Being a fashion student and professional, I was no stranger to the heritage and cultural explosion that Italy is. Like most people in my industry, it was always my dream to study and work in Milano. Italians are said to be born with an innate sense of style, and I was always curious to understand how. And now that I am here, I can easily say, they are just born with it!
I am a fashion professional from New Delhi, India. I have always been obsessed and inspired by the culture and heritage of Europe, something that led me to move to Paris, France a couple of years ago and now to Milano, Italy to pursue my super specialization in fashion branding. Being in a city like Milan always feels like being alive, always surrounded by good food and of course, fashion!
But have dreams ever come true for those who sit at home and do nothing about it? I don’t think so! I worked towards realizing this dream for years and it finally did come to fruition. I put in years of my hard work and hard-earned money to move to the city of my dreams. And nothing, absolutely nothing could deter me from realizing it, not even the Italian language.
Something I wish I had known earlier, is the widespread use of the Italian language and social skills. Even when it comes to housing and accommodation, Milan is quite skewed. There are plenty of fraudulent landlords and properties, especially for foreign students. But student help groups, communities, and portals are quite handy and can be of great help. I believe help comes to those who seek it and are willing to help themselves.
I would hate my journey to have been any other way, but yes, if I were to change something, I would like to change my perspective on it; a more positive outlook and less worry. Eventually things would fall into place, because we came here for a reason, a reason better known to god. I would have also learned the language a bit more, understood the bureaucracy and processes better before moving here and, also, looked for more accommodation options near university. Even though Milano has great connectivity, the subway network does get on your nerves sometimes.
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I am a sustainable fashion enthusiast with a keen eye for mindfulness. A brand manager by profession, I strive to work with small sustainable brands, with an intent to share their stories with the world. Currently pursuing my specialization in fashion branding, I hope to make sustainability a lifestyle; a life of good aesthetics with ethics.
InterNations has over 2.8 million members, each with their own reason for making the often difficult decision to move abroad. We wanted to hear more about what drove them to become an expat and modern-day pioneer.
From seventeenth-century settlers searching for the new world to the scientists behind groundbreaking discoveries, pioneers dominate the history books. Though their adventures may be very different, what unites all pioneers is a sense of adventure. It’s that same spirit that defines an expat.
For InterNations member Joseph, traveling and moving abroad has always been a great opportunity to learn more about other cultures and meet people from all walks of life. But one meeting in particular opened his eyes to how we’re all not that different. This is his culture shock story!
“Sometimes I wish I had an easy answer, a concept of identity that fits neatly into a box.” For InterNations team member Crissy, the question of her expat identity has accompanied her for a long time. We asked her about her journey and how she feels about her identity now.
As well as being a great experience, expat life can also be extremely challenging — from cultural differences and language barriers to finding yourself far away from loved ones. The decision to stay abroad is rarely easier to make than the initial decision to move abroad. But just because things don’t work out perfectly, doesn’t mean they won’t work out!
