From Living in Florence to a Life of Global Travel with Susie Stonefield

In this episode Tara sits down with Susie Stonefield, a Grief and Creativity Coach and artist based in Northern California, to share a remarkable travel story about how living abroad shaped her life.

Susie recounts moving to Florence, Italy in 1985 with her mother and 15-year-old brother for a year abroad—arriving with no housing arranged and no real plan. During the quiet, mosquito-filled days of August in Florence, the family escaped on a spontaneous cruise to Greece, where Susie unexpectedly fell in love with an Italian man (and shares a JUICY story you won’t want to miss!).

Back in Florence, they eventually found a home near Porta Romana, built a sense of community through neighborhood shops, and immersed themselves in daily Italian life. Her brother attended the International School of Florence, an experience that sparked a lifelong global path. Eventually, leading him to live abroad and speak eight languages.

Susie reflects on why she ultimately didn’t stay in Italy, how she later returned to Florence with her husband and children, and why she now prioritizes intentional travel experiences with her adult kids. She shares insights on slow travel, living like a local, and building meaningful connections while traveling.

Connect with Susie:
www.susiestonefield.com
https://www.instagram.com/creativity_midwife/

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