How Do You Know It’s the Right Fit?
Everyone can agree that visiting a place is different from living there.
Okay, but how do you actually know if the place you like to visit on vacation is the right place to move to? Especially when considering making the move abroad.
Two years ago, I was asking myself that exact question.
My close relationship with my Sicilian born grandfather sparked my love of the Italian language and my desire to obtain Italian citizenship. I knew in my heart that I wanted to live in Sicily before I had ever even set foot on the island. But how could I move somewhere without even visiting first?! I had never even been to Europe before, let alone Italy, let alone Sicily! So, in the summer of 2024, I booked my very first solo trip across the globe. I spent an entire month in Catania, Sicily, from mid-September to mid-October.
Everyone was shocked.
“Not Rome? Not Florence? Or Venice? You’re going to Italy for a month, and you’re planning to spend the entire time in Catania?!”
Of course, that’s not quite how things ended up. I did quite a bit of traveling during my month in Italy. Looking back, I’m incredibly glad I gave myself that initial month-long stay in the place I was considering calling home. And if you’re seriously thinking about moving, I highly recommend doing the same.
When I first landed in Catania that September, I felt a mix of excitement, overwhelm, and anxiety. I literally raced out of the airport the moment I landed, completely forgetting my checked bag. Apparently, retrieving my luggage wasn’t as important as seeing the place I had dreamt of for so long and breathing in a deep breath of Sicilian air.
From the airport, I took a cab into the city center and I then walked. And walked. And walked. I wandered around for hours until my legs hurt! I had just enough energy left to make my way back to the bus station and return to the airport for my long forgotten luggage.
During my stay in Catania, I approached as many people as I could, starting conversations about anything and everything. I was just so excited to interact with people and learn more about the place I hoped to soon call home. My heart actually ached at the thought of having a return ticket booked. If anything, those first few days only made me more determined to pursue my Italian citizenship.
But as amazing as those first days in Catania were, they were also a wake-up call.
I realized pretty quickly that my two-year Duolingo streak didn’t mean quite as much as I had hoped it would. Communicating in person was a completely different experience, and the fact that many people around me spoke in a local dialect added another layer to the challenge.
Then, there were all the little things that were wildly different from home, things I never would have thought about before experiencing it for myself. Watching nonnas casually sweep black ash off their steps after the latest eruption of Mount Etna, walking into churches and realizing that my khaki shorts and T-shirt weren’t exactly appropriate, and impatiently waiting for restaurants to reopen at 7 p.m. when I’d been hungry since 4.
And the heat. Mid-September in Sicily is certainly different from mid-September in New England.
None of these things were necessarily bad. They were just different.
And that became one of the most important things I learned during that month. Because when you’re thinking about moving to a new place, the question shouldn’t be, “Do I love it here?” Of course you do! That’s probably why you’re considering moving there in the first place. The better question is: “Can I see myself building an ordinary life here?”
And that is a much harder question to answer after a one-week vacation.
You can adore the food, architecture, weather, and beaches and still discover that everyday life requires compromises. And for some people those may not be compromises they are willing to make. And that’s okay! Sometimes we think we want something, and in the end realize that it may not be exactly what we expected. Since officially making the move to Italy, I’ve visited several countries in Europe, and while I’ve greatly enjoyed and appreciated my time in every single one, I knew they weren’t places I could call home.
But it’s also important to keep in mind that just because you experience culture shock, doesn't mean it isn't the place for you! Sicily certainly shocked me. There were plenty of moments when I realized just how different life was compared to what I was used to back home. Like the first time I walked into a grocery store to see eggs and milk casually sitting on the shelf unrefrigerated.
But none of those differences made me want to leave. If anything, they made me more curious. They made me want to learn the language, understand the culture, and figure out how to build a life there. And so,after a few more years of preparation, I took the leap and made the move.
Looking back, I think that month in Catania gave me exactly what I needed. Not proof that life in Sicily would be perfect, but proof that I wanted to experience the imperfect parts, too.
You don’t need to settle in a place where everything feels familiar. You need to find a place where the unfamiliar feels worth figuring out. If you think Italy might be that place for you as well, book your free introductory call and Let Studio Settebello be the most valuable card in your hand.
