Hi there folks! This here is my 100th post! Quasi Italiana! is growing up. I can’t believe I have posted so many things here about normal everyday life, and that others read it! I am still tripped out that there are people from all corners of the globe, not just my family who read this blog. For this post, I would have liked to have written something profound and earth shatteringly moving about life as an American expat in Italy. However, nothing came to me. Life is life with its share of joys and imperfections whether you are here or there.
This blog has been good for me in several ways. It is a nice way to show my friends and family what we have been up to recently. I no longer send a million emails to them; they can simply click here. Another plus of having this blog, is that it gives me something positive to focus on almost every time that I post. When I look back in the archives, I see so much good in our lives... and I realize our family must really be grateful. The big things are covered: good health, a nice house to live in, friends and family near (at least this is partially true) and we always find some way to amuse ourselves when time permits. So, having this blog points out to me personally how much I have to be thankful for. Even if I believe deeply in my heart that everything that I love about Italy, I could happily take back home (to the US). That statement may shock Italophiles everywhere, but for me it is true. For example... Italian food. It is wonderful, and I love it and now I know how to cook many new things. That knowledge would go with me if we were ever to move. Another example? The touristy things to enjoy like monuments, palaces, churches and other cultural gems... I have many memories of these, enough to satisfy myself for a long time. And these are things that are easy to indulge in, all that is needed is a new vacation. Let’s see... most of all I have learned that relationships with friends and family can be maintained even if you live on other continents from each other.
There are times I don’t want to be here. Sometimes I feel the effort is not worth the reward. Sometimes the endless smog, and endless noise, and all the people living on top of each other in this city really makes me feel unhappy. I really do miss the country life. Sometimes it has less to do with Italy and more to do with all the things I am missing about life in the USA. So far I haven't outgrown my homesickness. I am starting to wonder if I ever will.
I don’t love everything about life here in Torino Italy. There are many things that I would never say to this audience because it isn’t positive or uplifting. Plus I have too many good stories to tell that are a lot nicer to read (and write) than the things that cause me disappointment. Would I be ecstatic to move back to the US? Yes. But it isn’t in the plans, and so I will continue to embrace my new life here, and share the adventures with you. Maybe I need to listen to other’s good advice, that happiness can be found simply by choosing to be happy, regardless of the circumstances we find ourselves in. I am not sure. But my mind is open and my heart is also. Even with all that I just wrote about the imperfections of life here... life in the US is also imperfect.
happy 100th post!! I do hope you have a lovely day today where you are :)
ReplyDeleteHappy 100th post. I have always admired your writing as it is very positive and you do not let the negative ooze out, unlike me. As you know we are leaving and I think I have experiened the good and bad of Italy and Torino but have not dealt with things as well as you have. Auguri on your blog!
ReplyDeleteCongratulations! Of course I think you were a real blogger the first time you were out and about doing something and thought "Ooh! I can write about this on the blog!" Anyway, I recently wrote about focusing on the positive on my blog as well. Sometimes I think maybe that puts people off b/c then they feel my life is all sunshine and daisies, but I know the truth, and that's enough :) Looking forward to the next 100 posts!
ReplyDeleteCongrats on your 100th post!
ReplyDeleteWanted to wish you a very happy woman's day also. Buona festa della donna!
Cyn
ps. That picture of the baba made my mouth water! I LOVE babas!
Cyn
Strange, I just wrote about focusing on the positive on my blog too. I am impressed to see that you do on your blog, all the time. I do talk about the unpleasant things here, but perhaps too often. Keep it up!
ReplyDeleteDouble auguri for you!:
ReplyDelete1. For your 100th post -I've only just passed the 50th mark, so I'm still a blogger baby really.
2. Festa delle donne! Auguri!
Happy 100th post! It's neat to check out your blog, and I guess I am a late-comer to it! Anyway, I totally understand your feelings on living in Italy, as I sometimes feel exactly the same. For all of the things that i love here, there are things back home that I still can't believe i left, and it's a real roller-coaster: sometimes it's easier, sometimes much harder. This week already I've gone through that roller coaster too many times to describe! :) Anyway, keep doing what you're doing--blogging is therapy, you know :).
ReplyDelete-Jackie
East of Oregon - Thank you!
ReplyDeleteSprog Mamma - I have always admired your writing too, and I don't think it is negative, I think you write with sincerity, sensitivity and honesty. I really do hope you keep writing the Gia-Gina in Italy blog, even after you move back to the states. I for one will be very interested to hear the re-entry details!
Sognatrice - Thank you! It can be hard to keep it all sunshine and daisies, but I especially have to because my kiddos read this blog. Thanks for your comment.
Cyn - Thank you! I know, those babbas are somethin' else.
Jessica - I love your blog, even the posts about the unpleasant things. It is always interesting, and somehow even comforting to hear another expat honestly describing some of the incidents that make living in a foreign country difficult. I would probably write differently if not for my kids.
Delina, thank you! If you're a baby blogger I'm a toddler blogger, not so much difference, eh?
Jackie - Thank you, and you are so right! Blogging IS therapy. It is a nice way to keep track of your blessings too, and review them when you're down.
Thank you everyone for your comments. Ciao!