Moving Abroad for a Year (9-Month Life Update)

A look back on the magic of moving abroad for a year with this 9-month life update. Dive into the joys and challenges of moving abroad for a year.

Scilla, Calabria at sunset. Photo by Emily Fata.

If you’ve been following my journey, you know this isn’t my first check-in from Italy (if you want to read the past ones, you can do so here and here).

Since making the leap abroad, I’ve been sharing stories from life’s delicious, unpredictable, and occasionally wild moments as a Canadian expat. Let’s think of this post not just as another update, but as my little love letter to the magic that’s unfolded since ringing in 2025.

From ancient cities to solar storms, here’s what the past few months have looked like, and why I believe moving abroad for a year might be the most rewarding chaos you’ll ever choose for yourself.

The Joys and Jitters of Moving Abroad for a Year

Checking out the Christmas lights and street art in Borgo Croce, Calabria. Photo by Vittoria Urzetta.

Ringing in the new year in Vazzano was the perfect mix of tradition and unexpected hilarity. The fireworks were dazzling, but the burning of the symbolic ‘bad luck’ statue was the showstopper; this year, it featured none other than Putin.

No notes. 10/10. Would burn again.

After that, the early days of January were a dream: evenings spent playing games with cousins and friends, devouring panettone like it was a competitive sport, and easing into 2025 with zero pressure and a full belly. To be honest, the few added pounds didn’t even bother me.

On January 11, I moved to Rome and stepped into the cutest little condo in the Monte Sacro quarter. I immediately fell in love with the neighbourhood, just a hop from Conca d’Oro metro station and buzzing with cafés, bakeries, and total charm. I spent my days exploring museums and archaeological sites around the city, people-watching in the piazze, and slipping into churches for quiet moments of art-filled awe.

My camera roll at the end of all of this? A mess of pasta, frescoes, and blurry but enthusiastic selfies in front of my favourite monuments.

Me and my sisters exploring the Colosseum in Rome.

Throughout all of these adventures, the kitchen in my condo had become my test lab. It was in there that I tried out every recipe I’d bookmarked over the years, continuing my culinary adventures from back when I was in Milan. Some nights, it was magic. Other nights...we don’t talk about those (but I will say that it ended up with me calling it a day and reheating a frozen calzone I had previously made for such unfortunate occasions). Really, though, cooking for myself in Italy felt like a rite of passage.

That all said, Rome wasn’t just a place—it was a feeling. I followed recommendations from friends and family, sending them photos with a “Guess where I am?” text.

I wasn’t just seeing Rome, I was living it, and it was such an incredible feeling.

A Bucket-List Dream Come True in Iceland

In February, my cousin Vittoria and I finally checked a massive item off our travel bucket list: Iceland. We’d dreamed up this trip back in 2019 when she first came to visit me in snowy Canada—and now, there we were, living it. Reykjavík was an absolute gem: colourful streets, great food, and cozy vibes even in the cold.

We explored the Golden Circle, soaked in geothermal baths, and tried to pretend we weren’t total tourists every time we gasped at a waterfall. But the moment that will live rent-free in my heart forever? Seeing the Aurora Borealis.

The Northern Lights over the Icelandic Sea. Photo by Emily Fata.

There I was, floating on a boat in the Icelandic Sea, watching the northern lights swirl above (and sobbing happy tears, obviously). It felt like the universe hit pause just for us. Everything I’d been through, everything I’d hoped for: it all led to that moment of wild, electric beauty.

That trip reminded me why I chose this life. It’s not always easy, but it is always worth it.

Living Like a Local (With an A+ in Pasta and Pronunciation)

Back in Rome, I decided to lean into the expat life even more and tackle my next big challenge: the Italian language. I wrapped up my A2.2 level lessons in March, feeling equal parts proud and overwhelmed, and am planning to transition into private lessons in May.

Fresh artichokes in a small street-side market. Photo by Emily Fata.

I practice daily now, whether it’s chatting with my cousins, reading signs without squinting suspiciously, or making small talk at the market. It’s slow progress, but it’s real. To be honest, there’s something so satisfying about finally understanding the jokes on Italian TV without constantly glancing at the subtitles (which, by the way, I always keep in Italian and never in English).

Living abroad has pushed me to grow in ways I didn’t anticipate, from confidently navigating public transit in a different country to figuring out how to explain to my landlord, “I think I somehow blew all the fuses in my apartment” in Italian. Spoiler: I did blow all of the fuses. Twice.

I’ve also become fiercely independent. There’s something empowering about handling things solo in another country, even if it sometimes involves relying on a lot of hand gestures or mispronouncing some words as you take the plunge of trying to explain something in detail. Every awkward moment is just another part of the story.

Quiet Beauty and Countryside Walks in Calabria

Walks through Vazzano's countryside. Photo by Emily Fata.

In mid-March, I made the bittersweet decision to leave Rome and head back to Calabria. It wasn’t goodbye forever, but I felt that I needed a change of pace; the countryside had just what I craved.

Vazzano in the spring is a quiet kind of beautiful. I’ve spent hours walking through fields, up winding roads, and past sleepy houses with flower-filled balconies. There’s a peaceful rhythm to life here: the church bells, the chatter of neighbours, the occasional tractor rolling by.

After the intensity of Rome, the stillness was soothing. I reflected a lot during those walks—on how far I’ve come, on what’s next, and on the fact that I’ve developed a real taste for olives and coffee (this feels important to mention, for those who know how much I hated both, once upon a time).

There’s a groundedness in Calabria I needed. Life slows down in the best possible way, and as a major bonus, now I’m close to the sea again!

Finding Purpose Through Work (and Play)

By the end of March, a new opportunity came knocking: a writing job that felt like pure alignment. I’ve always loved writing (hello, Wanderous Affair), but this job lets me blend passion with purpose—and I couldn’t be happier.

Aperol Spritz with friends is always a good idea.

Working remotely has brought a sense of balance back into my days. As much as I adore travelling, I’d started to feel restless without a broader creative outlet. Having meaningful work again felt like plugging back into myself.

Plus, let’s be honest: having a bit of routine made Aperol Spritz breaks feel even more rewarding.

Between writing gigs, I’ve leaned into the social side of life, too. Easter in Italy? A delight. Most of my cousins were away in France, but the small group that stayed behind made the most of it—complete with pizza, French fries, late nights sipping Gin Lemons, and enough laughs to make your stomach sore.

Work-life balance has never felt so sweet.

Citizenship and Spritzes (and Whatever Comes Next)

One of the biggest things on my radar this year has been my Italian citizenship application. As of now, everything has been submitted and all that’s left to do is wait…and hope. It’s the kind of bureaucratic limbo that could drive a person mad, but I’m choosing to be optimistic (and maybe distract myself with another gelato run or another bar of Milka chocolate, the kind with puffed rice inside of it).

In the meantime, I’m savouring the small things. The familiar faces in town, the warm afternoon on the terrace, the way even grocery store runs in Vibo Valentia feel like tiny adventures.

I don’t know exactly what’s next—whether I’ll return to Rome for another stretch or plant firmer roots here in Calabria. I do know this: I’ve grown more in this one year abroad than I have in the last five combined.

Every risk, every day, every breathtaking view is all part of the story. I wouldn’t change a single thing.

All in All

Feline friends along Calabria's coasts. Photo by Emily Fata.

If you’ve ever toyed with the idea of moving abroad for a year (or longer), let me just say this: do it.

There will be challenges. There will be growing pains. But there will also be fireworks, fresh starts, unexpected joy, and moments that make you fall in love with life all over again.

You’ll surprise yourself with how much you can handle and how much wonder you’ll find when you step outside your comfort zone.

So go ahead. Book the one-way ticket, take the plunge, and see what’s waiting for you on the other side. If nothing else, I can promise you this: you’ll have one hell of a story to tell at the end of it all.

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#Europe #Italy #Iceland #Rome #Lazio #Calabria #TravelChangedMe