Text by Ding; Photos provided by interviewees
“How many decades does one have in a lifetime?” Some things, if not done now, may never come around again. With this mindset, Hong Kong native Cammy resolutely left everything behind in Hong Kong and, together with her husband, moved to Asti in northwestern Italy to take over a local guesthouse, becoming the masters of their own lives.
Asti is a small town in northwestern Italy known for its simple and kind-hearted locals.
“Last year, we traveled around Europe for a year, hoping to experience a different way of life. By chance, we met the owners of this guesthouse and learned that the previous proprietor was about to retire. After much thought, we finally decided to leave our jobs in Hong Kong and start anew here.”
The beginning was naturally not easy, but luckily the former owners spent three months training them to get familiar with the operations of the guesthouse. Coupled with their year-long experience traveling across Europe, the adjustment was relatively smooth. After taking over, Cammy added many new elements to the guesthouse’s basic services — for example, guests can enjoy drinks and chats by the poolside, or she can take them to nearby wineries to explore and gain a deeper understanding of Italy.
Quitting one's job resolutely requires immense courage. Where does this courage come from?
“To be honest, in Hong Kong, we are caught up in the daily grind, and sometimes it feels like a lifetime is spent just paying off a mortgage. It can be exhausting. When this opportunity came along, we thought, why not give it a try? Maybe we’ll carve out a new world for ourselves. And even if we don’t succeed, at least we won’t have any regrets about how we lived our lives.”
Life is full of possibilities every single day. Will you, like Cammy, dare to challenge yourself and try living the life you’ve always wanted?
Tianlan 'Residential Inn
http://www.lacasa-celeste.com/
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