Meet Lilly, the expat who is constantly reinventing herself abroad

Tell us a little about yourself, who are you and where do you come from?

Hi, my name is Lilly, full name Liliana Vercellotti. I was born and raised in Piedmont, in a small town between Turin and Milan. My parents were farmers and I was the first in my family to study at university and even go abroad and then live there for the rest of my adult life.

What are the reasons that led you to move to the United States and later Canada?

As a young girl, I had penpals when I was studying English at school and the world seemed to me a place to discover beyond the small rural reality that was mine. That is what made me decide on studying languages ​​at university in Italy and then to go on to the United States to complete my studies and then do my masters. The Canada route, on the other hand, was different. In 2010, after returning to Italy and Switzerland for a year and a half for family reasons, I missed North America but at the time I didn't see a future in the United States because I had quit my job a few years earlier and had to start over maybe doing a PhD or looking for another company (my sector was non-profit / NGO) to sponsor me, which is not easy in the NGO world.

On the advice of a friend, we thought about trying Canada. At the time of the 2010 Vancouver BC Winter Olympics, this seemed like the most beautiful place in the world to live, work and immigrate.

Reality wasn't exactly like that. After a brief introductory visit as a tourist, I returned to Canada and got a certificate as an executive coach, and from there I worked for another year in a small NGO that had projects in Tanzania. Then in 2012 I met my partner and then everything changed for a few years. I bought a small apartment in Vancouver and also went to visit projects in Tanzania between 2014 and 2015, spending some time in Africa. Unfortunately, I returned with health problems and from there I took some time for myself to recover. After a few years in Vancouver and life that was becoming more and more expensive I moved to Vancouver Island, another wonderful place from the point of view of the forest and ocean. I bought a house, but the personal situation also changed as my partner and I were no longer together. Despite the beauty of the landscape and the quality of life, I always found it difficult to feel at home with Canadians, they seemed less warm than the Americans and Vancouver, also a beautiful city with a high quality of life, but difficult for me when it came to making friends. In fact, my former partner and other friends were almost all immigrants too. For heaven's sake nothing against Canadians, today after ten years here, I have a few Canadian friends I am ready to make another big move.

What do you do now?

I moved to Quebec in March 2020. Right now, I'm renovating my apartment and then reselling it with the aim of making a profit (here for now the real estate market is stable). In addition, I am creating my online business as a coach for single women who have children (as I do) but also for those who, for example, from Italy who want to study or work abroad. I offer redefinition coaching and relocation consulting. The goal is to be able to work as a nomad expat and move - when the pandemic is under control - to a warm country with a relatively cheaper cost of living. I am thinking of Central America or the Antilles. Although Aruba or Curacao 'are not exactly cheap places), the services are more efficient than in Belize, Panama etc.

What impact has the COVID-19 had on your professional activity?

A big impact, I would say. Before, I was vacationing / short-term rental and also I already had plans to change my life and leave Canada as my path was not always easy from a professional and social point of view. With the COVID, now the goal is to safeguard my investments, sell my apartment and create an online business as a consultant and move to another hot country. I also have a small timeshare in Spain but even there there were major problems due to non-maintenance and temporary closure of the resort and now I am having difficulty recovering my investment there.

With the help of lawyers and others, I hope this issue will be resolved soon.

How does your day go to type?

Right now it is quite repetitive, but always challenging. I am online all day managing my two properties, one in Canada, one in Spain, and building my online consulting and coaching business. I take a short lunch break and take a walk in the nearby park in the late afternoon. Here in Québec we have almost always been in the red zone since before Christmas and I do not trust to travel, even though I still have chores to attend to in the province of British Columbia. Also, I was traveling long before the covid. In 2019 I had been to Portugal and Spain, again to evaluate places with the pros and cons of living there. Through my research trips each year, I can say that I feel prepared as a consultant for anyone who wants to live in other European countries and understand the pros and cons and also regarding Canada and the United States. Now my routine is to follow the renovations on my property, create the content of my new website for my online business, and try to solve the problem in Spain with the small studio there. Financially, I am risking taking this time to set up my business but I am also interested in working for companies that can appreciate my qualifications as an expat consultant, bilingual and with experience in different fields.

Does Canada offer you a good work-life balance?

Canada is an excellent country from the point of view of the economy and quality of life and beauty of natural landscapes, but to immigrate you need a different score both in terms of education and work experience. For me, who am not yet a citizen and do not think I will become one in the future, I found living in Canada, as mentioned before, a very difficult, lonely path. I always advise anyone who wants to move to this country not to come alone. Come with family and although one might think it is easy, it is never easy when one wants to settle in a new country. I would say the sense of community can also come with belonging to groups. Before the covid, and after that too, I would always recommend signing up for meet-ups with interests and activities similar to what your interests are. Sports, language exchange for example. Also for expats, there is Internations and other organizations, toastmasters, etc.

What are the things you like most about your life in Quebec City?

I've only been here for a year. I love art and culture here. In British Columbia there was a lot to appreciate from the point of view of the forest and the ever green (albeit rainy) landscape of the Pacific North West, here you feel a bit of European and French culture (very French ....) and the people are also refined (without saying snobbish at times though). Speaking French is essential, although they are very kind, they apologize and try to speak to you in English if your French is not that great.

For me, the Québec City stage was after all just a stage. I was planning to live here for six months, and the other six months in Central America and work full-time online. That was the precovid plans. Now, on the other hand, I'm just trying to stay here and protect myself and my health.

What are your plans for the future?

As mentioned, moving (for the last time, I would say) to a hot country and creating a successful online business as an expat consultant and coach for women who want to redefine themselves professionally and personally. In my spare time, volunteering at a school or center for young girls and carrying on my passion from working in NGOs to inspire girls / young women to follow their own each, go to school, and have self-esteem. Also use your free time in projects to protect the environment and vegetarianism.

You can find me on LinkedIn and soon on my new website: LillyVeGlobal. Also on facebook, you can find my group "We Celebrate Us".