I moved from Milan to Newcastle in September 2005, after accepting a position with the Italian Foreign Office as teacher of Italian as a foreign language in primary schools. Although I had not been able choose my destination, between me and Newcastle it was 'love at first sight': I felt as if the city had welcomed me with open arms. I felt so comfortable in my new environment that, at the end of my contract abroad I chose to leave my teaching job and invest my own money, time and energies in a new professional career.

Sadly, that sense of belonging has been replaced by a sense of rejection and betrayal after Brexit, and neither Newcastle nor the UK feels like home anymore.