Gaia Manco, 33 years old and born in Monza, has travelled practically the whole world over the past ten years: China, UK, German, France, and now South Africa. After having visited “every continent in the world many times, except for Australia”, she has now landed in Johannesburg, at least for the moment, where she works as a communications manager, freelance journalist and teacher. “I looked for jobs, and also a companion, that went along with this lifestyle: my husband and I travel together trying to make what we do go together”. Gaia spoke of her experiences to “Cartoline dall’altra Italia”, a web series created by 9colonne with the support of the Italian Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation’s Directorate General for Italians Abroad and Migration Policies. Leaving Italy was a personal and intimate choice for her, spurred by an inner urge: “I love my family in Italy, but I feel like a foreigner and my life has led me to new countries where I have had to learn a new language and adapt to new people. When I travel I find within me a person ever more divided and ever more complete”. Johannesburg is just a stopover – “my future is not here, nor in Italy, I don’t know where life will take me”, but it is a city she would recommend: “Coming here without a job is very difficult, but there is a lot to do and your skills are taken seriously”.
Each week “Cartoline dall’altra Italia” goes in search of the new emigration; creating links with young Italians who, either for need or simple desire, have decided to try their luck abroad. Through their testimony, the web series keeps that invisible thread linking them to Italy alive. Each week features a new video-interview that can be viewed on the 9colonne.it website or on the Nove Colonne YouTube channel.
