• I lived in Italy for eight years, and I still go back every summer to visit family and enjoy Europe. • I wish I could go even more often, but it's not always possible to hop on an international flight. • Luckily, I've found US cities in California, Michigan, and Florida that feel like Italy to me.

When I was in college, studying abroad in Italy was a no-brainer. My great-grandparents are from a tiny village just outside Modena, and I was curious about my heritage.

Something that took me by surprise, though, was the realization that I didn't want to leave.

After my semester ended, I lived and worked in Rome throughout my early 20s. Eventually, I moved back to the US and became an Italian teacher.

Although I now live in Chicago, Italy still feels like my second home: I make a point

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