When Emanuela Buccafurri left her tiny village in southern Italy for an exchange program in Lyon, France, she thought she would stay for just six months. But when the opportunity to stay longer and continue her studies was presented to her, she took a leap of faith, stayed in France. And twenty years later, she hasn’t gone back to Italy.
Quite the opposite: driven by curiosity, she also explored work opportunities in Spain and later in the Netherlands, where she even learned German from scratch. Eventually, she followed her path back to Lyon, a place she now calls home.
This journey taught Emanuela a few things. Beyond learning four languages, she overcame fears and insecurities and learned how to trust herself. Perhaps the most valuable lesson she gained is that living abroad isn’t about fitting in - it’s about taking space.
Connect with Emanuela:
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Why the name “Transplants”?
I've always loved the meaning this word can have. To be a transplant is to carry one life while learning to live another.
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Connect with Transplants:
Follow on IG https://www.instagram.com/transplants.pod
Substack/newsletter - https://wearetransplants.substack.com/
Laura's IG https://www.instagram.com/laura_peruchi
Follow on TikTok - https://www.tiktok.com/@wearetransplants
