London Calling...(and my thoughts and musings on my year in Italy...Mama mia!)

"...to the faraway towns, now war is declared, and battle come down"

It may not shock many of you to hear that I am moving back to the UK. In 6 weeks. Almost a year to the day after I left the UK to move to Rome. 

After the emotional dust settles after a relationship breakdown, and you find yourself looking at life through normal eyes again, things become clearer, and that's where my decision to move back to the UK came from. I found myself asking "what is actually keeping me here?". Taking the emotion out of it (the wonderful friends I had made/the weather/food/architecture) I had to be logical, and as anyone with any sense will know, good food/weather/architecture doesn't pay the bills. My safety net here was my relationship. Now that is over, there's not much keeping me here. For now. I won't ever rule out returning to Italy in the future; it's a place I have always wanted to live and I will come back. But right now, I need the love, comfort and support of my family and friends, who have all been so supportive of my decisions to leave, and come back. Naturally, my Mum is thrilled, as is my best friend. I know how hard me leaving was on him, so I hope that many nights of drunken fun and watching films in our onesies will make up for it. 

Now I'm back to seeing things as they really are, I can't help but think back to two words I heard a lot when this relationship ended. Many people; family, friends, colleagues, described what had happened as a "lucky escape." I heard this a lot, and I think that when a relationship fails, and you come out of the other side of the heartbreak, you do start to see things for how they really are, and you have to admit, you agree with some of the things people say to you...

Taking off the rose-tinted glasses and removing someone from the pedestal you put them on can be both helpful and hurtful. Everyone has had relationships end where even many years down the line, they can't fault that person - things just didn't work out. Some people walk out and let out one huge sigh of relief. Some people walk away feeling disrespected and undervalued. As I'm sure you might be thinking, no, this is not an ex-bashing post. Look at it as more of a summary. My ex had great qualities, but they were sometimes hard to see beyond other, not-so-agreeable qualites*. Those things most people know about, but when you are all loved up, you choose to ignore, only for them to come back and bite you on the ass later. 

*cultural differences

She probably chewed it for him too! (*joke)

For example, the relationship between Italian men and their mothers is something that is famous the world over. You see it mocked and parodied in English, American even Italian culture. There are TV adverts here that show the impact 'Mama' has on a man's life! Don't get me wrong, I could never be with a guy that disrespected his mother, but for me, I see too often here that the apron strings have not been cut. My ex's mother bought all his socks and pants for him. And no, not just at Christmas, always. He had never bought a single piece of his own underwear in 30 years. Some nights he would come home with a little bag from one of the local underwear shops, because mama had stocked him up. His response? "She knows what I like". Call me strange, but I found it creepy. She would also send him home with little care-packages...usually consisting of juice and biscuits (yes, he had the same breakfast as a 5 year old!). Did I mention she only lived 5 minutes away? My mum lived 1700 miles away and only sent me a care package once! You see so much of this in Italian culture...it's almost famous for it. Many girls I know here (both Italian and non-Italian) find this bond between mama and son infuriating and impossible. One Italian girl I know refuses to have relationships with Italian guys that are still in the nest. And I can understand why. I know, it's a 'cultural difference', but unlike taking a siesta and long, leisurely lunch breaks, I can't see the positives. How can men grow into their own, free-thinking person if they feel incapeable of making a single decision without mama's word on it?

From personal experience, this dependence on mama makes men lack the independence that is so attractive to many people. My ex didn't know how to turn on a washing machine or boil a kettle. Yes, these are symptoms of this 'cultural difference', but how can this be a good thing to a man of 30 years old?? As someone asked me recently, "what future can you have with someone that can't even turn on an oven?"....(yes, really!)? And it's not just me thinking it; this very accurate article from The Guardian covers things in the same way, written by people who have seen the things I have.

Italian mama's are also famous for being neurotic and too involved. I have known of couples here, usually Italian men and English/American women who have had their relationships tested to the max by mama's ways. Every night, my ex's mama would call him to talk about his day. Even if she had only seen him a matter of hours before. And he would always take the call; it didn't matter if we were in the middle of something or out with friends having dinner, that call would not go unanswered. One American girl I know said that her fiance's mama would just come to their apartment, unannounced (she had been given a key by the son!) and would just start cleaning or rearranging things! My ex-future mama in law showed these neurotic tendencies which I could see passed onto her children...she believed that babies would be killed by living in the same house as cats because they would breathe in the cat hair and suffocate, and when I went to hospital after having a car accident, my ex was yelled at for putting my discharge papers on the kitchen table because they had been in a hospital. I mean, seriously? Have you ever heard of anyone contracting a hideous life threatening disease from hospital discharge papers? No, me either. And this neurosis doesn't end with mama, it seems that Italians believe everything will kill you...tap water, fever and the famous cervicale, caused by 'colpa d'aria, which is summed up well by this article written by a Brit living in Bologna. I have been questioned attacked more than once for going out without a scarf in during the winter months.

I can't help but wonder if this reluctance to leave the family nest and mama's apron strings have a negative effect on the relationships Italians have. Before I moved here, my Italian teacher told me (she herself had lived in Italy in her 20's) that you will see lots of Italians comitting the more...intimate parts of their relationships in their cars...that you will see lots of cars parked up in local parcheggio (car parks) where young couples would be, well, at it. And why? Because they all still live at home. I laughed when she told me this, thinking she must be talking about the younger Italians in their late teens. Boy, was I wrong. The Italian guys I knew through my ex would often talk about hooking up with their girl in their car, hell, even my ex told me that in the very car seat I sat in, he shared some of the most intimate parts of his relationship with his ex!!! I mean, how can you have a normal, successful relationship if you are 30 years old, and the only way you can share intimacy with your partner is in a car because you still live at home??

I have been told that Italian men say 'why would I move out when my mama does everything for me here?' This seems to be their argument/justification for remaining at home until well into their 30's. Take for example, my ex. He has an apartment that we used to stay in when I visited before I moved here. He didn't live in it, we just used it when I stayed. He still lived at home despite having a perfectly nice apartment he could have moved into. When we got engaged, we moved into it together. It is now a nice, beautifully furnished (thanks to me and my bank balance!) home and I will bet my life on the fact that as soon as I left, he moved back in with his parents! Why would you do that when you have you own, nice place to live in?? Cultural difference or not, this makes no sense to me. 

Again, this is not an ex-bashing or an Italian-bashing post. Simply an insight to the things I, as a 30 year old English girl have seen and experienced first hand in my year here in Italy. Flip the situation around, and I'm sure Italian guys would have lots to say about living outside of Italy. What I have written in this post is pure observation and fact. There are some young Italian guys I know that have broken the mold; they live alone or with friends, have good jobs and happily buy their own underwear. And I feel certain to say that I'm sure my ex mama in law is delighted to have her son back home. Whilst I am not saying that anyone is right or wrong, you can't really understand cultural differences until you live them. I mean, the UK and the men that live there aren't perfect either, and I certainly don't miss the binge-drinking culture you see in the UK every weekend. But, I do feel completly free to make my comments on the things I have experienced for myself here. And I don't need to justify anything; Italy is still the most beautiful place and the people here are wonderful. It has its flaws, as does everywhere. 

Yes, I am excited about going back to the UK. I never thought I'd say that, but I am. My time in Italy has been an experience, and should I return to live here someday, I know what to expect. Now, I am excited to go back to my family and friends, and see what life back home can offer me. 

Ciao for now,

Nina x

All Roads Lead (Back) to Rome...

If someone had told me a year ago that I would have left the UK, sold my house, moved into 3 different apartments and be returning to Rome, I would never believe them. 

Last February, I came to Rome for 2 weeks to have a trial of living in Italy, and more importantly, Rome. I rented an apartment in Monti for two weeks from 2nd February, and within a week I had decided that I wanted to make Italy my permanant home. 

I've made no secret of how hard it is to leave your home country and become an ex-pat in another. People that haven't experienced that have no idea of the difficulties and tough emotional times you go through. I found myself missing the strangest things about the UK...BBC London News at 6pm. Sainsburys. Hollyoaks. The talks/rants I would have with my best friend in his kitchen after a night out. Relocating is HARD, no matter how amazing the pull to your new country might be, it's emotionally and physically hard to leave your past one. 

It's been a tough 12 months. It's also been an amazing 12 months. 

So, as I find myself 6 days away from moving back to Monti, and looking how things have gone full circle for me, I think back to something my Mum asked me a few days ago. She asked me where I find my strength from, to manage to go through these things and still remain positive. I really thought hard about this, because it was something I realised I needed the answer to myself. I came to the conclusion that I get through the tough times because life is always a lesson. Learning constantly about yourself and other people is great knowledge to have and it feels good to always learn something new. I'm also a big fan of fresh starts, and that is what I see my new life in Rome as. I am excited to return to vibrancy of the city. To wake and sleep in the presence of such history and architecture. I adore Rome, ever since I did a school project on it when I was 6, I was fascinated by the Eternal City. So, I am happy to close the door on the last 12 months, and open a new one. 

My new apartment is fantastic and I can't wait to live there. It's back in the heart of Monti and will be a great base for the start of this new phase of my new life. I'm excited to create some wonderful memories with my good friends here, and I'm curious about the new friends I will meet along the way. 

Ciao for now

Nina x

Life in Rome Series: Learning lessons, settling in, and on the move!

So, it's been just over 2 months since I left the UK and have settled into the Italian life. So much has happened in the last 2 months; I spent a week in Ibiza on a bootcamp, I have got engaged to my gorgeous Roman boy and in just under 2 months I leave my apartment in the city to move in with him. This year has been a great one so far, and I still have my 30th birthday celebrations in Lazise in July, moving in August, the boy's 30th in October, Barbados in November and home to London for Christmas!

The transition from English to Italian life has been an...interesting one and I wanted to share with you some of my experiences, lessons and musings I have encountered in the last 2 months...

1. Is that a UFO? No, it's an English girl driving an English Mini
No matter how many times I do it, people still give me the funniest looks when they see my little red Mini on the roads. I mean full-head swivel looks! I'm certain that back in the UK I didn't practically decapitate myself looking at a car with foreign plates, but you'd think I was riding a unicorn down the autostrade going by people's reactions! It causes me great amusement and it's nice to be that little bit different!

2. In Italian, "sorry I'm English, I don't understand" roughly translates to "keep talking at me"

One of my most used (and remembered!) phrases is "Mi dispiace io sono Inglese, non capisco". Meaning I'm English, I don't understand. But, if you think that would encourage the lovely Italians to a) give up and walk away or b) try and communicate some other way, you'd be wrong. It's almost like a thumbs up to encourage them to talk at you more, and faster in Italian! This only results on you a) feeling terrible that you can't speak more of their language and b) a little humiliated. I have now become professional at standing/sitting about listening to people have their conversations of which I contribute very little!

3. 'Angry'/'Hungry'...who's splitting hairs? Not me!
I am always honoured and flattered when any Italian talks to me in English. They are making the effort and that makes me feel awesome! As a rule, unless someone asks, or pays me to, I NEVER criticise their pronunciation of English words. I get it; it's not their native language and like Italian, some English words are hard for Italians to pronounce. However, I find that doesn't work the other way. Pronounce/spell just ONE word wrong, and they leap on you, practically making you repeat the word until you get it right! I appreciate the help, but sometimes it's kind to acknowledge that person isn't talking their native language and is in the process of learning a new language that is 10 times harder than their own. Language police back off!

=UPDATE= I found a great blog that I feel sums up how a lot of expats in Italy (and elsewhere!) feel when they are in the honeymoon period of their relocation! Read more here!

So, there you have it, a little snippet into the last few weeks here in Rome. I love this city; I love Italy and moving here was the best decision I ever made. I head home in August for a few days to see my parents, celebrate my besties 30th and have a look at some wedding dresses. I do miss the UK but Italy is where my heart is.

Ciao per ora,

Nina xx

Smiling at the simple things

When you make a big life change like relocating to a new country/city/way of life, it can be so easy to get lost and swallowed up in the chaos of the 'big picture', that the small, simple things that make life beautiful can get easily lost.

I made this mistake last week; I felt homesick and frustrated - nothing was working, everything felt complicated and I was in social situations where I couldn't say anything because my knowledge of Italian is pretty basic. There were a few occasions I just wanted a flight back home.

I'd always been an advocate of the 'simple things' in life when I was in the UK, so why not here? I decided to take a step back from the big picture, and focus on the small, simple things that I love about living in Italy and more precisely, Rome.

• I can be at the Coliseum in 20 minutes - walking past it always gives me a great sense of comfort and awe
• I love the sunburnt colour of the buildings in Rome; whenever I come back from time in the country with the boy, its seeing these umber buildings that tell me I'm home in my city
• The smell of the flowers in the garden of my apartment, specifically the orange blossom on the tree next to my living room windows...it's become one of my most favourite scents
• Spending yesterday eating and drinking with friends under a vine-covered pagoda in the Roman countryside
• The huge, marble steps that lead to my equally huge front door of my little palace here in the city
• Seeing how happy Harry and Boo are here

So, at times when it feels like the big picture is going to chew you up and spit you out, look around at the small, simple things that make life so beautiful.

Ciao for now,

Nina x

Life in Rome...my thoughts on the first 48 hours!

So, I could start my story with the tale of the phenomenally long car journey it took to get here, but that will follow. To start with, I thought I'd run through my feelings on my first 48 hours living in Rome.

I live in a neighbourhood called Nomentana (named so as the main street that runs through it is Via Nomentana). It's to the north-east of the city and reminds me a little of north London - big, period houses and tree-lined quiet streets. Before I came here I read a few articles online about it being too far out of the hustle of the main city, but today it took me 20 minutes from my from door to the Coliseum. I am happy with that and couldn't ask for a better location. Nearby I have a great supermarket, a bank and a pharmacy.

The apartment itself is in a Regency-style building and there are only three apartments in total. I have more space here than I could have dreamt of!

I'll be honest and admit that I had a small teary moment on my first night, but it was late and we had travelled for nearly 11 hours...I think tiredness got the better of me as I felt OK the next day.

There are soooo many expat blogs and forums you read that tell you so many contradicting things about feeling homesick and it can be a bit like trying to self-diagnose an illness online; you end up scaring yourself silly! Today I met with an old work colleague who was in Rome for a conference, and she left the UK for Australia and told me that she still does not have that heart-aching, stomach churning homesickness that I have heard of, and she's been there 6 months! I think with all things, it's mind over matter and whilst I stroll the tree-lined streets of the Eternal City in the sun, taking long, leisurely lunches and chomping on the odd gelato, it's hard to miss the UK. Of course, there are people I miss terribly, and I am always thinking of them, but true relationships stand any distance.

Time is a great story teller, and it is only time that will tell me how I feel about life in Rome. For now, I am very happy.

Ciao per ora,

Nina x

Wish I was there?

I'm almost terrified at the thought that it's only 3 weeks tomorrow until I leave the UK and start the drive to my new life in Rome. 

When I started this venture, I expected a lot more 'what the f&*k am I doing?' moments than I have had so far, but I have noticed a few mini versions of those moments creeping in over the last week or so and even one moment where I seemed to regret ALL the decisions I had made in the last few months and wanted to scrap the whole idea all together. I expected this, so I dealt with it as I had expected to...(added wine!)

I'm sure that anyone who has been three weeks away from leaving their home country to set up a new life elsewhere has been through the same moments I have, and will, over the coming weeks. But its strange the things I will miss about being here. Like the fact MY house key will no longer be on my keyring. If I come back to the UK for visits, that is what it will be for, just a visit, not to come home. In a funny way, I'll miss the weather. Yesterday, my cousin's wedding took place in the snow, in March...a WEEK away from the start of British Summertime....that's not normal, but, I'm English; if I'm at a wedding and not discussing the weather, something is wrong!

Next week I finish work after 5 years at my company and 8 years of full-time working since leaving University. I have two weeks to pack up my life, and prepare to say goodbye. I'm anticipating emotional moments; there will be tears and moments when I just need a hug on the sofa. It's very easy for people to sit and think that my life will now be all vino, pasta and sunshine, but the reality of it is somewhere different - yes, I don't doubt that my quality of life will improve tenfold, but I am also giving up every familiarity, routine and comfort I have been used to for the last 29 years. That is going to be rough on anyone! 

Luckily, I have a phenomenal support network. Here in the UK I have a great family who will support me through the rough moments and some great friends I can turn to when I need a little light relief! In Rome, I have great friends who will no doubt make me feel so welcome and a wonderful boyfriend, who's actually helping me make the move from the UK to Rome. 

I expect the next few weeks to bring a whole pick'n'mix of emotions...but it's certainly going to be interesting! 

Talkin’ Italian

I HATED learning French at school. Maybe a combination of being a teenager and having bad teachers and disruptive classes, it was never my favourite subject. But from a young age I wanted to be bi-lingual. I saw it as a valuable skill and something that would make me feel…more accomplished as a woman. (I blame years of reading Jane Austen novels for this desire to be an ‘accomplished woman’!)

It was my first trip to Italy in 2005 that ignited my passion for the Italian language – from the minute I landed at Pisa I fell in love with it! Such a passionate and beautiful language! On my return from Tuscany I bought my first English – Italian dictionary and learnt some basic! Bene! 

I went back to Italy 3 further time before my trip to Rome (which changed EVERYTHING!) and tried my best to speak as much Italian as I could! It was when I made the decision to move to Italy that I became serious about Italiano. 

Learning a new language it was I imagine recovering from amnesia must be like – you go back to the very basics of your educational life. Last night, I learnt a new alphabet! And it has only 21 letters; not the 26 I have been used to for the last 29 years! And numbers too – I’m counting in a whole other language in my head when I am counting things out at work and at home…I have been reciting my telefonino number in my head, in Italian all morning! 

One thing I love about this language is its drama – it’s a delight to speak and I am loving every single lesson I am having. I go to bed afterwards with phrases in my head and it’s so rewarding to feel like I am getting there – even my teacher has told me that my pronunciation is the best she’s heard…I “sound Italian!”

I have 5 more lessons before I go to nail some of the basics to help me get by, but it’s when I am there and living the language that I will really learn it! And then have to factor in Roman dialect! Another language consideration! Daje! (which up until this point is the only Roman word I successful know and understand!)

My goal is to be fluent, and I mean COMPLETELY fluent in a year. I have read it takes 2 years but that’s too long. 

So, ciao per ora!

Nina x

Life in numbers...on the countdown to Rome!

Life is all about numbers, and often, numbers with little positive outcome - like my current Monday to Friday alarm clock, set at 6.30am!

The plans to relocate to Rome are really coming along nicely. The house is under offer and I have handed in my notice at work! SCARY! But I am really excited now, and looking at what the next 8 or so weeks have in store for me...

46 days until I get in the car and drive to Rome
26 days left in the office (not including weekends!)
6 weeks, roughly the length of time taken to get the paperwork done on the house
17 hours in total to drive from my house to my apartment in Rome
2 cats will be in the car with us
1, 182 miles covered
4 countries driven through
1 English girl and 1 Italian guy in 1 Mini Cooper

So excited about this and I can't wait!

Ciao for now,

Nina x

I have been awarded not 1, but 2 blogger awards!

Wow!

What an honour! The lovely lovinlifeonadirtroad.wordpress.com has awarded me two awards! THANK YOU SO MUCH!

As you may have noticed, I have relocated from Wordpress to Blogger, simply because it gives me more flexibility with my layout and design.Hope that my followers continue on with me on my journey!

I'm really flattered to have these nominations and am aware that they come with some rules, so as soon as I have a few more moments, I will get the post up!

Thanks again!

Ciao for now,

Nina x

England 5 – Italy 1…banishing the Monday morning blues!

No, these are not the scores of some recent sporting victory for the UK, but just an in-joke with the boy that made me smile this morning, on a morning when it seemed impossible to smile. It’s Monday. And I’m back at work. After 2 weeks off. And yes, I have somehow managed to smile. MIRACLE.
Coming back to normality is horrible. Especially after 2 lovely weeks away with lovely friends. There was a certain feeling of ‘back down to Earth with a bang’ last night when I got home to my cold, empty house, and it’s hard to feel positive about things at those moments, especially when those you miss most are 1000 miles away. Sleep was hard last night; rather than feeling like I’d come home, it felt strange being back…familiar and unfamiliar at the same time. It was odd for me as I usually find great comfort in coming home – my bed, my house and the familiar sights and sounds, but it all felt odd. I can only look ta this in a positive way – it shows me that relocating to Italy is the right thing and when making a huge leap of faith like that, you need constant reassurance that you are making the right choice.

It would have been easy to wake up this morning and want to climb to the roof and jump off. Work – urgh. Monday morning – urgh. Back to normality urgh. NOT IN ROME – MAJOR URGH! But, rather than look at the downside, I find myself looking for the positives in things…

So, as I sit back at my desk, feeling rather like the last amazing two weeks in Rome were a dream, I find myself looking forward to the positives that are coming, rather than looking behind and missing what has just been..here’s the list:

• I’m visiting family in Cornwall the first weekend in March – probably the last time I’ll see them for a while before I leave
• My bro and his lovely lady are coming down from Manchester for a long weekend mid-March
• I can get back to the gym and start on getting the Spring/Summer figure worked on! Amen! It’s hard to explain just how much I missed the gym whilst I was away!
• I have so much to plan re: the big move and its very exciting!
• In April I plan to drive to Rome over two days when I make the move, and the boy has even offered to fly over and drive back with me! How lovely!

So, becoming the best version of me is the goal over the next month or so. It’s easy to sometimes look at the ‘not so positives’ that life can throw, but whats the point in being miserable? Life really is too short, and there are always going to be Monday mornings, so make something good out of them…make a change in your life, book a holiday, tell someone you love them…it’s all possible!
Happy Monday morning readers!

Ciao for now,
Nina x

Is there life in Rome? My thoughts on my habitation experiment…

I know that I don’t leave Rome for the UK for another 4 days, but with Valentine’s Day tomorrow and then the weekend, I may not have time to write this before I leave and I want to give my honest, real thoughts as I sit here in the comfort of the Eternal City.

There are so many thoughts that run through my head on a daily basis when I walk the streets, clean the apartment…they range from the obvious to the ridiculous but they all bring me back to the same thing – Rome is where I want to live. As I walked back from Termani today after a lovely day with a friend, I rattled 3, 50 cent coins I had saved for the Metro in my coat pocket and a lump formed in my throat. I never thought that the Euro would be my currency – besides all things, I’m loyal to my English roots…I’m proud to be English and always will be and I will miss my pennies and pounds! It’s a strange thought that I am sure only those who have walked in my shoes will understand. Missing a currency sounds ridiculous, but its another part of the whole process for me; it’s exciting and terrifying all at the same time.

People I have met here that I am proud to call my friends are very supportive and encouraging of my plans. Talking about it today it became obvious to me that I like to set myself challenges; I like to accomplish things I don’t believe I can. For example, I am taking my Dad’s advice and deciding to drive my little English Mini (cats included!) to Rome when I make the move. Why? Well, it saves me £1500 on flights and its not the easy option – it’s the challenging option. Me, two cats and as much of my life as I can squeeze into the Mini on a 17hour, two-day drive across 4 countries? Sure, easy! But, its something I would never get the opportunity to do…if this move wasn’t happening, I would never do it, and that makes it appealing.

So, back to Rome. This city bewitches me. I am head over heels in love with it. Today, as I walked to the Metro, I walked down Via dei Fori Imperiali, the main road that leads to the Coliseum, and in the bright winter sunshine, I couldn’t have been happier. I could drink in the view of my most favourite monument, surrounded by ancient history and I felt at home. OK, when I live here, I won’t be in such a central location…sure, I dream of living in one of the gorgeous, pastel coloured palazzos in the historic centre, so do most Romans (I’ll be north, in Nomentana!) but knowing I can get on the Metro, and a few stops later I can see the wonders of central Rome, makes me feel very happy inside.

Live here? Sure, in my dreams!

The language is a challenge, but I will take it on! I have lessons booked right up until I leave and I think that living here and living the language will be the best way to learn! And I simply can’t wait!
So, I think the easiest way to rate my two weeks here and the effect its had on my plans to make Rome my home is a good, old-fashioned ‘out of 10′!

• The city – 9/10
• The people – 10/10
• The food – 8/10 (I LOVE Italian food but pasta/pizza/gelato are not good for my waistline, hence a gym for my arrival has been found!
• Shopping – 7/10 (Yes, Italy is the home of Prada, D+G and Zara, but sometimes a girl needs a one-stop Sainsburys shop!)

As I sit here and look forward to my last 4 days in this wonderful apartment in this city I will soon call home, I am a mix of emotions. Will I miss my family and friends back in the UK? Yes, more than I can imagine. Will it be scary to start a whole new life in another country? Scary, no…exciting, yes! Will I be devastated that I have to leave Rome again in 4 days? Yes! These past 2 weeks have meant a lot to me in a lot of different ways. It will be sad to say goodbye again, but I am comforted by the thought that the next time I return, it’s possibly forever! There is a lot to do between now and when I set off for Rome again and I am sure that the time will go too fast, but I feel an overwhelming excitement inside me when I think that the next time I write from Rome, I’ll be calling it home…
Terrified? Yes! Excited? Even more so!

Ciao for now,
Nina x