The much anticipated travel day has come and gone. And when I say “day”, I truly mean an entire day. It took about 24 hours to complete with little sleep. It started at 3:45am, we showered, checked out of our stylish digs at La Quinta and headed for the airport. Continue reading
Saying goodbye is so hard!
We have developed some great extended family here in San Diego and the next few days are going to be filled with goodbyes. Tears will be shed and it is going to be tough for all. What is going to get us through the goodbyes is the hope that we will have visitors in Italy and that we WILL be back! 3 years seems like an eternity, but will pass quickly. Before we realize it, we’ll be back on your doorsteps bearing Italian gifts. Do not forget about us and please please, keep in touch!
Pre-move hotel living and craziness
To fairly document this journey, I must share some of it’s challenges. Hotel living with both boys and dogs while Mike is out of town is not peachy keen. I feel I have a hard shell and will admit it cracked and cracked again this past week and tears were shed. Here is snapshot of one day last week.
12:30 am – I was woken by the dogs who needed to use the bathroom. Continue reading
Football pictures and a little surprise
Sean is playing his 3rd season of flag football this year on the RPPW Wolverines. Aidan is also playing this year on the same team. As both kids are on the field, I am helping out as one of the team Moms. Continue reading
Speed Bumps…. overcome by elbow grease, help from friends and a bit of insanity
I can plan and plan and have backup plans, and will still hit speed bumps that throw me off my feet. This week, I had multiple speed bumps but am happy to say I am still standing…barely. Continue reading
Packing the suitcases for 3 months
We have 2 days left in our house before we move into a hotel. We will be in a hotel stateside for a month and then in a hotel in Naples for likely 2 more months before we move into a rental home/villa. My goal for the day was to pack suitcases for myself and kids for the next 3 months. No small task. Continue reading
Foraging in the pantry and wine cabinet
We have one month until our departure and everything is in place for the move. Just finishing up the house and moving into a hotel for a bit. We have four more days in the house before we migrate to a hotel and we are trying to not buy any new food, but eat through what we have left. To say that my choices are slim and don’t go together is an understatement. And as we didn’t ship our wine to Italy (due to the heat and length of trip) we have a lot of wine to get through and my husband is almost forcing glasses on me. I think I had 3 glasses last night and thus, was up all night not able to sleep. Sometimes, it has the reverse effect on my sleeping. Ugh We are going out tonight, so I don’t have to dread what possibilities the pantry holds for us tonight. We are getting down to bare bones. Only a few more nights left, and I’ll be wishing I wasn’t eating out every night. Until then, cornbread, minestrone, couscous and mandarin oranges. :p
Rolling your R’s
I am now on Pimsleur’s Italian 1 Audio lesson 8 and can not believe how many words in italian require multiple rolling of the tongue or rolling your R’s. I luckily had Spanish in high school and remember physically practicing this act over and over until I got it. But it still feels unnatural. I’m wondering if my kids will get this talent by just listening to others of if I’ll have to practice it with them. I listen to a cd every day on the drive to work and I literally arrive to work tongue tied. For those of you who are less than talented at rolling your r’s, here a few tips from Wiki. Continue reading
Reading up on what to expect
So I’ve started looking on Craigslist for wardrobe standing closets and kitchen islands and my husband thinks I’m crazy. After all we won’t be moving for months! However, the more prepared I feel, the less my stress level is. Don’t get me wrong, we are super excited for the move, but I tend to wake up at night and not be able to sleep because of all these things going on in my head.
One of the things I just started reading about is cultural differences. People keep laughing that my kids will return to the states either as mobsters or as little casanovas. Funny, but what really are the differences… Continue reading
The anticipation of driving in Italy
I remember how overwhelming driving in Japan was…the constant reminding to keep left! And then when we returned to the states it was amazing how WIDE and big the roads were. Driving in Italy sounds like it will be more bumpy and dangerous. I just read this post and it scares the beejeesus out of me!
http://www.krisandsusanna.com/Travel/Italy/Driving-in-Naples.htm
Team Merrill - Living Abroad in Italy 