I Moved to Italy Alone as a PhD Student – Here’s What Actually Happened

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👩🏼‍🎓🇮🇹 In this episode, we sit down with Sofia Vrettou, a Greek researcher and expat currently living in Italy, to explore what it really takes to build a life abroad — emotionally, culturally, and personally. Sofia shares her journey from Greece to Bologna as a PhD researcher, the cultural differences she experienced between Greek and Italian life, how identity shifts when you move countries, and the challenges of adapting to new academic and social environments.

We discuss:

• The emotional side of living abroad
• Language barriers & cultural surprises
• How to build community when starting over
• The beauty of blending cultures
• Rediscovering yourself outside your home country

🎧 Whether you're already abroad, planning to relocate, or simply curious about expat life — this conversation is for you.

📲 Follow Sofia on:
https://www.instagram.com/sofiavrettou_/

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