Italian life is GOOD!

I am a firm believer in the concept that life is what you make it. As an American living overseas this is sooooo true. If you are the type of person who just sits and gripes because of everything that is different or "inconvenient" to the American lifestyle you will have an awful experience. However, if you take those differences, embrace them, and use them to make lemonade, life can be pretty good. As I was cleaning up the kitchen this afternoon I really started to reflect on this concept and how I plan to embrace my Italian experience.

My next door neighbor is Italian married to an American retired soldier. She is super nice and such a huge help. I asked her one day about the Italian preschools here in the area and she told me all about the experience she had at the one in the town just down the street. She could not say enough good things about the school. I told her I would be very interested in sending Nathan there. She spent several days making phone calls to them to see if they had an opening. They did and she went with me yesterday to the school to translate for me. I liked the school and want to send Nathan. The only thing keeping us from committing is the fact that the school runs M-F 8-4. That means he would be in school 40 hours a week at the age of 3. If I worked full time that is what it would have to be, but this is a choice we have to make. This whole experience is for a different post, but where I was going with this is the comment that my neighbor made to me. She told me she thinks it is great how much we are embracing the culture and exposing our children also. I guess the previous tenants of this house locked themselves inside and totally ignored the Italian experience offered to them. To be told by an Italian they think what we are doing is great is so exciting. That means we are fitting in and not standing out like the ugly Americans.

The start of the school year was one of dread for me due to the ungodly hour we needed to get up every morning to get Madison on the bus. I will admit I still don't like getting up at 6, but it has actually been a good week. Once we get everyone out the door and started on our 10 min. walk to the bus stop life is good. The kids and I usually have a nice conversation on the walk and the kids love listening to the rooster crow as we walk by a yard with a bunch of chickens.  We live in a small country town. Literally 2 houses away is a line of stores to include gelato, florist, meat and cheese, jewelry, tobacco, tapestry store, and an eyeglass store along with a hotel and two restaurants. However, a block from there is this house with a yard of chickens. I guess zoning does not apply here. Once we put Madison on the "school" bus Nathan and I go for a morning run. Or rather I go for the run and he enjoys the scenary. The first morning we did this I chose a road that I thought woud just lead us down some residential streets. Instead, it led us right down this beautiful country road full of corn fields and farms. Nathan loves to look at the horses on the one farm and I enjoy the peace and tranquility the area offers. What a great place and way to start the morning in the middle of nature. By the time we finish and return home it is 8 and time to start the day. Each day is different, but still the time of reflection in the morning allows for a pleasant day. Also, I have always had a hard time getting Nathan to nap, but for the first time in probably a year or more I told Nathan to go take a nap in his bed. Usually he will listen and go to his bed, but for only 5 min. if I am lucky. Today he layed there and actually fell asleep. This early morning thing might just pay off.

One of the things I have learned about Italy is that life is not as stressful here. People take time to "stop and smell the roses." There are no drive through fast food restaurants, almost every store is closed on Sunday, people walk, take the bus, or ride their bikes, they stop and talk to others on the street. Life just seems a little more relaxed here and less stressful. Repair people or service people show up when they say they will (or even earlier) and tradition and pride are very important. This past week everyone on our street has been trimming the hedges in their yards. I asked if there was a law or ordinance for this and my neighbor said no, it is just pride in the area for the upcoming festival next week. They have been preparing for this thing for the past month and we have been warned there will be 100's of people on our street each night.  

Life is not perfect here or in the States, however, as an American living overseas, I am embracing it and enjoying it. Every once in awhile I think how much easier I could do something in the States, but then I stop and think that is only because I have been doing it for so long there. Let me just figure out how to do this and then it will be easy here too. Life is what you make it and I intend to make mine an Italian bed of roses for the next three years.