Oh Brenna, so very very true. All of it. It's such an adjustment and unnerving at first, or sometimes a bit longer than just right away. In fact, my post tomorrow is how we were --quite literally--deported (!) after applying our second year for FM3's, green cards, in Mexico, thanks to our accountant's incompetency. Just when you think you kinda have it together -- but it is always a juggling act. It makes me 1000 percent more humble. You are so right how lucky it is to be relocating to Another space of comfort/safety. The process for thousands of people throughout the world who are in transit now--not Knowing where and when and IF it will end. Immigrating to a foreign country is an upset, but without knowing the end result while in transit, so very disconcerting it would be. A prayer for all those in transit.
Yes, I have booked three one-way tickets: to San Francisco California; to Bergen, Norway; and then back to San Francisco.
The first was to go to graduate school, a dream of many years; the second to be with someone I loved; the third to come back to the dream place of my youth after my romantic relationship broke up.
The first uprooting was easy: two suitcases. The second harder, with an additional twenty boxes filled with books, school notebooks, music CDs, and new clothes I had acquired. The third about as difficult as the second since there were even more clothes, heavy ones for the harsh Winters.
Emotionally, the first one was quite easy except for the part of leaving my parents and siblings behind; the second harder leaving my new friends and being an ocean away from my family; the third comparatively easier as I was coming back to my friends and being again closer to my family.
Adapting to living in Norway was not too hard except for the lack of friends, my own mistake. Everyone between 5 and 50 years old spoke English, the food was healthy with fish dominating the menus, and with an unparalleled natural beauty that I still dream about sometimes.
Now, settled in California for more than 30 years with my own core family, feels comfortable, and yet my wife and I look forward to uprooting ourselves again for our retirement in a handful of years.
Life has been good, the one way tickets have been purchased willingly, and I look forward what is happening next.
As someone who has dreamed of relocating to Italy, I love how you’ve decided to share the challenges alongside the sweetness of what most Americans imagine is an idyllic lifestyle. Change is hard, especially when you throw in a different language and culture, and Naples had a reputation for being pretty wild. My husband and I moved to the Seattle area 4 years ago with our 3 kids. Definitely not as challenging as an international move😂 but the homesickness is real and building community takes time, patience and openness. Making new friends as an adult can feel awkward and insecure. But I remind myself that there were reasons to choose to leave our home and try something new. The abundant forests, beautiful shoreline, and air that truly smells clean, fresh and sweet are all things that bring me contentment every day. I hope you’ll keep writing, keep learning and sharing your experience in your new home.
However much those of us who live (by choice) in other countries may appreciate the new cultures in which we live, it is true that it is not always easy. And moving to a city like Naples would (in my mind) be one of the biggest challenges of all. I think you have done a wonderful job, Brenna, in meeting such challenges and making the best of the opportunity to live in Italy and travel easily around Europe. But still. Is your husband's job "permanent"? Does he love it? Is there a way for him to transfer eventually to some other location in Italy or in the world?
This is very relatable. I’m not sure how comfortable I will ever feel in Italy (or France or Spain or otherwise) compared to the US. Sometimes the ease of life is just…missed.
Oh Brenna, so very very true. All of it. It's such an adjustment and unnerving at first, or sometimes a bit longer than just right away. In fact, my post tomorrow is how we were --quite literally--deported (!) after applying our second year for FM3's, green cards, in Mexico, thanks to our accountant's incompetency. Just when you think you kinda have it together -- but it is always a juggling act. It makes me 1000 percent more humble. You are so right how lucky it is to be relocating to Another space of comfort/safety. The process for thousands of people throughout the world who are in transit now--not Knowing where and when and IF it will end. Immigrating to a foreign country is an upset, but without knowing the end result while in transit, so very disconcerting it would be. A prayer for all those in transit.
Jeanine, thank you so much for reminding me that I am one of the lucky ones. A prayer for all of those in transit indeed.
Actually you reminded me in your post. Thank You, Brenna!!
Thanks for the story Brenna!
Yes, I have booked three one-way tickets: to San Francisco California; to Bergen, Norway; and then back to San Francisco.
The first was to go to graduate school, a dream of many years; the second to be with someone I loved; the third to come back to the dream place of my youth after my romantic relationship broke up.
The first uprooting was easy: two suitcases. The second harder, with an additional twenty boxes filled with books, school notebooks, music CDs, and new clothes I had acquired. The third about as difficult as the second since there were even more clothes, heavy ones for the harsh Winters.
Emotionally, the first one was quite easy except for the part of leaving my parents and siblings behind; the second harder leaving my new friends and being an ocean away from my family; the third comparatively easier as I was coming back to my friends and being again closer to my family.
Adapting to living in Norway was not too hard except for the lack of friends, my own mistake. Everyone between 5 and 50 years old spoke English, the food was healthy with fish dominating the menus, and with an unparalleled natural beauty that I still dream about sometimes.
Now, settled in California for more than 30 years with my own core family, feels comfortable, and yet my wife and I look forward to uprooting ourselves again for our retirement in a handful of years.
Life has been good, the one way tickets have been purchased willingly, and I look forward what is happening next.
As someone who has dreamed of relocating to Italy, I love how you’ve decided to share the challenges alongside the sweetness of what most Americans imagine is an idyllic lifestyle. Change is hard, especially when you throw in a different language and culture, and Naples had a reputation for being pretty wild. My husband and I moved to the Seattle area 4 years ago with our 3 kids. Definitely not as challenging as an international move😂 but the homesickness is real and building community takes time, patience and openness. Making new friends as an adult can feel awkward and insecure. But I remind myself that there were reasons to choose to leave our home and try something new. The abundant forests, beautiful shoreline, and air that truly smells clean, fresh and sweet are all things that bring me contentment every day. I hope you’ll keep writing, keep learning and sharing your experience in your new home.
As an Italian I can't imagine Duolingo being of any use in Napoli XD
However much those of us who live (by choice) in other countries may appreciate the new cultures in which we live, it is true that it is not always easy. And moving to a city like Naples would (in my mind) be one of the biggest challenges of all. I think you have done a wonderful job, Brenna, in meeting such challenges and making the best of the opportunity to live in Italy and travel easily around Europe. But still. Is your husband's job "permanent"? Does he love it? Is there a way for him to transfer eventually to some other location in Italy or in the world?
Love the ending! The eccentricities etched…
This is very relatable. I’m not sure how comfortable I will ever feel in Italy (or France or Spain or otherwise) compared to the US. Sometimes the ease of life is just…missed.
Many places in Italy I'd like to live, Naples isn't one of them. I hope you got out to Via Marina di Corricella on Procidia