Valentine Aimee, from the GLAM of Milan to the (sunny) middle of nowhere

A change of life, from Milan to Santa Teresa

Ever thought of literally dropping everything and moving away from the city to a more tropical place and just “live life”? When is the point that you decide to make it happen and how to survive the transition… these may be some of the thoughts that hold us back to make the actual change. 

Even though, I am a big advocate that having a positive mindset and being happy shouldn’t depend on where you live, but sometimes it takes a big move to shake things up to find new inspirations… after all, a soul well-travelled is one well lived.   

Valentine Vaghi… a promising Italian architect who I met in Costa Rica while I was scouting for models for an upcoming photoshoot… yes, it was as random as it sounds. Born and raised in the fashion capital of the world, Milan, Valentine was not a stranger to the enchantment of a cosmopolitan city… surrounded by energetic bars, delicious restaurants, beautiful people and great sense of style was seen in every corner. I was a bit shocked she had left all that to move to Costa Rica, and why this beautiful Italian architect was freelancing as a model in Costa Rica… what made her do it?

After some time in the Claudio La Viola Architetture firm, and having worked on big projects and making this workplace her second home, she decided to pack up her bags and move to a beach she went once with her mother, Santa Teresa in Costa Rica. Other than knowing she would miss her family and the good wine, with no doubt she traded her closet full of designer heels with a pair of flip flops and tennis shoes. 

“Ever since I was little, my mother brought me to Costa Rica constantly, she actually opened one of the first fashion boutiques in San José… so it was somewhere I knew I would feel comfortable” That is the first step when really dropping everything. “At least here, I found a place where I don’t have to put on any masks, there are no social obligations… it is really living forever on vacation, I now live where I used to escape to and I have appreciated nature much more. Now every day, I can take 5 minutes to see the sunset, in Milan, everything was so fast paced you didn’t really have time to cherish this force of nature in between the buildings… and it is amazing how much energy you can get from a sunset while sitting on the sand”. 

“There should be a balance in life… it was getting a bit too repetitive the life in Milan, the lifestyle and routine was not feeling healthy. I began to feel I was living to work… and I believe that life has to be more than that”.

“It is nice to live in different places… and coming from a big city to live in a small beach town like Santa Teresa, just taught me that there are different places to live in different moments in life, and how to know when is the right time? Listen to yourself… feel deep if where you are is truly satisfying you, or if you are doing things in an automated way. When you even have the thought of leaving everything behind, maybe it’s time for a change” Valentine affirms. 

This beautiful woman, and one I am happy to call friend, has already lived her first year down by the beach and was able to connect with a modeling agency, with which she has gotten a few jobs on the side and networked her way through the fashion industry. “Dropping everything didn’t mean that I didn’t want to work, I loved my job, but something needed to change” she says. Even today her passion for architecture has led her to a new career path of real estate, a promising and thriving industry in the region, and one she can do surrounded by nature, no make-up, just a t-shirt and a pair of sneakers. 

Is this something you would ever think of doing? It can be done! Sometimes it is necessary to take the risks. Meanwhile, as for me, I decided to do the opposite, leave the sunny skies of CR and move to a worldlier city… and even though I love Toronto, during this new start of winter, I find myself missing the easy lifestyle of the tropics.

When will be the moment to pack your bags? (if you ever thought about it…) and what are you waiting for?

x

M