Born in Italy I left more than 8 years ago, bitten by the travel bug. After 7 years in Ireland, more than 4 working for Google, I decided to take the travel bug out of the system and left everything to go for a one year sabbatical, flashpacking around the world. From South East Asia, countries like Singapore, Indonesia, Thailand, etc., I arrived through Australia and New Zealand to the most distant place from where I was born: the Republic of Vanuatu, in the South Pacific Ocean.

After the one year break I decided to live in Hungary (reasons below). I now look after Online Marketing & Social media for Belanski, a Hungarian company selling and distributing Eastern European movies, Hungarian ones in particular. I also maintain a Flashpacking blog, my personal travel blog, and social networking site for expats here, amongst other sites.

I have to say I like it here, but somehow I feel the travel bug is going to bite again. Soon.

1. When did you arrive in Hungary and what brought you here?
I arrived at the very beginning of January 09. I'm probably one of the freshest expats. I was brought here by love and work. My partner was just moving back here from Ireland, and the Belanski guys proposed me to work with them. They looked like 2 excellent reasons to me to see one more country and lifestyle.

2. Have you ever been an expatriate elsewhere?
Apart from 7 years in Ireland I've stopped so many times in Singapore that I feel like I lived there too, judging also from how much I miss it.

3. What surprised you most about Hungary?
The artistic feeing. Even in a small cafe you see very interesting paintings or modern sculptures. Art is definitely in the air here.

4. Friends are in Budapest for a weekend - what must they absolutely see and do?
The view from the castle if it's a clear day. The decaying buildings on the VII district. Followed by the crazy pubs settled in old buildings, like Instant or Szimpla kert. The unmissable one though is the weekend night bath at Rudas.

5. What is your favourite Hungarian food?
Pork knuckle. The fact that you don't want to have it too often makes it even more tempting.

6. What is never missing from your refrigerator?
A bottle of wine for the night, and plenty of orange juice for the morning after.

7.What is your favourite Hungarian word?
Mormota. Is also the first one I ever learnt (don't ask why).

8. What do you miss most from home?
I don't really miss Italy, actually I miss Ireland much more. But the folklore, dialect and old village characters from my region, Abruzzo, are quite irreplaceable.

9. What career other than yours would you love to pursue?
I'm trying (but not managing yet) to earn my income entirely by working online. Best way to be your own boss.

10. What's a job you would definitely never want?
At the beginning of my career in Ireland I had a couple of jobs in call centers. Receiving all day angry calls from frustrated customers. I've done it and wouldn't like to do it again. Imagine, I'm not even a phone person!

11. Where did you spend your last vacation?
My one-year long vacation mentioned above was spent seeing a good part of the world. But hey, there's still a lot left.

12. Where do you hope to spend your next holiday?
India. Never been there and heard so many stories. I love the way they say when you're there you can't wait to get out, and when you're out you cannot wait to go back.

13. What was your favourite band, film, or hobby as a teen?
With great resistance from my parents I was a heavy metal guy. And now I even like Sinatra. Did I get that old??

14. What can't you resist?
Indian food. Simply addicted to it. No other way to put it.

15. Red wine or white?
Def white.

16. Book or movie?
Both (well not at the same time). Love both too much to pick one. Book while travelling, movie while relaxing.

17. Morning person or night person?
A very late night person. After 11pm you see my best part. See why I couldn't resist too long in an office job?

18. Which social issue do you feel most strongly about?
I've seen a lot of poverty in my travels. One kid in a village I was staying died because of something as silly as asthma. Kids don't go to school because their families can't afford 25 euros a year. Sure everyone could make a huge difference there with very little. If interested check www.ProyekKampungLoco.com.

19. Buda or Pest side?
Pest, mainly because I haven't explored Buda properly yet.

20. What would you say is your personal motto?
?Just because you were born in a place, it doesn't mean you have to live there. I want to see the world, and then wherever I settle (if I'll ever do) it will be because of a choice, not because I just happened to be born there?. And yes, it's mine.