A Bittersweet Goodbye

Please join me in a toast: "To the Future, and very fond farewell to Quasi Italiana!" As each day my Italian life fades away, I find I can no longer call myself a quasi Italiana now that I am back in the U.S.A.

There have been some great times and some not so great times. Mostly I posted about the things that were interesting, fun, inspiring to me or simply made me happy.

A moment of full disclosure: Some days I felt I was drowning in Italy... maybe it was the country, or the difference of culture and perhaps it was the language, which admittedly is absolutely beautiful. But for a foreigner, it can be very frustrating. Blogging in my mother tongue was absolutely what I needed, so that I could communicate with others without feeling inadequate or stupid. Some days it was so great to have a "voice" because as a stranger in a strange land I often felt invisible, alone.

But beyond all this, blogging has been such a treat! I have made some very special blogging friends, and have been made to feel a part of your lives, even if only as a spectator. Even though I am saying arrivederci to Quasi Italiana!, I am continuing to blog. So if you think you will miss me, don't fret, I am only a blog away. Ciao, a presto!

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Edited to add:  This was the end of my very first blog, mostly documenting our life in Italy.

Happy 4th!

Hellooooooo there! Is this thing even on? Tap tap. Hi! Greetings. If there is anyone out there who still occasionally stops by this li'l blog of mine, Happy 4th of July to you!

Well, I have found that it is really hard for me to blog about Italy and Italian things when I am so far away from it. And we have been busy, really busy.

So just a quick review: On May 29th I entered Portland Or. with a mountain of luggage, one very agitated dog (who I suspect was grateful to be alive after the flight), two boys and a baby whose first tooth popped through his gums while we were flying over Greenland. I know, that will be a strange one to write in his baby book!

Since we have been here enjoying the fresh air and sunny skies of Central Oregon, we have been having loads of fun. There have been rodeos, beautiful sunsets to watch,

the smelling of flowers,

making new friends,

and catching up with old ones. These two had lots of fun copying the baby. One, two, three! Toes in the mouth!

Our Doggess has learned to appreciate the wide open spaces. She has even learned to chase the wild rabbits, and thankfully has not yet learned to catch one.

As well as climbing tall mountains,the baby decided to help his grandpaw drive the ol' Ford truck down a dusty road.He has also enjoyed many kitchen sink baths,afternoon naps cradled in the arms of his big brother,and lots of fun romping with his big brothers on the lawn in the early evenings.
I have a feeling that the fun is just beginning!


For now Ciao! and Happy Fourth of July!