Where do you live? How long have you been living here? Where are you originally from?
現居城市?住在這多久了?你來自哪裡?
Valentina: I live in Siem Reap, Cambodia and I am here since 5 years now. But I am from Rome, in Italy and actually I am starting to miss my country quite a bit.
Valentina: 我五年前來到柬埔寨暹粒,但我來自義大利羅馬。老實說我已經開始想念家鄉了。
What did you do and what do you do?
你現在和過去都做些什麼?
Valentina: In Italy I worked as architect and Interior designer. But I had lots of interest and passion, like photography and traveling that's why I am in Cambodia now, I fall in love with the country in my first trip in 2008 and later I came and live. Since I am here I did many things, I started first working in a travel company for the Italian marketing, but not used of a boring work in the office, I decided to quit the job and travel but then I started a part time job as accountant for an hotel in Fiji Island, so a job that allow me to move; in the mean time I changed my house and I rent that one where I live now, I renovated all and design all the furniture and I manage a small b&b called Villa Medasia with 3 rooms, I live at the ground floor with my partner Steve. But at the same time I do some photography work on request and I started to design furniture, that is in my plan since I was in Italy and mainly here, because there is lack of nice furniture and also I like to be creative and mix my taste with some art&craft piece that I find in Cambodia and from other place in Asia.
Valentina: I like beautiful things and I love interior design, I like to create something beautiful that actually people can have in their house and for me as I said before, is really creative.
Valentina: Normally I work 3 morning for the part time job of accountant and the rest of the days I am busy for my furniture project, or just taking care of my b&b and do some sports, I don't have a fix schedule and I have quite a lot of free time, that's what I love more.
How many family members currently live with you? What is the style of the house you are living in? Why would you choose to live here and how do you like it?
你們的家中成員共有幾位?你們的房子是什麼風格?為什麼你會選擇住在這裡?
Valentina: I live with Steve, but since 3 years now; I met him here and I came 5 years ago alone. My house is very colorful, I live in a Cambodian wooden house of course renovated from me, but I like to keep the traditional part mixing with some more contemporary style, is not a style that I follow is just what I like and I mix with my taste, that's all. Maybe I like Indian, Moroccan inspiration and bohemian atmosphere if I have to talk about a style, but if I was living in a top floor of a building in Rome, I bet it would have been very different; all is connected with the part of the world where you live.
Where is your personal favorite spot or corner in your place?
你最喜歡的家中角落?
Valentina: Is the table where I am sitting at the moment, near the window and facing the garden and the other favorite spot is my green hammock in the garden and the blue table where I have normally a tea in the afternoon and see the sunset and the green that change in the garden.
Valentina: Live now and enjoy what you have, you don't know tomorrow, so never plan too much in advance.
Valentina: 活在當下並且享受你所擁有的。你不能預料明天,所以絕不要事先做太多計劃。
What makes travel so important for you?
為何旅行對你而言如此重要?
Valentina: Now that I live in Cambodia I am actually traveling less, because is still a travel living here. but let's say that 2,3 times per year I go somewhere close to Cambodia to explore new part, but has been a little while, maybe 3 years that I don't do a proper trip alone with my camera and some of my best friends. Travel open your mind and you can understand better what's going on in the world and I love to understand different cultures as well.
Valentina: Mmmm good question! because I don't plan short term, so my plan is to focus on my furniture business and at some point go back in Italy or in Europe with my partner and my 4 cats and enjoy there my life, where my roots are....but I don't know when it will be!