To be able to put our entire experience abroad into one video would be impossible. Although we did travel quite a lot, it was not our main objective to visit every major city and country. Rather we wanted to take the time exploring our own city, meeting people, learning about different cultures, and most importantly, having a hell of a good time doing it!!!
We want to dedicate this video to all the wonderful people we met throughout our travels and in Bologna… those who were there to make our time abroad exciting, adventurous and most importantly full of love. We just want to say grazie infinito to everyone who became a fundamental part of our lives in these past 14 months. We will forever cherish the amazing opportunity we had to live in one of the most beautiful places in the world.
Before going abroad, everyone told me that it’s going to be a “life changing experience” and how I’ll learn so much about myself, different cultures and the world as a whole. So far, everything that everyone’s told me has been pretty true, but one thing that I’d say that I’ve realized since being abroad, is just how independent I am. At times, too independent, because that’s how I’ve always been. However, this past weekend in Rimini has especially taught me how precious family is and how it’s ok to let yourself be taken care of every once in a while. There is nothing like waking up on a Sunday morning and spending hours in the kitchen with family and friends making pasta by hand while listening to Christmas music all together. Italy has taught me that friends and family are truly everything. I’ve never been so welcomed into a new place with people I just met hours before.
Family is being together around the table and sharing a meal of freshly made food, drinking another glass of wine that was poured for you by a real Italian nonno (grandpa) and singing songs together while the mamma plays the guitar. It doesn’t really matter how much you fight or bicker, as long as you’re spending time together. In the Italian culture, no one ever feels lonely, because no matter how small a family might be, everyone is welcome to be a part of the family. I love how much Italians love. They aren’t possessive of anything, rather they give and give and give. You will never find yourself hungry in the hands of an Italian nonna. They always greet you with a double cheek kiss and call you cici (cutie cutie) and tell you all sweet things you want to hear in Italian: sei bella, sei carina. Life in Italia is simple, you spend your days preparing food, eating a meal that lasts 3 hours with friends and family, and then riposare un po (relax a little). Yet at the same time it’s chaotic, everyone yelling over each other in their beautiful language (yes, it is bellissima). The culture is a perfect balance of simplicity and chaos. How am I ever going to leave this place?
It may sound cheesy but this weekend has really changed something inside of me and the way I see and value things. I want to live the rest of my life like this, with a home filled with the scent of yummy food and the sound of a crazy, fun family around me. There is nothing more important in life than to be surrounded by the people that you love. You can keep the BMW and the Louis Vuitton purse, I’d rather have a kitchen to make my loved ones fresh pasta and lots of veggies every day. Oh and don’t forget the wine please…
It’s been almost 6 months since I’ve last seen my family. Since moving abroad, I haven’t really thought about how much I miss them, because it’s easier not to think about how far away they are on a daily basis. Especially because fra poco (in just a short time), both Lily and my families’ will be here in Italy to visit, so I know that our separation is only ever temporary. I guess I didn’t realize how much I missed being at home or in a home with people who aren’t in their twenties. I’m talking parents; good old fashioned moms and dads, who feed you and tend to your every childish desire to be taken care of.
In general, both Lily and I are incredibly independent and can take care of ourselves. I think I can speak for both of us when I say that this weekend, going home with our Italian roommate, Laura and being taken care of by her and her family’s italian-style hospitality was all our little independent spirits needed to feel recharged.
Amicizia <3
Decorating the Christmas Tree
Learning how to make Ravioli from experts
I think what I needed most from this weekend was just a reminder that family comes in all forms. Yes, I’m aware of how cheesy I sound, but I mean it. I’m a strong believer in creating a support system around you wherever you are, especially when you’re far away from your immediate family. It’s crazy how Lily and I were able to stay in a home full of strangers, apart from Laura, whom we met three and a half months ago and feel like we’re part of the family; getting kisses and hugs from even the nonni (grandparents). I think it says something how central the role of family is in the Italian culture that anyone who comes into their home can sit at the table and enjoy a meal that we all made together and feel like they belong. I don’t know if it was something in the homemade vino, but I feel like I was somehow transported to my grandma’s house for Sunday dinner. It’s a nice feeling of familiarity that I feel very fortunate to be able to recreate with another family from the opposite side of the world that makes everything feel a whole lot closer.
Cheers to new friends, family and homemade ravioli!
Fatto Con California Love 