Name: Jay Stewart
Where you can find Jay: Instagram
Nationality: American
Current Host Country: Italy
Previous Locations: USA
Time Abroad: 17 Months
Time in Current Location: 17 Months
Occupation: Retired. [From a career in information technology and project management].
I moved to my current country because: I wanted to find a place to retire where the cost of living is low, the lifestyle is relaxed, the weather is moderate (similar to Southern California) and a place close to the sea. I spent 2 months in Lecce, Italy in the spring of 2019 and fell in love with the area.
The Best thing about living in my host country has been:
Most of my time here has been during the pandemic but I found love, I’ve eaten very well and found some really beautiful beaches. I can’t narrow down to one experience but the combination of all my experiences make life wonderful.
The three things you need to make it here is:
1. Patience
2. Openness to explore and experience different foods and cultures
3. Ability to speak Italian (I’m still working on this)!
If you’re considering living here, you need to leave this behind: Emotional baggage the limits experiences in Italy.
The biggest lesson I learned as an expat is...
Life is short and you have to enjoy and make the best out of every situation that you are confronted with.
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