Bell left Melbourne in 2023 and moved to Milan, where she now teaches at an international school. It wasn’t an escape, but a quest for stimulation, meaning and, above all, for herself.
“In Australia I had everything; a stable job, a home a comfortable life,” she shared, “But I felt trapped in a routine that no longer belonged to me. So, I decided to make a drastic change.”
Deciding to move to Italy wasn’t just due to the allure of the Bel Paese, but also a deep, familial connection. The daughter of an Italo-Australian mother and granddaughter of Calabrian grandparents who emigrated to Australia in the 1950s, Bell grew up immersed in Italian culture, even when it wasn’t as widely celebrated as it is today.
“My mother, when she was young, was ashamed of her origins,” shared Bell, “She often spoke about how hard it was to feel Italian in a context where everyone tried to fit in.
“My grandmother felt the same sense of inadequacy. But over time, my mother changed her attitude. She asked herself, ‘Why should I be ashamed?’
“Now in Australia, everyone loves Italy, everyone wants to go there. She wanted us kids to rediscover that heritage.”
This rediscovery was made by small, concrete steps like obtaining Italian citizenship, taking Saturday morning Italian lessons, post-it notes with Italian words scattered around the house - a totel and affectionate immersion in the language and culture.
“While my friends were going out to have fun on Saturdays, I was spending three hours at school,” she recalled, “Today, I realise how much that helped me.”
At sixteen, Bell had her first experience in Italy during a three-month exchange in Naples, hosted by an Italian school.
“That’s when I realised how close I felt to this culture,” she revealed, “When I later felt ready for a change, I no longer had ties keeping me in Australia. I thought, ‘This is the moment.’”
Bell moved to Milan with a job already secured; a teaching position at an international primary school. Nonetheless, starting a new life wasn’t easy. “I thought I knew Italian,” she said, “After all, I’d studied it for years. But when you’re immersed in the language, you realise how much you’re still missing.
“At first, I felt lost.”
In her spare time, Bell enjoys La Dolce Vita
Cultural dynamics also take time to understand. “In the beginning, I lived in an apartment with a couple,” she recalled, “They were so loud, always talking at the top of their lungs. I thought they were angry at me, but then I realised it was just ‘Italian passion’.
“In Australia, we’re much more reserved. We apologise constantly so as not to offend anyone. Here, people tell you what they think, unfiltered.
“At first, I felt vulnerable, but then I learnt to appreciate it. It’s a kind of authenticity that makes you stronger.”
However, what complicates things for Bell is the cost of living. “In Milan, you earn little compared to what you spend,” she shared, “It’s really hard to manage, especially for someone coming from a country like Australia, where salaries are generally higher.”
Despite this, Bell finds daily reasons to stay. “I love the lifestyle. The aperitivo, how easy it is to go out every evening with friends, the deep sense of community,” she listed.
“Here, human relationships are fundamental. Everything revolves around family and friendships. That’s one of the things that strikes me most; in Italy, people are truly there for each other.”
In a professional context, Bell’s experience in Milan has brought new meaning to her work. She teaches math, science and English to a primary school class, but her teaching goes beyond the traditional approach.
“I try to make English come alive,” she said, “I organise experiences, like a cooking class entirely in English or themed field trips. Kids learn by doing, talking, playing and, above all, they learn that making mistakes is okay.”
Bell teaching her students English
It’s a method she’s constructed from her own experience. “I always tell my students that I’m learning Italian too,” said Bell, “They hear me make mistakes and seeing that I’m not afraid helps them relax.
“In Italy, there’s a lot of embarrassment around speaking English, because people fear not being good enough. But making mistakes is normal, it’s how you truly learn.”
Now, after two years, Bell is at a turning point. “I’m considering signing a new contract to stay another year,” she shared.
“But I haven’t decided yet. I’m at a moment where I’m reflecting on what I really want.”
Bell’s future remains open, as it should for anyone who has the courage to change course. Whatever direction she makes, her bond with Italy will remain strong.
