Having family split over 3 countries can lead to a bit of chaos, especially when a baby's due date is part of the planning. New jobs and the ability to finally have our belongings sent from Italy, plus the travel blogging, meant that we've taken more than one flight over the last few months.
Still, it worked out all right. We have a brand new nephew, whom Dario got to visit a few times before flying back to Cork. I'm not a big fan of babies or children in general – animals are more my speed – but I was very glad to watch as happiness lit up the faces of proud parents and grandparents. Watching our niece exclaim "Più piccolo!" ("Smaller!") over her new brother was a treat, too.
Moving to another country is not as immediately exciting as travel for travel's sake. Some of the logistics involved are the same, however: plane tickets, baggage allowance, accommodations, travel and medical insurance, etc. Though I'd venture to say the anticipation is even greater, in some respects.
If you're bouncing around deciding upon where to become an expat,
remember to take care of your body and get some medical travel insurance.
Gotta stay healthy if you want to eat those scones!
This time around, for example, we already have big plans to see more of Ireland and take lots of road trips. I guess what I'm getting at is that moving is like a bigger, messier, yet ultimately more fun version of the week-long excursions we typically plan. Woohoo for expat-ness!
As the days to Ireland liftoff counted down, Dario and I talked a lot about what we were looking forward to and what we would miss. The first two items were food-related, naturally: scones in Ireland and tomatoes in Italy. Of course, there is a lot more to love in both places, but that's the first thing that sprang to mind. I've compiled two lists, in no particular order, of other things we discussed.
Things I Love In Ireland:
– tea and scones
– friends
– the River Lee
– luminescent green fields
– pubs
– trad music
– our car!
– "Thanks a million!" "Oh, yer grand!" "Hey, lads!"
– people who look like me
– ocean, rivers, and leetle waterfalls
– delicate wildflowers among the gorse
– Atlantic-caught seafood
– kayaking
– Beara
– privacy
– quiet chats
– bookstores
– butter, cream, milk …Oh, Irish dairy products!
– cuddling without melting
– SHEEP!
Rolling green hills and SHEEP! :D
Things Miss About Italy:
– delicious tomatoes
– scorching hot summer days
– thermal baths
– Mamma's homemade Italian food
– local wine
– lack of body shame (ALL women wear bikinis!)
– bidets …There is no hiney like a clean hiney!
– sleeping "in the altogether"
– stylish interior decor
– the Colosseum
– the cat
– the dog …A home without a dog is just a house.
– cheap and delicious fruits and veggies
– mountains
– speaking exuberantly and with great passion
– volcanoes
– eating dinner in the garden
– the entire neighborhood (city, region, peninsula?) cheering during a football match
– PECORE!
Can't see the video? Watch it on YouTube: http://youtu.be/1ZrtWe7kxxw
It's probably worth pointing out that some of these things are quite particular to our situation. I know, for example, that there is plenty of ocean around Italy, thankyouverymuch. The thing is, our car is in Ireland and the family lives quite a ways inland. We managed to see the Mediterranean on our trips to Naples and Venice, but had no chance to go for a dip. Alas, alack!
In any case, we can, and likely will, visit Italy often. So we're not exactly giving it all up. If anything, I think we're getting the best of both worlds.
Where are you coming from & where are you going?
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