Who are you?
I’m Chiara, I’m Italian and 27 years old.
Where, when and why did you move abroad?
Travelling is really my great passion in life. This is also why I moved to London almost two years ago, I like the fact that in this city you can live and breathe a multicultural atmosphere.I moved to London on November 2017 because I wanted to improve my English and at the same time challenge myself to live in another country completely alone and start a new life.
What challenges did you face during the move?
I found a job in London in two weeks, and a house about the same time (on a website, it’s not difficult considering we live in the digital world), but I think the biggest challenges that I had to face later on in my life were emotional and mental. It’s obviously not easy to live so far away from your family, even if you have holidays and you are able to spend time with them. Life is unpredictable and you never know what may happen.
Are there many other expats in your area?
London is very international so obviously there are many expats, not only Europeans but from all over the world.
But at the same time it’s difficult to create strong relationships with people, I love London but I have never felt so lonely like in this city. Everyone rushes all the time and many friends that you may find are living only temporarily in the country so for these reasons it’s not easy to have proper friendships.
What do you like about life where you are? What do you dislike?
I love London because it’s open and multicultural, but at the beginning as an Italian the most challenging things were adapting to the English weather and the food. With the time you just get used to both.
What is the biggest cultural difference you have experienced between your new country and life back home?
The biggest cultural difference between my country and the UK is the lack of connection between people. I truly believe is important to spend time alone, but you only grown and learn with the interaction of other people.
What do you think of the food and drink in your new country?
Food and drinks in the UK are clearly very different than Italian food, so you have to adapt to a new diet. I honestly love Italian food, but I have started to love the Sunday roast almost as much as pizza.
What advice would you give to anyone following in your footsteps?
If anyone is reading this article and is exactly in the same stage of the life when you are about to leave your country and start a new experience, I would like to tell them that it is going to be hard at the beginning, but priceless at the end.
I found myself in London, and there is nothing more rewarding than that.
What are your plans for the future?
My plans for the future are being able to travel and work online, it’s a big dream but I believe nothing is impossible and I truly hope in the next 10/20 years more and more people will be able to live their lives fully.
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