when you’ve lived in italy for four weeks . . .
1. there will always be that one person, even among all the beauty and kindness surrounding you, who will point out the (obviously) negative, and tell you why things are not going to work out. (just in case you haven’t already gone through that scenario a thousand times in your head.) you will strive from that moment on to never be that person.
2. the amazon/italy delivery guy might tell you that trump is a “cervello gallina.” and confirm that, yes, what the united states does as a nation is watched around the world.
3. the internet installation guy might show up at your house during his off hours with the 20 euros he owes you. and restore your faith in mankind.
4. you may realize, if you’re used to making friendly acquaintances wherever you go, that not knowing the local language can be a problem. (and may indicate that it’s time to hit the italian workbooks again!)
5. you will wonder if it’s just you or if the waste/recycling system is actually kind of complicated. even with an english calendar provided. (and your garbage might not be picked up the first time you put it out.)
6. your container will eventually arrive in europe! (currently in lisbon, portugal.) so all that worry about the ship sinking in the ocean will be useless angst. (and perhaps your remaining anxieties will prove to be fruitless as well.)
7. you’ll have a lot on your mind and you might awake in the suffocating darkness night after night, with your thoughts quickly following suit. it may help to watch through the window for that first faint light of morning, that shimmering glimmer of hope. because it always comes, it will always be better.
8. you’ll realize it’s hard to be away from family and friends. unbelievably hard. you may not feel as if you can fully be yourself, singing off-key and dancing, even in your own home. and if you’ve always been able to make people laugh, that spark of inspiration may not be there when no one understands what it is you’re trying desperately to say.
9. suddenly having limited options will be extremely frustrating. you didn’t think it would bother you as much as it does. but it feels so confining, so restricting, that it encroaches upon other areas of your life.
10. the saga with the immigration and residency requirements will continue. (sigh.) and you will recall your grandma’s best friend (who was also from italy) calling (in all seriousness) your town’s governmental office “city hell.” you’ll remember how you always laughed and assumed it was her broken english. but you will come to realize she may have known something you didn’t. (local city hell, right across the street from the villa.)
11. on thanksgiving day in america, you’ll be grateful as always for family. but you’ll also silently give thanks to the special people who have not only stuck with you throughout this craziness, but who will remain your closest friends no matter where you go or what you do. (and you’re pretty sure they’ll know who they are by this description. and they’ll know that you’ll love them forever.)
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As I’m thinking on re-locating to Italy with my husband…and leaving my children behind in Australia…..I read with joy and trepidation your posts of doing so.
yes, kaye – lots of tradeoffs. being away from my sons is probably the most difficult aspect. there are so many wonderful things to experience though!
Such a raw, true and painfully funny account of what it’s like to emigrate! Loved this. You’re incredibly brave!
thank you, michelle. my bravery has a lot of fear mixed in with it right now! 🙂
As someone who just did a long move across the country, I understand where you are coming from with numbers 8 and 11. And the amount of recycling here is crazy too. I’ve been here a month and still don’t have it figured out.
it’s hard to be so far away from loved ones, especially during these beginning stages, isn’t it? i usually meet people quite easily, but it hasn’t been happening because of the language barrier. (which is adding a whole new layer of homesickness to the package for me.)
What a journey you’ve come on. Difficult now, but you know you’ll look back one day and say “wow it was all worth it”. Thank goodness you have a lovely blog to be able to document it all. Looking forward to reading the next instalment!
thanks for reading, angela. and yes, i am sure it will all be worth it in the end. i’d anticipated a difficult period of adjustment at the beginning, but was surprised at how much harder it’s actually been. hopefully things will begin smoothing out soon.
I loved this, and could totally understand and relate to much of it. Those experiences will mold you, and you may have already found out that those crazy things like “city hell” will have their own endearing qualities.. I am sure in no time you will be in there like a boss managing it all!
yes, i’m surely being molded! 🙂 i’m keeping my end goal in mind and slowly moving forward each day.
I love getting to “share” your journey with you! Aww, I miss my sons too and they are in the same country! It’s surely the most difficult part, but they have an amazing home in Italy to visit! The language barrier surely makes the fears magnified, but I have complete faith that as you get some vocabulary, you’ll find making friends easier. Baby steps every day, and loving and accepting yourself too. I love “cervello gallina”…talk about universal language…made me laugh. I love the photos…who could not fall in love with your incredible Villa and dream, that daily is becoming a reality.
thanks for your continuous support and insight, jul’s! your words are much appreciated. i know things will get easier as i begin to adjust to my new environment. my husband and i used to always say “adapt and survive” when we’d find ourselves in difficult circumstances. that particular phrase could never be more true. 🙂
City Hell – ROFL. Just smile at each transaction, knowing you are getting great material to share here 🙂
I’ve been living in Singapore the last few years and came to a new level of appreciation for how simple customer service can be in the States. Handling anything official – opening a bank account to getting an acupuncture appointment requires a tedious amount of personal information and signatures. Returning something to a store because it broke the second time you used it? Forget about it…
Just part of the experience I guess!
definitely part of the experience! you said it well, erin. 🙂 thanks for reading.