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
