on my own terms that would allow me to live my life in Italy.
For a few years before I became a mom, I ran a home restaurant from my terrace. I cooked four-course meals that I served on my terrace with sweeping views of the mountains. When I became pregnant with my first child, I went back to my original passion: writing. Since then, I've been working as a freelance writer and a public relations consultant for women-owned businesses and businesses with an Italian focus.
Thanks to years of studying opera, I had a very basic grasp of the Italian language. But knowing a few words here and there is one thing, and being conversationally fluent is a whole other thing. It was overwhelming not to be able to speak the language when I first moved.
There were times I wondered if I would ever become completely fluent. I didn't want to be one of those expats who didn't make an effort and did the bare minimum. After about a year and a half of completely immersing myself in Italian culture, I picked up with language, and now, after being here for nearly 10 years, I'm 85% fluent.
To be quite frank, I have always been a bit of a loner, and when I left NYC, I left behind the close friends I did have. I didn't know anyone when I moved to Guardia Sanframondi, and I was concerned about making connections, especially due to the language barrier.
However, I quickly became friends with many members of the expat community and some Italians I met. The first summer after I moved, I really pushed myself to socialize more. I went to local cafés just to sit and talk with people. Getting outside my comfort zone not only helped with my language skills but also helped me meet people and make friends.
Yes, moving to a new country can be overwhelming, especially if you come without a plan like I did. I came with an open heart and mind, prepared for whatever Italy might have planned for me. One thing led to another, and everything that happened led me to the life I now live here.
I am happily married to my Italian husband and we have two beautiful children together. I am doing what I love through writing and public relations and living my life on my own terms. I have become a part of a community I love where people look out for one another. While I came to Italy without an idea of what my life would be like, I am so happy with how it has turned out.
