Americans pride themselves on living in the “best country in the world.” However, the American way of life isn’t for everyone and some prefer the more laid-back approach to life that people enjoy in Europe.
Four years ago, a writer named Roze left her tiny apartment in Los Angeles, booked a one-way flight to Turn, Italy and never looked back. Now, she documents her new life in Europe on TikTok to inspire others to pursue their dreams.
Recently, she posted a video in which she counts down 5 things that she’ll never do now that she lives in Italy. These are examples of the relief some Americans feel when they move to Europe and settle into their new, stress-free lifestyle.
1. Rush
“One of the first things that attracted me to Italian culture is the fact that people don’t seem to be in a rush. There are no drive-thrus. People don’t walk and eat. If you need a coffee, you sit down and drink a cup of coffee. There’s always time for that.”
2. Own a car
“I don’t plan on ever living in a place where you need a car to get around. I don’t like the expense of a car and it’s just bad for the environment.”
3. Live for work
“I’ll never obsess about work as much as I used to do in the U.S. Now, I’m not saying that people don’t work here. People work very hard, but there’s not as many people who make working hard their whole personality.”
@rozeinitaly A few ways my perspective has changed since moving abroad, maybe some other American immigrants can relate? #fivethingschallenge #5thingsiwouldneverdo #5thingschallenge #americanimmigrant #movingabroadtips #expatsinitaly #italylifestyle #lifeinitaly🇮🇹
4. Trust the internet for business hours
“If you look it up on Google Maps, it says that it’s open from 10 am to, I think, 7 or 7:30 pm. Does that mean I can go there at like 2:30 3 o’clock? No. What is not listed on there is that they are closed from 1 to 4 for lunch.”
5. Worry about medical bills
“I just don’t plan on living anywhere where there is not some kind of universal healthcare.”