The Lists: I Heart Italy vs. I Heart USA
I can hardly believe it. It’s the final countdown… Only two weeks until this chapter of my solo adventures abroad close and I begin the next chapter of my life’s journey.
I am taking time to reflect on the things I love about my life here in Italy. There’s no reason I can’t bring a little bit of Italy back to Texas with me. And on the flipside, I’ve begun reminiscing about the things I miss from back home that I look forward to embracing once again.
I thought I’d share my “I Heart Italy” list with you. Maybe you’ll want to incorporate some of this in your own life.
Italy opened the doors to my heart.
Things I love about my life in Italy and want to bring back to the States with me:
- Lives don’t revolve around work.
- Jobs don’t define the person.
- Everything is subject to change – just go with it.
- If you change your mind, “va bene”. (Translate: It’s always okay to change your mind)
- Slow down and enjoy yourself. “Tranquillo”
- Walking everywhere – going on walks for pleasure
- Aperitivo and Italian cooking
- Grocery shopping every few days – keep it fresh and don’t waste food!
- Talking to strangers – meeting new people with suspended judgment
- Continue learning Italian and practice it
Things I miss about living in the good ol’ USofA that I look forward to returning to:
- The people I love
- Efficiency
- Football
- Mexican food (Meet me at the airport with chips and salsa!)
- Earning dollars and spending dollars (Making dollars and spending euros is rough on the bank account.)
- My ironic humor isn’t lost in translation
- Brunch (and breakfast tacos)
- Live Music
- Porch time
- Air conditioning (If it weren’t fall here, this would’ve been #1 on the list.)
