I grew up in New York City, where I went to the theatre and opera every month, and knew the best dim sum in Chinatown. I truly took advantage of everything the city had to offer and lived a life that most people would dream of. But by the time I was 24, I knew I needed a change. The hustle and bustle of the city was exciting, but I craved a slower pace of life.
Being of Italian heritage, I always dreamed about moving to Italy. So, in 2014, I packed up and moved to Guardia Sanframondi, a small town in southern Italy with fewer than 5,000 residents. I chose the quiet town after seeing it featured on an episode of "House Hunters International." It looked like it had everything I was looking for in a home: beautiful, peaceful, and welcoming.
