As I get ready for a thrilling, nerve-wracking, life-changing journey, I'm sharing why I made the decision to move abroad (and my checklist for a 13-month move)!
So, you want to move abroad? I do…and I am.
It's a thrilling, nerve-wracking, life-changing decision, isn't it? Whether you're dreaming of sipping chocolat chaud in a Parisian café, exploring the ancient ruins of Rome, or just craving a new adventure anywhere that will welcome you with open arms, the idea of packing up your life and moving to a different country is both exhilarating and daunting.
Trust me, this is where I’m sitting at emotionally right now, equal parts excited and nervous to finally be in the home stretch of my time here in Canada before I officially take the plunge and move overseas for 13 months on July 31st. For as long as I can remember, I've wanted to immerse myself in Europe's rich cultures and vibrant landscapes, but deciding to make the leap and live abroad—even if only for a little over a year—wasn't something that happened overnight.
(Quick side note: I’ll be including a full on list for preparing to move abroad at the end of this article. You can download it here too, if you’re interested, or find it in our brand new travel planning journal, which is now available!)
The Girl Who Always Wanted to Move Abroad
For as long as I can remember, I dreamed of living in Paris. I often thought about what it would be like to walk along the Seine, to be able to easily visit buildings that were hundreds and hundreds of years old, or to eat the most incredible food for every single meal of the day. My fascination with Europe wasn't just a passing phase—it was a full-blown love affair, especially after I finally made my way there for the first time on a school trip in my senior year of high school.
This trip gave me the smallest taste of Parisian life (I was there for less than 24 hours!), but it also showed me that Europe was such an incredible place beyond just Paris, or even France as a whole. After visiting eight countries during a period of just two weeks, I promised myself that one day, I would live in Europe for an extended time, that I would be more than just a tourist. Paris was my ‘first love’ of travel, but there were other places that would also eventually come to steal my heart.
The University Hustle of Wanderous Affair
Fast forward to my university years, where my need to visit Europe again was often on my mind. I planned the cheapest possible trip I could to return to Paris in 2016 (it was a self-proclaimed mental health trip that was sorely needed) and I came back completely re-energized and feeling like I had a renewed sense of purpose. This also meant that I craved even more travel; being a student with just a part-time job unfortunately meant that money was not pouring out of my pockets and that I would need to find another option to fund myself if I wanted to keep travelling.
Enter: Wanderous Affair Magazine.
What began as a simple column on my old personal blog quickly evolved into a full-fledged, standalone travel magazine and website. My goal was to create a platform that could help me fund my travels, but moreso, to inspire others to explore the world, too. I wanted to create a community of people who felt the same way about travelling as I did, and who were interested in learning about all of the amazing places on our planet from a personal perspective, not just a ‘here’s what to do when you’re visiting XYZ’ and listing off its top tourist attractions.
Every article I wrote and every photo I posted was intentionally captured, and continued to bring me closer to my dream of growing Wanderous Affair and making a brand of it. I saved every penny and spent my summer holidays travelling as much as possible, whether around Canada or to Europe. Regardless of where I found myself, each trip solidified my love of travelling—in particular—every trip to Europe cemented that desire I always had to live there in the future, in some capacity.
Visiting Italy for the First Time: A Turning Point
In May 2019, I took a trip that would really start the ball rolling. My nonna and I travelled to Italy together (I always said that I would never go to Italy for the first time without her), and it was nothing short of magical. She and I wandered through ancient streets, savoured the most delicious foods, and I was able to connect to her roots right in her hometown in a way I had never thought possible. I met family I never knew existed, became good friends with a cousin who looked just like me (and who I never knew existed prior to the trip!), and struggled my way through every Italian conversation that slipped into dialetto.
It was at some indeterminable time during this trip that I decided I wanted to live in Italy for at least six months. The duration was a bit arbitrary, but I knew I needed more than just a visit for a couple of weeks. However, as it goes, life had other plans. The pandemic hit, but I knew it wouldn’t last forever and I would eventually be able to go. Then, I told someone that I once trusted about my dreams of Italy only to have them laughed at, that there were better places to go to that weren’t “cliché.” I then decided to stay put… but the thing is, that want to go never disappeared. I always thought about going back to Italy; it lingered in the back of my mind, just waiting for the right moment.
Making Not-So-Abrupt Decisions
Last August, I made my first international post-pandemic trip, beginning the two-month adventure in Egypt with my cousin and three friends, with the first stop in Sharm El-Sheikh. After the second leg of the Egypt trip, in Cairo, we were on our way back to Italy and I was seated next to my cousin. As the plane descended into Sicily, and the familiar landscapes of Italy came into view, I felt a surge of emotion that I often feel when landing in an exciting place away from Toronto (as much as I love my home—I do love Toronto so very much!). But it was more than just that excitement.
I turned to my cousin and told her, "I’m going to move to Italy for a year." She suggested I see how my time went before making any serious decisions, but my mind was already made up. Yes, I’d see how the rest of the trip went, what she said made sense, but I had already made the decision so many years ago—an extra month and a half would make no difference, really.
After a blissful month and a half in Europe, I returned to Toronto in October. The reverse culture shock hit hard this time. I missed the old streets, the lively piazze, and even the chaotic driving habits of the Italians. I missed being able to sit on the beach and listen to the waves wash in against the sand, seeing the sun set in a pastel sky over buildings over a hundred years old, and eating whatever I wanted without feeling sick or having my skin turn to complete crap.
During my time in Europe, I had explored the north, central, and south of Italy, falling in love with its diverse landscapes and cultures from one end of the country to the other. Each new city added fuel to my desire to live there. I knew in my heart that I needed to finally do this trip for myself, and I wasn’t going to let anything or anyone stand in my way this time. I owe it to myself.
Using Italy as a Travel Hub
One of the most exciting parts of this move is that I’ll be using Italy as a central point to explore the rest of Europe. Major cities like Milan and Rome are perfect travel hubs, with easy access to trains and flights that can bring me to new destinations in no time, and at super low costs (at least when compared to domestic travel within Canada). While in these hubs, I plan to visit places I’ve only ever seen in pictures, from the mountains of Switzerland to the beaches of Greece, but also favourites I want to see once more. This year-long adventure isn’t just about living in one place—it’s about experiencing the rich tapestry of cultures and landscapes that Europe has to offer. Every weekend could be a new adventure, and I can’t wait to share those stories right here as I continue to check items off of my travel bucket list!
And, as a part of my grand travel plans, I’ve naturally decided to spend a few months in Paris next spring. This isn’t just a random detour, of course, but a gift to the young version of me who dreamed of speaking French every day and getting lost in the streets of Paris. I truly cannot wait to spend the first year of my 30s drinking coffee at charming cafés, scribbling notes for my next articles while sitting in a picturesque park, or uncovering new places to explore in my favourite cities.
Plans in Motion: The Ultimate Preparation List to Move Abroad
As you can imagine, preparing for a move abroad goes beyond just figuring out what travel clothes to pack and which must-have travel products you need to bring along with you. To help you get your list started, I’ve created these downloadable templates for you to print and fill out, or that you can fill in easily from your computer as a PDF! All you have to do is click here to get the file.
These lists are adapted from an in-depth workbook I created for travellers looking to make the most of their trips—whether they're going for a few days or a year. The book includes a more thorough version of these preparation lists (and a whole lot more!). You get your copy of the book here!
All in All
Clearly, deciding to move abroad for 13 months wasn’t a spontaneous decision; it was something that was shaped by years of dreaming, planning, and hoping that one day I’d have the guts to finally do it. Finally, I realized that now is the best time.
From my childhood fantasies to post-secondary hustling, a transformative trip with my nonna, and a promise made mid-flight, every step has led me to this adventure that awaits me in less than two weeks. I’m excited, I'm nervous, but I’m also ready for the adventure of a lifetime.
Let’s do this.
My husband is always saying we will move to Italy when both of us have a pension, but I'm not sure if I can bare to be that far from my kids
Sounds like it would be an amazing adventure! This would be wonderful to be able to do. ~ Luna S
Congratulations to you and your generation doing this. My daughter also traveled for about 8 years. Mexico, Iceland, Portugal, France, and many more when she was single. Then three years ago, her and her boyfriend did a month at a time in airbnb's for 9 months around the east and west cost of America. They ended up in Bend, Oregon and spent a year there before returning to their original location in Boulder Colorado. They are day hikers. Anyway, I admire your courage to go out and explore!
What a fun adventure! I moved abroad ten years ago because my husband is from another country. And honestly, I would move about one more time because it is so fun! Now we have two young kids, and they go to school, so I better wait until my retirement.