Interviewee: Veronica Fiore

Hi there, my name is Veronica Fiore, they’ve asked me to speak to you about living in the U.K today. Here I am.

First question, When did you start thinking about moving away and why?

Oh, well it was the beginning of 2012 at a time my life was going through a change. Nothing was holding me back in Italy at the time, I had a job of course, but as an ambitious and curious person I was dreaming something more, I wanted something more for myself for my life and um to have like a better future. Uh, mainly the recession was still on and uh there were not many opportunities back in Italy. So when I came to visit my friend Sarah in London, that uh who had already moved to London at the time, I fell in love with the city and I thought, why not? Yeah, I could give it a go and try and get my own experience. I have to say I made my mind at the end of 2012, September 2012, when I decided to I was gonna move to London in the next few months.

Second question, What were the first 30 days like?

Busy. Very busy guys, as you can imagine. The first 30 days abroad with no family around you, no friends uh…it was kind of a challenge I have to say. Uh, I don’t regret anything at all. I’m a planner so I had planned almost everything? Yeah, I can say it, I had planned almost everything. I had to book a room in a hotel and I spend the first days looking for a room. I was lucky I found a place, uh quite pretty soon in a lovely house with an amazing Irish woman. But uh, when I move there I spend most of my days doing my research, um I wanted to find a position, a good position in London.

Third question, What tips would you offer a friend that was thinking about an expat experience?

Go. Just be brave and go. That’s the only way you can find yourself and uh find your place in the world. Embrace the challenge and be brave. I, I will say my biggest tip is don’t uh, don’t be afraid of leaving your beloved, your relatives, your family. They’re not going to uh disappear they’re going to stay beside you if they love you and you will find yourself.

This is Veronica Fiore for Learning English Matters.

Words in this story

Holding me back: there is nothing stopping you or preventing you from doing something or going somewhere

Ambitious: having a goal or wanting to be successful

Recession: a time when the economy was not doing well and many people were without a job

Give it a go: to try doing something

Challenge: a test of your strengths; physically or mentally

Regret: something that you wish you did or didn’t do

Book a room: to reserve a room in a hotel

Find yourself: when you want to learn more about what you like or what type of person you are; trying to figure out who you want to be

Embrace: excitedly taking a chance or opportunity

Relatives: your family

Beloved: someone you really love

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