She Moved to Naples, but Sicily Captured Her Heart

Here’s another edition of our Moved with Peace series, featuring fabulous folks who’ve found new spaces and places to call home.

I had the chance to chat with Monique about her journey to Sicily. She’s building something impactful while learning Italian and finding her community. This series captures moments unfolding in real time—the ups, the downs, and everything in between. Sometimes we’re in transition, and other times we’re exactly where we need to be.

Scroll down to read Monique’s story!

What does “moved with peace” mean for you?

That could be physically, emotionally, or mentally. How does that resonate with you?

I love the term “moved with peace” because I desire peace above all else. I am an empath; therefore, I’m very sensitive to energy. If a person has disruptive energy, I cannot be in their presence for an extended amount of time. I am very intentional about protecting my peace; this includes meditating daily and using sage, palo santo, and incense to balance the energy within myself and in my home.

Why did you move to Sicily?

I first visited Italy in November 2016, fell in love with the country, and knew it was home. I moved to Naples in February 2021 with the U.S. Government. I am a suburbanite, and I do not like living in a big city, so I knew that living in Naples was not going to be my forever home. A friend and I went to Palermo in September 2021, and I instantly loved the energy. The food was absolutely delicious, and the people were warm and friendly. I knew that I would return again and again. In December of the same year, I visited Catania and had the same feeling—it felt like home. I knew I wanted to set down roots in Sicily, and the added bonus was that I had always wanted to be an island girl because I love being close to water; it’s my natural therapy. I tried to transfer to Sigonella, the Navy base in Catania, but it didn’t work out. God doesn’t make mistakes! My intention was always to work for the government for five years overseas, resign, and then work on my business, The Capo Boss. And that’s exactly what I did!

Has this been your first time moving outside of your home country, or are you well-versed in moving abroad?

Yes! Moving to Naples was my first time moving outside of the country of my birth. It was always my goal to retire abroad, but when I fell in love with Italy in 2016, I decided that I was going to move abroad as soon as possible!

What was the first year like living in Italy, and how did you navigate some of the challenges you experienced?

I was fortunate enough to have my employment sponsored by the United States government, so my experience was unique. Even though I had a great deal of support, I still had to navigate a lot on my own. Every time I had to do something for the first time, it was an adventure! For example: going to the supermarket, the mall, the hardware store, paying a bill—all using my broken Italian and Google Translate! It’s scary when you have to communicate in another language, but I always said to them in Italian, “My Italian is very bad; I am learning!” That one sentence disarms them, and they say, “Ah, va bene!” Italians are very appreciative when you make the effort! I also had my coworkers and my Italian friends to assist. I tell people all the time: make sure you make local friends! They will be your saving grace. They will assist with cultural and language barriers. They will make your life so much easier, as they did with mine. I am forever grateful to them, and now they are family!

After the honeymoon period of living in Naples, what were some of the things you found really difficult to adapt to? Was it the cultural norms, the language, the work, or were there some mental health struggles?

I did a lot of cultural research for years before I moved to Naples. I also made a lot of friends online who lived in Italy, and that helped a lot. I have a life coach who lives in Florence that I have worked with since 2017, and they helped me tremendously. But doing research, speaking to people, etc., is not the same as experiencing life in Italy on the ground. Nothing is familiar. I felt like a child again; I had to relearn everything. I felt isolated. I felt like an alien. All these feelings are completely normal. I didn’t get my sea legs until after year two; that’s when I began to feel more comfortable. This is why I tell people that building community abroad is vital to your mental health. You need assistance and support because you’re vulnerable. You need to find your people. I did exactly that in Naples, and I am currently building my community in Sicily.

What are some of the highlights and joys from 2026 that you were really happy about?

My assignment in Naples ended in January 2026. I had to return to the United States to apply for a study visa. I picked up my study visa on my birthday in February, drove to work, resigned, and was on my flight back to Italy the next day! That entire process was a major accomplishment. I had to navigate two government bureaucracies and two relocations, and it was terrifying. But fear should never stop you from achieving your goals. It has never stopped me, nor will it ever! Now I am in Italian language school three hours a day, five days a week, and working on my business. It’s not easy, but it must be done!

What are you looking forward to in 2027, and what are some exciting projects you’d love to share with our audience?

I am looking forward to continuing to build The Capo Boss. I am a women’s empowerment coach. I believe I was called to empower women to create the life they desire. I teach strategic manifestation techniques to help women realize their goals. We all manifest without effort, good and bad, through what we speak and think about all the time. I assist in facilitating the process of being strategic about your intentions, and when you master that, you will become very powerful in attracting the life you desire. It’s like having a magic wand! I am also looking forward to creating wellness workshops and retreats in the future.

Lastly, if people are interested in your business or the things you’re working on, where can they find you and the work you’re doing now?

I have an expat blog on my website www.thecapoboss.com, where I am chronicling my expat journey. I offer a 30-minute discovery call to ladies who are interested in working with me. I am going to be creating videos on YouTube in the near future, where I will be discussing expat life as well as spiritual and manifestation principles. I am @thecapoboss on Facebook, Instagram, Pinterest, and TikTok.