About

Hi, I'm Thea. 

It was back in 2003, and I was doing a semester abroad in a small town about 1 hour outside of Rome. The town was so small that, on a few occasions, complete strangers would stop me and ask "so you're the exchange student from Miami?".

It was the perfect experience for a young student trying to immerse herself in Italian life and culture. The town was small enough that few people spoke English, and my Italian language skills improved rapidly out of necessity.

I lived just off the main street, where people walked back and forth chatting with others before heading home for dinner. The food market was held smack in the middle of the town square and offered  lots of quality fruits, vegetables and Italian delicacies at absurdly low prices.

I WAS IN LOVE! And determined to come back.

A few years later, thanks to a scholarship from Rotary International, I pursued my master's degree at Bocconi University in Milan. Completely different from my lazy little town where the stores closed at midday! But, I enjoyed it nevertheless.

While in Milan, I did what people there do: worked in "fashion". I helped organize events and translate press releases at major Italian luxury brands like Gucci and Loro Piana. The experience helped cement my obsession with all things quality.

Along the way, I met and married my incredibly loving and romantic husband, who's from a stunningly beautiful microscopic village, Tellaro, along the Italian Riviera, not far from the Cinque Terre. 

It’s pretty fair to say that I absolutely love my life in Italy.

And I would be absolutely honored to help you create a life of your dreams in Italy.

Throughout my years living in different corners of the country, from L’Aquila to Pescara and from Florence to Milan, I have seen many sides of Italy. From a professional standpoint I’ve done things as diverse as working as a backup dancer for a local band that performs at the local sagre to English teacher to writing talking points for a CEO.

My goal with Doing Italy is to help you create the life of your dreams in Italy, on your terms, while avoiding many of the pitfalls that plague so many expats when they move abroad.

I’m looking forward to helping you, and I’m so glad that I can help.