Welcome to Digital Nomad Jess

Italian men don't go dutch, and other stories from dating and traveling abroad.

Welcome friends!

My name is Jessica. I am a digital nomad, which means I roam the world while working from my laptop.

This is my substack, The Sweetest Nothing. And let me tell you why it would benefit you to stick around.

But first, who am I?

I am a single mom and about three years ago I realized my kids would be grown soon and I might want someone else to spend time with. So, I started dating.

And then I stopped.

I stopped because I, like many women, found dating to be unbelievably miserable. Full of fuck boys, liars and absolutely intolerable amounts of objectification and unwanted degradation.

Just as I was resolving to stay single forever, it hit me. What if the problem I was having wasn’t “all men” but was, instead, American dating culture?

Could it be that I could find enjoyment in dating elsewhere in the world?

So, after a bit of research, I determined that I was onto something and that I needed to travel and find out for sure.

I considered my options. Where could I go for romance, kindness, hospitality and a genuine love of life?

Italy, of course!

So, I got on the dating apps and started swiping. After many dates, and many more to come, I discovered that I was right. It was American dating culture that I despised.

This publication contains those stories. They are personal, sometimes r-rated. They are good and bad dates, sex and intimacy with (mostly) Italian men. They are not something I want going viral on TikTok.

But they are worth sharing with other, like minded women who are fed up and frustrated and have a deep sense that they deserve so much better than they have been getting.

I’m also going to give you the hidden gems I find while traveling. The small, local places that should be enjoyed but not ruined with over tourism.

This is my diary, my best secrets and tips and, hopefully, the inspiration you need to elevate your life to exceed your own expectations and be treated like you deserve.

Welcome, friend.

I’m very glad you are here.