Expat Stories – Andrea Lolli

Andrea Lolli works in the marketing department at Cigna Global IPMI.

This is his expat story.

Tell us about your expat move.

I came to Glasgow for love because my girlfriend was already living here. I was offered a job offer with Cigna and decided to go for it. I moved here last October and am now enjoying life in Glasgow.

What was it like settling in as an expat?

Everything was actually very easy for me when I was settling in here. My girlfriend is a local and she helped me out a lot. If I was by myself, I think the move would have been a lot more difficult! Local knowledge can be a huge help, I’d strongly recommend getting insight as early as you can.

What have you enjoyed most in your experience as an expat so far??

I would have to say that I’ve really enjoyed settling in to life in Glasgow. I’ve lived abroad once before. I spent five months during my Erasmus Programme living in the Netherlands. I was in a small city in the North called Groningen. It was a lovely city but to be honest, I much prefer living in Glasgow.

In Glasgow, there is more of an international feel and it is also much bigger. There are a lot of fun things to do in Glasgow and plenty of young people here. The local people here are also very friendly and it is very easy to have a laugh with everyone. I really like this kind of attitude.

The lifestyle is another highlight of mine here. Transport wise, everything is very easy to reach within walking distance or on the Glasgow Subway.

What did you find were the best ways of making friends as an expat abroad?

I think going to events is a great option for expats looking to meet new people and make new friends. I have been to a few different InterNations events myself. This is the world’s leading expat network and is a great way of getting out and meeting with other expats.

Work is another great way of meeting people. Especially here at Cigna, a lot of people in the office are very young and enjoy spending time together outside of work.

What have been some of the biggest challenges so far?

For me, the biggest challenge is the language. For the most part, I can communicate with everyone no problem. But at times, the local accent can be difficult to understand. The people here speak in a unique way and it is very different to what I’m used to.

What do you miss most about your home country?

Family, friends and weather. Those are the three biggest points for me! My family is all in Italy and I have many friends back in Rome.

The weather is very different here in Glasgow. Back home, I was used to enjoying myself and spending time outside. Here it can be more complicated, especially during winter!

How much do you enjoy your role in Cigna?

I enjoy my role at Cigna a lot. Cigna is a great company to work for and it has a really nice environment. It is very easy to get support from others in the team and everyone is willing to help out.

My job in particular is quite dynamic. There is always lots on and it is very faced pace, which I quite like.

What advice would you give to those who are considering making the expat move?

I would tell those considering it to just get out and go for it. Sometimes if we focus too much on the difficulties that are involved in the process, then we might be less willing to try it. It will always be complicated, especially at the start. But in the end, being an expat is a rich experience.

I’d also suggest trying to get in contact with someone who is local in the place you are moving to. That is very important because you can get some good advice beforehand and be prepared for your move.

Finally, how would you describe your expat journey in 10 words or less?

A special adventure to discover a new culture.

International Health Insurance

Expats often opt for private healthcare and it’s important to have this arranged before moving country.

At Cigna Global, we provide plans that are specifically designed for expats just like you, ensuring that you have access to a range of different options, and 24/7 support where and when you need it.

You can also rely on our many years of experience in looking after the health and well-being of our customers.

Find out more about our plans here.