Italian native Camilla is enjoying life in Sligo

Camilla Galbiati came to Ireland initially to improve her English over 12 years ago, but as is often the case, fate had other plans for her.

Camilla is from a little town in between Bergamo and Milan in Italy, and after studying foreign languages and literature at university, came to Ireland to au pair to improve her English before possibly pursuing a Master's. While here she met her now husband and decided to move here.

Covid-19 proved to be a turning point in her career too – Camilla had worked in a bakery in Sligo for eight years but wanted to go back to her language roots and set up her online teaching business, 2Lang – Italiano and English, and returned to her passion of writing.

Now a published author, Camilla feels like she is pursuing her dream while finding a work/life balance.

We met in Tubbercurry to chat about her journey to where she is now.

Angelina: Camilla, thanks so much for chatting to me. Tell me a little bit about your background.

Camilla: I’m from a little town about 30 kilometres from Bergamo, in between Bergamo and Milan. It’s a beautiful area really with so much history. I studied foreign languages and literature at the University of Bergamo. But then, like a lot of people at that age, I wasn’t sure if I wanted to continue with a Masters or not. I thought, 'I’ll go somewhere where I can improve my English and get even better', and that’s what brought me here to Ireland.

I decided to go au pairing because it was the easiest thing to do when you’re 22 and want to go somewhere new but don’t want to feel completely alone. I found a lovely family in Sligo Town and moved there to au pair for them. It was supposed to be just six months, but things took a turn for the better. I met my husband in one of the pubs in Sligo toward the end of those six months. The rest is history. I’ve been here 12 years now.

Angelina: Why did you decide to study foreign languages and literature at university? Was it something you were always interested in?

Camilla: Yes, in Italy when you go to secondary school, it’s not like here where you just go to the nearest one. There are different types of schools, and you choose based on your skills and interests. There’s a school for languages, and that’s the one I picked because I was always good at them. It seemed like the obvious choice at the time.

After secondary school, I went on to university to study foreign languages and literature because it always fascinated me. I stuck with it because I enjoyed it. Now, years later, I’m actually using that degree, which is amazing.

Angelina: So when you moved to Ireland, what happened? Did you have a plan for what you wanted to do?

Camilla: Oh, no plan at all! When I decided to stay in Ireland, I was just trying to find my feet. I was looking for work for months, but nobody would hire me. I was young, Italian, and nobody really knew me, so it was hard. Eventually, I got lucky and found a job in a French bakery in Sligo Town.

I worked there for eight years, starting out on the counter and eventually becoming the manager. I loved the people I worked with, and the customers were so nice. But after Covid, I just started feeling like, 'I can’t do this anymore.' I was getting older, I was tired, and I wanted to do something that used my degree. So, I took the leap and set up my own business.

Angelina: Tell me about the business Camilla?

Camilla: I set up an online teaching business called 2Lang – Italiano and English, where I teach Italian and English. For Italian, I work with English-speaking people who want to learn the language for travel, work, or personal interest. For English, I help Italian students—both adults and kids. The adults usually need it for work, and the kids often need help with grammar or school assignments.

The best part is that it’s all online, so I can connect with students from anywhere. For example, I had a friend in Japan who wanted to improve her English conversation skills, and I helped her too.

Angelina: Has the business grown much since you started?

Camilla: Yes, it has. A lot of my students come through word-of-mouth. If someone enjoys the lessons, they’ll recommend me to friends or family. I also get a lot of students through Instagram. I post videos and updates there, and people find me that way.

Angelina: And you’re using your degree?

Camilla: It is great to be using it too. I spent years studying for that degree, so it’s nice to put it to good use. I enjoyed my time at the bakery, but the long hours, the busy days, and the daily commute to Sligo—it just wore me out. Starting my own business has given me so much more flexibility.

Angelina: And you’re not just teaching, you’re writing too, aren’t you?

Camilla: Yes, having my own business has given me the time to focus on writing, which is something I’ve loved since I was young. During the first lockdown in 2020, when the bakery was closed, I finally had the time to sit down and work on a novel.

I’d actually written a novel back when I was in college, but it wasn’t great, to be honest. My friends had read it, though, and one of them asked me, 'Did you ever do anything with that novel?' That got me thinking. I decided to start fresh and write something completely new.

Angelina: What inspired the story?

Camilla: The idea came from the pandemic. In 2020, when Covid hit, Bergamo - where I studied - became the epicentre of the outbreak in Italy. It was devastating to watch, and I was so worried about my friends and family back home.

One day, I read an article comparing Covid-19 to the plague of 1630. It mentioned that two villages in northern Italy had the highest death tolls during both the plague and Covid. That comparison fascinated me, and it gave me the idea for my book.

The story is set partly in 2020 and partly in 1630 during the plague. It explores how people react to pandemics - fear, denial, superstition - and how those reactions haven’t really changed over the centuries. I also set it in Bergamo because it’s such a beautiful medieval town, and I know it so well.

Angelina: What was the writing process like for you?

Camilla: It was long and exhausting at times, but also really rewarding. I’m not one of those writers who can sit down every day and write consistently. My ideas would come to me at random times while I was washing dishes, walking the dog, or driving to Sligo. I’d have to keep repeating them in my head so I wouldn’t forget!

It took me about three years to finish the first draft, and even then, there were so many revisions. I gave the manuscript to a few friends and a local lady who loves reading, and they gave me great feedback. Eventually, I decided to self-publish because it’s so hard to get picked up by a traditional publisher.

Angelina: What was it like to self-publish?

Camilla: It was definitely a learning curve! When you self-publish, you’re responsible for everything - editing, formatting, pricing, printing. I wanted the book to be high-quality, especially since I wanted to get it into local bookshops.

I initially thought I’d use Amazon’s print-on-demand service, but the quality wasn’t what I wanted for a larger book like mine, which is 400 pages. So, I worked with a local printer instead, and the finished product turned out exactly how I wanted.

Angelina: How did it feel to hold the finished book in your hands?

Camilla: It was such a proud moment. I was so nervous in the weeks leading up to it. I didn’t sleep well, worrying about potential mistakes or printing issues. But when the books arrived and I held one in my hands, it felt amazing. All the hard work was worth it.

Angelina: And it’s widely available locally?

Camilla: Yes, it’s available on my website www.camillagauthor.com and also on buythebook.ie and as an eBook on Amazon, Kobo and Apple Books. But local shops have been so supportive too – The Castle Bookshop in Castlebar, Pangur Bán in Ballina, Tertulia and McLoughlin’s, and The Bookshop in Westport, Spar and Cawley’s Hotel in Tubbercurry, Kenny’s in Galway, Winding Stairs in Dublin, The Reading Room in Carrick-on-Shannon and The Nenagh Bookshop in Nenagh all stock it, which is wonderful. It is so important to support local businesses and they support local authors like myself.

Angelina: Do you think you’ll write another book?

Camilla: Definitely. I already have an idea for a follow-up. It could work as a standalone story, but it ties into this one. I’m also working on a short storybook for students learning Italian, which I hope to finish soon.

Angelina: Looking back, are you happy you made the career change when you did?

Camilla: Absolutely. It was scary at first, but it’s given me so much freedom and a better work-life balance. For example, in 2021, I was able to spend Christmas in Italy for the first time in eight years. That wouldn’t have been possible when I was working at the bakery because it was such a busy time of the year there.

A lot of my former bakery customers have been so supportive, too. When they saw the articles about my book, many of them went out and bought it. The people in Sligo are amazing like that.

Angelina: What advice would you give to someone considering a big career change?

Camilla: Don’t let fear hold you back. Life is short, and it’s better to try and fail than to always wonder, 'What if?' later on. I was scared when I left the bakery because I had bills to pay, but I had the support of my husband and family, which made all the difference.

Even with the book, I was afraid of criticism, but the feedback I’ve received has been so lovely. It’s a reminder that taking risks is worth it.