I FOLLOWED MY HEART ACROSS THE SEA

FITTING INTO A NEW COUNTRY ISN’T EASY, YET I CREATED MY DREAM LIFE IN ITALY!

My love affair with Italy began at age 21, on my first trip to Florence, while I was living in London. I was drawn in by this beautiful city and everything about it. It was a far cry from my home town of Perth, Australia and a place I had always dreamed about visiting but never thought it would ever happen.

Fast forward to 2013, where I was living in Sydney and working in a very stressful corporate banking environment which took its toll on my health. I had reached my enough is enough moment and decided I needed to change my life, and I was ready to meet my soul mate.

I decided that my destiny wasn’t set for staying in Australia living a life that wasn’t aligned with me and out of nowhere I decided that it was time to plan my exit strategy, but where to?

Italy was my obvious choice. After living in London for twelve years, I had a UK passport, so the transition was super easy from that part. I arrived in Italy in December 2014 and was convinced I had made the right decision to move. What I never

took into consideration, though, was how hard it could be to learn a new language, culture, way of life and different way of thinking.

It hasn’t been easy, I tell you. Italy is a country famous for its bureaucracy, chaos and disorganization. A polar opposite from what I was used to in Australia and the UK. I arrived here with a passion and determination to create the life I had imagined for myself—a life where I could explore and marvel at the wonder that this beautiful country has to offer.

I was living in the far north of Italy in a town called Bolzano, on the border of Austria. A stunningly beautiful town but it felt too “German” for me, and I missed the beach, so I moved down to the far south to Puglia in 2017.

Not long after I had moved to a little seaside town called Monopoli,

You cannot come to a completely different country and expect to change centuries-old traditions – trust me.

I encountered my soul mate. He was everything I had written down on a list in Sydney so many years ago and more; dark hair, blue eyes, spoke three languages and had lived all around the world. Wowza. I had manifested my soul mate. I couldn’t believe it!

Not long after we met I fell pregnant with our first son, a gorgeous curly blonde-haired blue-eyed boy called Lorenzo, and we now have his little brother due this October this year. I have created my own consultancy company assisting overseas investors in purchasing their dream property in Italy and creating their own slice of La Dolce Vita like I have mine.

It hasn’t been all roses though, I have had to work hard, and fight to pave my way with my career here while juggling motherhood. I have gone through periods of feeling overwhelmed, exploited and severely underpaid for the skillset I possess but if you have enough grit and determination and above all an open mind to see through the obstacles and push through, it is most certainly rewarding. One thing that has really stood out for me is the difference in mindset and outlook on life. It used to bother me, but now I don’t try and change it. You cannot come to a completely different country and expect to change centuries-old traditions – trust me. I learn that lesson a lot in my household! But it is always a learning experience, and probably one that I will continue learning as long as I live here.

Life is too short to be doing anything that is not aligned with your passions. Take that chance to change your life; you will never be disappointed.

Nikki Taylor Australian expat turned real estate guru, Nikki Taylor’s fascination for La Dolce Vita led her to following her dreams and moving Italy in 2014. She has combined her love of all things Italy and Property with her years of experience in the real estate industry and coaches overseas buyers as to how to confidently buy property in Italy. Nikki resides in Puglia with her husband and ItaloAustraliano bambino. She is an Amazon best selling author, has been featured in Forbes and Entrepreneur magazine, and founder of Italy Property Consulting www.italypropertyconsulting.com. Nikki runs a free online community where she shares invaluable information on the property buying procedure in Italy.