Who are you?
Hello, I’m Federica, 23 years old. I’m from Rome, Italy.
Where, when and why did you move abroad?
I moved to Lima three weeks ago! I moved here because I always wanted to visit Peru.I remember when I was a child I read this book about Peru. It was about its amazing landscapes, history and mistery and I immediately fell in love with this country. Moreover I wanted to do work experience and learn Spanish.
So, here I am.
What challenges did you face during the move?
Well, I didn’t face any challenges… I mean my dream is to travel around the world and live in different countries, so for me, moving to Peru was like a dream coming true.
How did you find somewhere to live?
I was very very lucky. I have a close friend of mine who is Peruvian, but she lives in the UK. However, her mother lives in Peru and she lives alone, that’s why this woman is more than happy to share her flat with me now!
Are there many other expats in your area?
Yes, there are! I found them thanks to some expats groups on Facebook!
What is your relationship like with the locals?
It’s good, I’ve met many nice people. The only thing that i’ve noticed is that one should really be careful with some peruvian boys. Here they are called “bricheros”, they are only interested in finding expat girls, but clearly not to become friends… if you know what I mean.
What do you like about life where you are?
I love my independence, I love my neighborhood and my job too. I’m really happy and relaxed. Life here is less stressful than in my city.
What do you dislike about your expat life?
Nothing. I really love my expat life. I just miss my dog.
What is the biggest cultural difference you have experienced between your new country and life back home?
Well, there are no big differences. Peruvians love football, their food and they are very Catholic. Sounds similar to Italy, doesn’t it?
What do you think of the food and drink in your new country?
I love both of them! Pisco sour, ceviche, chilcano, chifle etc., everything is very nice. They love to say “está muy rico” when something is good, so pretty much every time they eat or drink.
What are your particular likes or dislikes?
The only thing I really don’t like is the way they drive. I mean, I’m from Rome which is famous for crazy driving and traffic. But really here it’s insane, you really should be careful while crossing the road, rules don’t apply here.
What advice would you give to anyone following in your footsteps?
Well, if you are not satisfied with your life, you should know that changing is always possible. Or at least, I like to think that. I like to think that there is always more than one way to pursue happiness in life. Yes, it can be scary and it’s something out of your comfort zone for sure, but if it’s what makes you happy, then you don’t need to be afraid.
What are your plans for the future?
I’m doing an internship for a British social media marketing company. I really love my job and the fact I can work from wherever I want, I just need my laptop and a Wi-Fi connection. For the future I’d like to become a freelancer and work with my computer and travel the world in the meanwhile.
Maybe I will create a personal blog in the future where I can share my experiences.
You can keep up to date with Federica's adventures on Instagram.
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