I don't regret leaving New York City for a small Italian village — but I've had to adjust to some big lifestyle changes

Three years ago, Camellia Phillips relocated from the bustling metropolis of New York City to a quaint village in Sicily. Grocery shopping and running errands in her new home significantly differ from her previous urban lifestyle. Though she has embraced many changes, she acknowledges the need to adapt to the village's unique way of life.

One of the most striking changes for Camellia is grocery shopping. With no supermarket within a 40-minute drive, she relies on a hyper-local food system. This system includes a local food truck, a weekly outdoor market, and vendors who peddle fresh produce, eggs, fish, bread, and more along the village's narrow streets. Each vendor's schedule is fluid and dependent on the day and time, requiring Camellia and her husband to learn and adapt to the local rhythm.

In contrast to the fast-paced life in New York, Camellia's village operates on a slower pace, with most businesses and public offices closing for three hours in the afternoon. This change initially caught her off guard, as she was unaccustomed to finding everything closed during her usual work hours. However, she has come to appreciate the slower pace, which encourages taking breaks for eating, resting, and stepping away from work.

Building relationships is crucial in this close-knit community, as it often becomes necessary to facilitate tasks. Camellia found that relying on apps to schedule appointments or complete paperwork was not feasible in her new environment. Instead, she has learned to show up in person, attend the vital records office when needed, and establish personal connections with individuals such as her pharmacist and doctors.

Camellia acknowledges that adapting to the Italian lifestyle has required time and intention. Despite her initial assumption that she would seamlessly adapt to the village's pace of life, she discovered that her workaholic tendencies carried over from her previous life in New York. Over the past three years, she has focused on prioritizing connections and learned to balance urgency with patience, adopting the Italian adage "piano piano," or "little by little."