My expat journey — living and working abroad is equal parts adventure and challenge. After 20 years in Milan, I’ve gained invaluable lessons in resilience, adaptability, and embracing cultural differences. From overcoming Italy’s bureaucracy to thriving in a foreign job market, living abroad has been nothing short of transformative. Tune in to the ACA podcast where I share insights, stories, and practical tips for aspiring expats. This journey isn’t just about moving—it’s about growing and finding meaning along the way.
As an expat, day-to-day life isn’t always “la dolce vita.” You’ll often be challenged while you are working abroad. Depending on where you go, you might face a confusing and lengthy immigration process, run into lots of bureaucracy, encounter difficulties when meeting new people, lose touch with family and friends, find that you are no longer a candidate for a work promotion back home, or be overwhelmed by basic obligations such as filing your taxes. In this blog post, I share some of the challenges I have faced while living and working in Italy.