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My Milano is Nourishing
A courageous lady who decided to abandon her well-established White Collar life from Beijing, Ming Li came alone to explore her life in Italy at the age of 30, not knowing the Italian language yet. After living 5 years in Rome and 5 years in Milano, eventually, she decides to settle down in Milano. As of today, she works in POLI.design, a school of design founded by renowned Politecnico di Milano.
LIFE IN THE CITY: PAIN AND GAIN IN MOVING HERE.
Before coming to Milano, I used to live in Rome for 5 years. Despite its immense and fascinating beauty, I suffered a lot for lacking decent job opportunities. Ever since my transfer to Milano, life changes dramatically in a very positive way. I’ve been immersed in the fashion and design world, which Milano has so much to offer and at a global level. My working experience also became stimulating. I organized the fashion shows in Milano Fashion Week and presentations in Milano Design Week. Every day I feel like living in a live and moving fashion and design museum. It’s just there, scattering in every corner of your daily life. Your eyes are filled and spoiled with beauty and elegance around, and there’s simply no chance to encounter ugly things.
DO YOU BELIEVE ITALIAN LANGUAGE IS IT ESSENTIAL TO START UP YOUR BUSINESS HERE?
My spoken language in my office is Italian. Oh yes, definitely, knowing the language would help and favour your business here. Learning a language is not about the grammar only, it reaches beyond entering into another mentality, and largely, another world. By speaking the language, Italians would consider you as their peer and therefore intend to confess you everything without hiding any secret from you.
IN WHICH WAY MILANO HELPED YOU TO REALIZE YOUR DREAMS?
Milano realised my dream in 360 degrees. It’s here that I found my dreaming job with much satisfaction. And I also bought my dreaming home here, exactly the way as I like, and decorated in the Italian way. Finally, I could proudly say to be a Milanese.
HOW WOULD YOU DEFINE YOUR QUALITY OF LIFE TODAY?
I would say that I have a quality life here in Milano. Every day, the church bell in front of my home will ring me up, then cappuccino e brioche in the Café downstairs to start an energetic day. Recharged with energy, I’ll step on the way to work at the No.1 University in Italy, which is just 2 train stops distance from home. Coming back from office, I have my gym, Latin dance, and a very big nice park for a walk, with the convenience of 100 meters from home. In weekends, I’ll normally have friends gathering, visit museums, o some cultural events.
TELL US SOMETHING TYPICALLY MILANESE ABOUT YOUR JOB ENVIRONMENT.
I share my office room with two other colleagues: one is Italian and the other Brasilian. Both are super nice and friendly. We always joke about everything and every day the office is just filled with laughs.
HOW IS YOUR AFTERWORK LIFE IN THE CITY?
As mentioned before, my personal life is basically about gym, dance and park. Of course, how would I live without aperitivo with friends together. It is the very relaxing part in weekend.