I gave up my dream career in NYC to move abroad without a stable job. I miss my old life but don't regret leaving.

I relocated to Florence after living in New York City for eight years. Justine Golata I left my job as a culture writer in New York City and moved to Florence, Italy, in October 2025. As a non-Italian speaker with no network in the European country, the transition was challenging. I miss certain aspects of my life in New York City but know moving abroad was the right decision. Less than a year ago, I left everything I knew in the US — job security, friends, and financial stability — to star...