ROME UNFILTERED – Season 2, Episode 2 (Part 2 of 2) Rome Will Love You Back (Part 2): The Day Rome Starts Feeling Like Home

How does a city that once felt overwhelming become a place you never want to leave?

In Part 2 of this conversation, Walter continues speaking with Polly and Angie about the mindset shifts that come with building a life in Rome. Looking back on their own journeys, they reflect on the moments that transformed Rome from a city they were trying to navigate into a place they truly call home.

Together, they explore what changed over time, how they adapted to Roman culture, the routines that brought stability, and why many of the things that frustrated them in the beginning are now part of what they appreciate most. More importantly they explore the changes in their children and what they think their kids will miss the most once they leave.

In this episode, they discuss:

• The turning points that changed their experience of Rome • How their perspectives evolved over time • Raising children in an international city • Building routines that create a sense of home • The values they've adopted from Italian culture • Advice they would give every new family moving to Rome

Whether you've just arrived or have lived here for years, this episode is a reminder that adapting to life abroad doesn't happen overnight. It happens through everyday experiences, small mindset shifts, and giving yourself the time to grow.

If you haven't already, listen to Part 1, where Polly and Angie discuss the emotional stages of expat life, culture shock, and the challenges of settling into Rome.

Rome Unfiltered is made by expats, for expats. Real stories. Practical advice. Life in Rome without the filter.

ROME UNFILTERED – Season 2, Episode 1 (Part 1 of 2) Rome Will Love You Back: The Emotional Stages of Expat Life (Part 1)

Welcome to Season 2 of Rome Unfiltered.

Every expat arrives in Rome with expectations. Then reality sets in.

The language, the bureaucracy, the pace of life, the communication style, and the everyday moments that make you question whether you'll ever truly settle in.

In Part 1 of this two-part conversation, Walter sits down with Polly and Angie to reflect on the emotional stages of expat life. Together, they revisit the excitement of arriving in Rome, the frustrations that followed, and the culture shock that almost every newcomer experiences.

From learning to understand Roman temperament and communication to navigating the emotional highs and lows of building a new life abroad, they share honest stories and practical insights that every expat family can relate to.

In this episode, they discuss:

• The emotional stages of expat life • First-year frustrations and culture shock • Roman temperament and communication styles • Managing expectations during the transition to life in Italy • The challenges of raising children abroad • The mindset that helps families adapt

Whether you've just landed in Rome or are preparing for your move, this episode is a reminder that the challenges of settling into a new country are a normal part of the journey.

This is Part 1 of 2. Continue with Part 2, available now, where Polly and Angie share the turning points that changed their perspective and the lessons they've learned from building a life in Rome.

Rome Unfiltered is made by expats, for expats. Real stories. Practical advice. Life in Rome without the filter.

Moving abroad changes more than your address.

It changes your routines, your priorities, and often the way you take care of yourself.

In this episode of Rome Unfiltered, Walter is joined by Angie and Joanna to talk about an often-overlooked part of expat life: rebuilding your personal routines after relocation.

Between finding schools, navigating bureaucracy, setting up a home, and supporting your family, many expats spend months focused on everyone else. At some point, though, survival mode ends and life begins again.

Together, Angie and Joanna share how they found balance in Rome through wellness, fitness, self-care, and the small routines that helped them feel grounded in a new country.

The conversation explores everything from finding a trusted hairdresser and booking beauty appointments to discovering Pilates classes, yoga studios, horse riding, and the habits that helped them create a sense of normalcy abroad.

They also discuss:

• Rebuilding routines after a move abroad • The importance of self-care during relocation • Finding trusted providers through recommendations • Pilates, yoga, horse riding, and fitness communities • Managing stress as a working parent • The Italian approach to wellbeing and balance • Why routines matter more than motivation • Practical advice for expat families settling into Rome

This episode is about more than wellness. It’s about creating stability, protecting your mental health, and finding the small rituals that help a foreign city start feeling like home.

Rome Unfiltered is made by expats, for expats. Real stories. Practical advice. Life in Rome without the filter.

If you know someone who has recently moved to Rome, send them this episode. Sometimes the best thing you can do for your family is make time for yourself.