I am officially home safely! It feels so good to be home, although leaving Andrea was even harder than I thought it would be. But I had a great flight and my mom picked me up, and brought me home to have my favorite dinner and ice cream pie!!
Now that I am back in America, this will be my last post. Life in Italy as I know it, is over and now it is time to return to the working world. I will be babysitting until I can find a nursing job.
I had a wonderful experience, and although there were many unexpected bumps in the road, I wouldn't take it all back for the world. I am so lucky to have had this opportunity and I will carry this experience, as well as all that it has given me, including changes in myself, with me for the rest of my life.
Thanks to all of you who have read regularly. I am glad I could share my year's experiences with you all.
ARRIVEDERCI!! :)
Tuesday, June 3, 2008
Sunday, June 1, 2008
List #4
This last list was the easiest one. Here are the things I most look forward to about going home:
1. My family- I really miss them a lot and my parents especially have really helped me a lot this year. I have had some bumps in the road throughout the year and the ways that they have handled them, have made me so proud that they are my parents. I can't wait to live with them all again (for a little while at least).
2. My house- I loved my little apartment here, but I have really missed my house because I love it and I love my room and my closet and having all the space that I do. With this also comes my dog, who I miss so much and can't wait to see, and also my stuff. Even though it would look as though I brought my entire life here (two 70 pound suitcases, one 50 pound suitcase(with me), one 40 pound suitcase (with Yvonne), and a backback that will probably be about 50 pounds as well), I have a lot of things at home that I haven't seen for a year which will be excited to wear "new" clothes and refind all of my things.
3. Dishwasher- as mentioned before, I do not really like handwashing dishes.
4. Garbage disposal- this would eliminate the wet trash problem that I mentioned before. And I like not neccessarily having to clean off the plate before putting it in the sink.
5. Drinkable skim fresh cold milk.
6. Breakfast foods- they have them here but breakfast is generally a lot smaller here than in America. I can't wait to go out to breakfast or have pancakes, or a taylor ham egg and cheese!
7. Driving- it has been pretty relaxing not having to deal with driving or having a car, but I really don't like having to always rely on other people so I am excited to start driving again.
8. Tub\shower- I already mentioned my shower so clearly I am looking forward to a bath, but also in Italy they don't really seem to do the whole combination thing, more of a tub and shower but separate. Big showers are the best!
9. TV!!! I love my American TV in English!!
10. Speaking the language- everything is just more convenient that way.
that's all for now.... off to enjoy my last meal in Italy with Andrea and then I leave early in the morning, will post one last time when I get to America tomorrow.
1. My family- I really miss them a lot and my parents especially have really helped me a lot this year. I have had some bumps in the road throughout the year and the ways that they have handled them, have made me so proud that they are my parents. I can't wait to live with them all again (for a little while at least).
2. My house- I loved my little apartment here, but I have really missed my house because I love it and I love my room and my closet and having all the space that I do. With this also comes my dog, who I miss so much and can't wait to see, and also my stuff. Even though it would look as though I brought my entire life here (two 70 pound suitcases, one 50 pound suitcase(with me), one 40 pound suitcase (with Yvonne), and a backback that will probably be about 50 pounds as well), I have a lot of things at home that I haven't seen for a year which will be excited to wear "new" clothes and refind all of my things.
3. Dishwasher- as mentioned before, I do not really like handwashing dishes.
4. Garbage disposal- this would eliminate the wet trash problem that I mentioned before. And I like not neccessarily having to clean off the plate before putting it in the sink.
5. Drinkable skim fresh cold milk.
6. Breakfast foods- they have them here but breakfast is generally a lot smaller here than in America. I can't wait to go out to breakfast or have pancakes, or a taylor ham egg and cheese!
7. Driving- it has been pretty relaxing not having to deal with driving or having a car, but I really don't like having to always rely on other people so I am excited to start driving again.
8. Tub\shower- I already mentioned my shower so clearly I am looking forward to a bath, but also in Italy they don't really seem to do the whole combination thing, more of a tub and shower but separate. Big showers are the best!
9. TV!!! I love my American TV in English!!
10. Speaking the language- everything is just more convenient that way.
that's all for now.... off to enjoy my last meal in Italy with Andrea and then I leave early in the morning, will post one last time when I get to America tomorrow.
List #3
This was the hardest list and a lot of it has more to do with my life right now, then actually going back to America, but I wanted to make a list anyway, but I could only get five. So, here are the things I am not looking forward to about going back to America:
1. Start working- I am very excited and anxious to join th nursing world but still, having responsiblilty is never as fun as not having any!
2. Buying things- I have NO money right now and I have a lot of things that I have to buy as soon as I get back: a car (exciting but the money is not), a phone, and eventually an apartment.
3. Gas prices- I hear that they are extremely high right now, and not looking forward to that.
4. NJ scenery- coming from living in Italy for a year doesn't make me very excited to get back to good old NJ landscapes. Beautiful but not quite the same.
5. Responsibility- such as having to find a job, do errands (although I do enjoy that), get health and car insurance, etc.
1. Start working- I am very excited and anxious to join th nursing world but still, having responsiblilty is never as fun as not having any!
2. Buying things- I have NO money right now and I have a lot of things that I have to buy as soon as I get back: a car (exciting but the money is not), a phone, and eventually an apartment.
3. Gas prices- I hear that they are extremely high right now, and not looking forward to that.
4. NJ scenery- coming from living in Italy for a year doesn't make me very excited to get back to good old NJ landscapes. Beautiful but not quite the same.
5. Responsibility- such as having to find a job, do errands (although I do enjoy that), get health and car insurance, etc.
Friday, May 30, 2008
List #2
So, here is the list of things that I will miss once I leave:
1. Andrea- the big one, and pretty obvious. It will be extremely difficult to leave him and I am not looking forward to it at all, and I really can't even think about it, even though it is in three days now. It will be one of the hardest things ever, but I can just hope that he can come out to visit me this summer, and look forward to the next time we can see each other.
2. Chicco- another big one, as he is an adorable two year old who I have also fallen in love with. I will miss him so much and already do, as I have been seeing him a lot less lately. Thankfully, I will most likely be coming back here in November, so I will be seeing him then, even though he will be almost unrecognizable by then, I'm sure.
3. Free time- I have been very lucky to have a lot of free time during my stay here and when I get back home I will have to start working and no longer be able to do whatever I want all day long. It has been very nice and, I think, well deserved after the hell of nursing school!
4. No responsibilities- I have had almost no responsibility at all this year, no bills, etc. This one is just a part of the fact that I am on my own now. But it's kinda sad.
5. Living alone- ok at this point I am not missing that, but I know that within a month of going back to living with 5 other people and sharing a bathroom with three gross boys, I will be wishing I was back here where I could sit on the toilet seat without sitting on someone else's pee. However, I will hopefully be moving out soon, so that will all be over. (which is sad in itself)
6. Traveling- ok, traveling is also possible in America, but it is just not the same. I will miss being able to go into Venice for lunch, and when I am bored or have a free day, just traveling to another town that I have never seen. Or to have the ability to travel to another country for a weekend. In the past month, I have been to Tuscany, Dublin, Venice (twice), and Lake Garda. I have been very lucky and very much enjoyed having that ability while living here.
7. Convenience-living in the center of a town has its advantages and has been very nice. I wouldn't want to do it always but it was a very cool experience, having everything I need right downstairs. I would go to "do some errands" for the day and be back in fifteen minutes because everything is right there!
8. Andrea's friends- I have gotten to know Andrea's friends pretty well (as well as possible with the language barrier) and although sometimes it is difficult for me, they have always tried to make me feel welcome and I have always had a good time with them. I will miss them too.
9. FOOD- this would probably be at the top of everyone else's list but living here for a year I have gotten pretty used to the food. However, I know that when I return (after about a week of eating everything I had missed) I will start to miss my regular Italian food. And gelato! Luckily, there are a lot of Italian restaurants in America that I'm sure aren't quite the same but they are something. I don't know about gelato though!
10. Language- I know this was on the list yesterday, but it is very nice to hear Italian everyday and I am still determined to become fluent, and I am losing a lot of my learning opportunities by leaving, but I WILL DO IT!!
next.... the things I am not looking forward to when I return.....
1. Andrea- the big one, and pretty obvious. It will be extremely difficult to leave him and I am not looking forward to it at all, and I really can't even think about it, even though it is in three days now. It will be one of the hardest things ever, but I can just hope that he can come out to visit me this summer, and look forward to the next time we can see each other.
2. Chicco- another big one, as he is an adorable two year old who I have also fallen in love with. I will miss him so much and already do, as I have been seeing him a lot less lately. Thankfully, I will most likely be coming back here in November, so I will be seeing him then, even though he will be almost unrecognizable by then, I'm sure.
3. Free time- I have been very lucky to have a lot of free time during my stay here and when I get back home I will have to start working and no longer be able to do whatever I want all day long. It has been very nice and, I think, well deserved after the hell of nursing school!
4. No responsibilities- I have had almost no responsibility at all this year, no bills, etc. This one is just a part of the fact that I am on my own now. But it's kinda sad.
5. Living alone- ok at this point I am not missing that, but I know that within a month of going back to living with 5 other people and sharing a bathroom with three gross boys, I will be wishing I was back here where I could sit on the toilet seat without sitting on someone else's pee. However, I will hopefully be moving out soon, so that will all be over. (which is sad in itself)
6. Traveling- ok, traveling is also possible in America, but it is just not the same. I will miss being able to go into Venice for lunch, and when I am bored or have a free day, just traveling to another town that I have never seen. Or to have the ability to travel to another country for a weekend. In the past month, I have been to Tuscany, Dublin, Venice (twice), and Lake Garda. I have been very lucky and very much enjoyed having that ability while living here.
7. Convenience-living in the center of a town has its advantages and has been very nice. I wouldn't want to do it always but it was a very cool experience, having everything I need right downstairs. I would go to "do some errands" for the day and be back in fifteen minutes because everything is right there!
8. Andrea's friends- I have gotten to know Andrea's friends pretty well (as well as possible with the language barrier) and although sometimes it is difficult for me, they have always tried to make me feel welcome and I have always had a good time with them. I will miss them too.
9. FOOD- this would probably be at the top of everyone else's list but living here for a year I have gotten pretty used to the food. However, I know that when I return (after about a week of eating everything I had missed) I will start to miss my regular Italian food. And gelato! Luckily, there are a lot of Italian restaurants in America that I'm sure aren't quite the same but they are something. I don't know about gelato though!
10. Language- I know this was on the list yesterday, but it is very nice to hear Italian everyday and I am still determined to become fluent, and I am losing a lot of my learning opportunities by leaving, but I WILL DO IT!!
next.... the things I am not looking forward to when I return.....
Wednesday, May 28, 2008
List #1
My friend Susan, who is an American that just finished living in Venice for a year, made some top ten lists on her blog before she left and I thought it was a good idea. So, for the next few days I will give you my lists. Today, I am thinking about the things I will NOT miss once I leave.
1. Never being able to get "a breath of fresh air" as every single Italian in this country smokes. I guess on the plus side of that maybe it is something I am getting a little more used to. Although I am not sure it is high up on my list of things I wanted to.
2. My shower- the shower in my apartment (and most hotel rooms I have been in) is incredibly tiny, enough so that it almost resembles a coffin. It is as if it was made just to fit a person, forgetting the fact that in order to shower one actually has to move every now and then!
3. Businesses, including the supermarkets and restaurants, opening and closing whenever the hell they feel like it. Planning is literally impossible here. Wanna spend a day shopping? Better hope its not Monday morning or the other random day of the week that shops decide close. Wanna go to a specific restaurant? Better have a backup plan!
4. HUMIDO! This is a gross concept that might exist in America, but I have never heard of it. This is basically wet trash, meaning anything having to do with food: apple cores, fruit peels, leftovers that you dont want to eat, ANYTHING! It is so disgusting that I think I might throw up right now just thinking about it!
5. Movie rentals- Now I am a big movie person and I am very lucky that I have a movie rental store nearby that has DVD's which have an english option. However, when you rent a movie, you get charged by the hour. So if you go to rent a movie for the night, you have to get up after watching to go back out and return it, or pay more money. The 12 hour rate usually evens out to the Blockbuster rate, but Blockbuster has no late fees and you keep it for at least 2 days!
6. Handwashing dishes- This is not something specifically about Italy and I don't expect to have a dishwasher in my apartment for one person and its really not that difficult, but try getting olive oil out of a pan or plate without a dishwasher. It is impossible!
7. The language barrier- Now I absolutely love the Italian language and it is one of the major reasons for me coming here and I plan to continue with classes once I get home, but I never really realized how difficult it is to live in a country where you cant speak to people. At this point I definitely know enough to get by and get what I need, but it has hit my personality more than anything. I am a very talkative and friendly person, used to starting up conversations with strangers just about anywhere. And it is hard to not be able to do that here.
8. Creepy men- I have actually gotten used to this one, but it is odd how Italians (both men and women) do not care if you see them staring at you. They will even say Hello to you, just in case you didnt notice them.
9. Water- more specifically, paying for it at every meal!! Two or three euros( 3- 4 dollars) for something that would be automatically placed on your table for free in America.
10. EXPENSES!!- Not only is the euro more than the dollar, but everything seems to cost the same amount in euros as it would be in dollars in america (3 dollars in america and it is 3 euros here which is really like 5 dollars). I don't understand!
1. Never being able to get "a breath of fresh air" as every single Italian in this country smokes. I guess on the plus side of that maybe it is something I am getting a little more used to. Although I am not sure it is high up on my list of things I wanted to.
2. My shower- the shower in my apartment (and most hotel rooms I have been in) is incredibly tiny, enough so that it almost resembles a coffin. It is as if it was made just to fit a person, forgetting the fact that in order to shower one actually has to move every now and then!
3. Businesses, including the supermarkets and restaurants, opening and closing whenever the hell they feel like it. Planning is literally impossible here. Wanna spend a day shopping? Better hope its not Monday morning or the other random day of the week that shops decide close. Wanna go to a specific restaurant? Better have a backup plan!
4. HUMIDO! This is a gross concept that might exist in America, but I have never heard of it. This is basically wet trash, meaning anything having to do with food: apple cores, fruit peels, leftovers that you dont want to eat, ANYTHING! It is so disgusting that I think I might throw up right now just thinking about it!
5. Movie rentals- Now I am a big movie person and I am very lucky that I have a movie rental store nearby that has DVD's which have an english option. However, when you rent a movie, you get charged by the hour. So if you go to rent a movie for the night, you have to get up after watching to go back out and return it, or pay more money. The 12 hour rate usually evens out to the Blockbuster rate, but Blockbuster has no late fees and you keep it for at least 2 days!
6. Handwashing dishes- This is not something specifically about Italy and I don't expect to have a dishwasher in my apartment for one person and its really not that difficult, but try getting olive oil out of a pan or plate without a dishwasher. It is impossible!
7. The language barrier- Now I absolutely love the Italian language and it is one of the major reasons for me coming here and I plan to continue with classes once I get home, but I never really realized how difficult it is to live in a country where you cant speak to people. At this point I definitely know enough to get by and get what I need, but it has hit my personality more than anything. I am a very talkative and friendly person, used to starting up conversations with strangers just about anywhere. And it is hard to not be able to do that here.
8. Creepy men- I have actually gotten used to this one, but it is odd how Italians (both men and women) do not care if you see them staring at you. They will even say Hello to you, just in case you didnt notice them.
9. Water- more specifically, paying for it at every meal!! Two or three euros( 3- 4 dollars) for something that would be automatically placed on your table for free in America.
10. EXPENSES!!- Not only is the euro more than the dollar, but everything seems to cost the same amount in euros as it would be in dollars in america (3 dollars in america and it is 3 euros here which is really like 5 dollars). I don't understand!
Tuesday, May 27, 2008
Lake Garda for Andrea's Birthday
Friday May 23rd was Andrea's 25th birthday and I semi-surprised him with a weekend in Lake Garda (with me, of course) for his present. We left early Friday morning and stayed until Sunday night. It was a perfect weekend, and thing to do right before I leave.
Hotel La RondineWe got to the hotel in Sirmione around 11 and checked in. The hotel was gorgeous! We had a room with a balcony and a lake view. There was a pool and a restaurant with outside seating overlooking the pool and the lake.
our balconyThen we headed into town to have lunch and explore. We ate at a little pizzeria, just as it started to rain. So after lunch we ran across the street to an enoteca (wine shop), had some wine and waited for the rain to stop. The rain let up pretty quickly and the sun came back so we walked around the town. There was a public beach with a dock, and then we headed up to the Grotto (ancient Roman ruins on the tip of the peninsula with panoramic views). We saw some beautiful water and tried to go down to see if we could swim, but it was blocked off. So we decided to go back to the hotel and go for a swim in the pool. We had dinner at the hotel and went to bed early.
me at the gardens of the Thermal Spa 
great view through the Roman ruins
us in front of where we wanted to go swimmingWe decided to spend Saturday sitting out in the sun because it was the day that looked "the best" on the weather forecast. None of the days looked great but Saturday had the least chance of rain. So we spent the morning in the sun by the pool and then had lunch outside at the hotel restaurant, as it was getting a little cloudy.
outside seating at our hotel restaurant
Unfortunately the afternoon and evening were spent in the hotel room because neither one of us was feeling very well, but at least we got our money's worth out of the hotel room! We had dinner again at the hotel restaurant (it was really good!) and got some rest in hopes to recover for Sunday.
view of the sunset from our room Sunday we both felt fine, so we checked out of the hotel and went back to town to see what kind of excursions we could take. We ended up taking a little boat around the Sirmione Peninsula, which was nice. Then it started to rain a little so we decided to take a driving tour around the entire lake.
castle in Sirmione 
peninsula of SirmioneOur first destination was Gardone, where Gabrielle D'annunzio, one of Andrea's favorite poets, lived. We got to tour the house and the gardens and it was actually really interesting. They even had an english translation! I am glad we got to see it because that was part of the idea of my gift to him.
great views from Vittoriale (D'annunzio's house)Then we drove up to Riva, which we thought would be cool but it was actually a pretty quiet town, cute of course, but quiet. We took a little kiddy train around the town and then visited a reptile museum, where we saw all these giant snakes.
Andrea on the kiddy train in RivaThen we drove home, stopping at another small lake along the way. We had a really great weekend together!!
Tuesday, May 20, 2008
Changing Plans....
Well, on a completely different note, I have mixed emotions in saying that my time here in Italy will be ending a little earlier than expected. I am actually flying home, to America, two weeks from yesterday (Monday, June 2nd).
On one hand I am excited to go home to America. I miss my family a lot and I miss a lot of things about America too, and I do feel like I have lived this experience out to the fullest and am ready to go home. And now I can spend the summer at home with my brothers too, while looking for a nursing job.
On the other hand, I am extremely sad to be leaving. Obviously, there is Andrea, which is the biggest reason. I was going to have to leave him eventually for awhile, but neither one of us was ready for it to come so shortly, and it will absolutley kill me to leave him, and not be able to see him everyday. But hopefully by the time I leave, we will have booked his flight to come visit me in the end of July. And I know that everything will work out. We just have to get through this and handle it a little earlier than expected.
Secondly, it is really hard to leave Chicco. I miss him already and just thinking that I won't be seeing him regularly anymore makes me really sad. I really will miss him.
And now that I have started doing some "last time" doing things, like saying goodbye to my two American friends (one left in the beginning of May and the other one will be on vacation until after I am gone), I have realized that I will miss living here too. It will be sad to leave my year in Italy. My friend made lists right before she left of top tens and I think I will too over the next few days so look for them.
Meanwhile, I have one bag sent home with Yvonne, another one packed to come with Andrea in July, and then one of my two packed already. So everything that is left has to fit in one bag and I think (and hope) that it will be ok without having to spend any more money (after Dublin and everything, I have none).
This weekend Andrea and I are going to Sirmione in Lake Garda for his birthday, and then I have the week to tie up some loose ends before it is all over and I have to say goodbye. It will be very bittersweet because, like I said, I have many mixed emotions about leaving so I'm not really sure what to feel right now.
On one hand I am excited to go home to America. I miss my family a lot and I miss a lot of things about America too, and I do feel like I have lived this experience out to the fullest and am ready to go home. And now I can spend the summer at home with my brothers too, while looking for a nursing job.
On the other hand, I am extremely sad to be leaving. Obviously, there is Andrea, which is the biggest reason. I was going to have to leave him eventually for awhile, but neither one of us was ready for it to come so shortly, and it will absolutley kill me to leave him, and not be able to see him everyday. But hopefully by the time I leave, we will have booked his flight to come visit me in the end of July. And I know that everything will work out. We just have to get through this and handle it a little earlier than expected.
Secondly, it is really hard to leave Chicco. I miss him already and just thinking that I won't be seeing him regularly anymore makes me really sad. I really will miss him.
And now that I have started doing some "last time" doing things, like saying goodbye to my two American friends (one left in the beginning of May and the other one will be on vacation until after I am gone), I have realized that I will miss living here too. It will be sad to leave my year in Italy. My friend made lists right before she left of top tens and I think I will too over the next few days so look for them.
Meanwhile, I have one bag sent home with Yvonne, another one packed to come with Andrea in July, and then one of my two packed already. So everything that is left has to fit in one bag and I think (and hope) that it will be ok without having to spend any more money (after Dublin and everything, I have none).
This weekend Andrea and I are going to Sirmione in Lake Garda for his birthday, and then I have the week to tie up some loose ends before it is all over and I have to say goodbye. It will be very bittersweet because, like I said, I have many mixed emotions about leaving so I'm not really sure what to feel right now.
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