As you read this, it’s likely that I’m en route back to the U.S. after spending nearly six weeks in Italy. And it’s also quite likely that I haven’t changed my mind - I’m not ready to go back yet.
This trip has been intense, and a lot of hard work, and I’m exhausted. I’ve fought off two colds in the last week alone, and am fully expecting that when I let my guard down next week at home I’ll get hit with something that’ll stuff my head up but good. I’m sick to death of the clothes I brought with me. I’m tired of the hard Italian mattress in the Milan apartment (and many of the hostels I stayed in as well). It’ll be nice to be back in my own kitchen again, with the utensils and ingredients I’m already used to. I’m looking forward to seeing my family, my friends, and my cats.
And I’m not ready to leave Italy just yet.
I’m already missing the nice couple who runs the corner bar where the husband and I got to the point we could just walk in and say “the usual.” I’m missing the weekly market that took over our street each Friday, selling everything from underwear to cleaning supplies to fish to fresh veggies. I’m missing being able to leave the driving to someone else, hopping on mass transit to get anywhere I want to go and not having to stress out about the price of gasoline. And, as tiring as it is, I’m missing being immersed in this place, surrounded by a language I don’t yet fully understand.
The husband and I are more optimistic now than we were before the trip that we can make it work, that we can move to Italy. But nothing is certain. And that means there’s no definite return date for me yet. And that makes me sad.
Rest assured that I’ve still got a long list of stuff to write about from this trip, things I researched while traveling the country, so you may not even notice that I’m not in Italy anymore - and that’s great! But also rest assured that I’ll be working hard on a plan to come back to Italy on a more permanent basis so that I can keep the flow of information going even longer. Although I’ll admit that it’s as much for selfish reasons as it is for you that I want to come back to live in Italy, you’ll benefit, too.
Wish me luck.
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Thank you so much for all the stories - we aren’t going till November for 10 days in Rome, and all your tips are so great!
I know “exactly” what you mean by being in your own place, with your own “stuff”. The sadness part of leaving Italy means you and the husband really belong there!
It’ll come to pass! Oh yes!
Looking forward to more of your superb posts - so informative, interesting, humorous - with a keen observant eye.
To the first Mary - very exciting, a 10-day trip to Rome coming up! Do let me know if you’ve got any questions or need more information; I’ve got more Rome info to write about since my recent visit there, and should have it up before you go, but just in case you’re looking for something you don’t see on the site, send me a note and I’ll see what I can do for you! And thanks for reading!
I certainly understand your not being ready to leave Italy yet. I spent 10 weeks there last fall, traveling around by train with 2 carry-on size suitcases (so I could get them on and off train). I didn’t get tired of the clothes–2 pairs of slacks 4 t’s and 4 shirts–but I did get tired of the on-and-off lifting for the 15 or so train journeys I took, not to mention changing tracks with the up-and-down sottopassegiata (or however it is spelled).
I was not ready to come home and I would be happy there right now. And all this after a 7-week trip and a three-week trip in 2006. No, I can’t try to move to Italy since I am already 71 years old, but I hope to go back as often as possible even if I have to give up the on and off train journeys. Last fall’s trip was to prove I could still do it, but don’t think I could do that much again.
Right now I am planning trip number 14 to Italy for 2009 after doing “domestic travel” this year. Keep your fingers crossed for me because I want that month in Rome I am planning.
As usual I enjoy reading your posts. Keep up the good work.
Joan Schmelzle