The lights are up on Via de’ Tornabuoni, signalling the start of Christmas in Florence. But for an expat used to Rio summers, the holidays bring a unique chill. Join me as I explore the bittersweet trade-offs of life abroad, the battle of Panettone vs Pandoro, and how we build our own warmth in the heart of Tuscany.
Category Archives: The expat experience
Moving to Florence: The Unspoken Loss of Self
Scroll through social media, and you’ll see the highlight reel of moving abroad: a toast with a new friend against a stunning sunset, the first triumphant trip to a local market, the romantic shot of an ancient, winding street. From the outside, it looks like a seamless adventure—a beautiful, exciting new chapter. But anyone whoContinue reading “Moving to Florence: The Unspoken Loss of Self”
How to Rent a Luxury Property in Florence: A Step-by-Step Guide
Looking to rent a luxury property in Florence? This guide covers everything high-end clients need to know—from the best neighbourhoods to required documents and insider tips for navigating the local rental market. Whether you’re relocating for work, lifestyle, or family, avoid common mistakes and secure the ideal home in one of Italy’s most desirable cities.
The Cultural Iceberg: What to Expect When You Move to Florence
Moving to a new country is an adventure, full of excitement and challenges. If you’re planning to move to Florence, retire here, or invest in property in Florence, understanding cultural adaptation is just as important as finding the perfect home. A helpful way to think about culture is through the Cultural Iceberg Theory, which suggestsContinue reading “The Cultural Iceberg: What to Expect When You Move to Florence”
The Expat Christmas
I can’t count how many Christmases I’ve spent away from loved ones, it’s been too many. Being away from family can really suck from time to time, and the holidays is definitely a time when it sucks bad. Before I moved abroad, Christmases were very predictable, but in the best possible way. I went toContinue reading “The Expat Christmas”
The Expat Son of the Expat Daughter
I have now, for the first time, had the privilege of visiting my grown-up son at his home, and needless to say, he’s not in the same country as me. I never imagined being on this side of the expat life, the mum whose child lives away, because I was always that child. Like mostContinue reading “The Expat Son of the Expat Daughter”
Being the minority
It’s not easy being “other”, being the one who does not belong. But what is an expat life if not exactly that? When we leave our country in the hopes of making a new life somewhere else, we must also understand that the people who live in this place, whose lives have been spent there,Continue reading “Being the minority”
The reverse experience
Reversing down a country road at night in Florence to find a friend’s home, the side of expat life we don’t talk about: feeling lost and silly. Does being an expat give you superpowers? Do you learn new skills? Oh the joys…it’s all worth in the end, really, you’ll see.
Tinder life
I’ve recently had a few (female) clients ask me about dating in Florence. As they plan to relocate to Florence, they’re thinking ahead to ensure an Italian romance is on the cards. It so happens I’m a bit of an expert…some context for you: I arrived in Italy married to the father of my children,Continue reading “Tinder life”
Should I learn Italian?
In a word, yes! You should learn Italian before moving to Italy, or at least the best thing to do is to learn the basics, then ideally once you live here, you’ll be fluent in a couple of years. For that to happen you need lots of opportunities to practice, you need to leave theContinue reading “Should I learn Italian?”