Randy and I are leaving on Tuesday and are taking an 8 hour flight to Germany, a 2 hour layover, and a two hour flight to Italy. We have temporary housing for a month and hope to find a place to live before we are kicked to the curb. We are given an amazing opportunity to live abroad. We know that and are grateful. Right now, however, I am focused on how nervous I am; Nervous about the unknown of living in a foreign country, about our future jobs, and especially about the lack of proximity to our families and friends.
I am certainly looking forward to the adventure on which we are about to embark. But like anything in life, there are always high and low points about a certain opportunity. For the last few weeks we have suppressed nerves and anxiety, we simply did not have the luxury to indulge in second guessing our European move. It wasn’t even until today that I had the occasion to ponder what life could be like as a temporary Italian. The very thought boggles my mind and I guess that is why I can’t get entirely thrilled about this next chapter. I promise tomorrow I’ll jump in full force, but today I want to talk about what Randy and I are sacrificing.
I should first mention that we are so blessed that we can even consider ourselves having a sacrifice when we discuss our Italian future. It is because we have such important friends and family that we feel a pang at all. I can’t begrudge the pang too much because it makes me appreciate what we have, because what we have is rare.
Randy and I have two sets of supporting parents who love each other and love us. We can brag to them and whine to them and mooch off them with equal vigor. We have a relationship with each one of our siblings, one that bridges the gap between familial and friend. We both have uncles and aunts that are so happy to hear from us and always ready to open up their homes. We have cousins that we see each year and Grandparents that remember our birthdays and listen proudly to our lengthy annual recaps. Randy and I have friends that make time for us each time we announce our last minute trips and stay true over long distances, both temporal and physical.
Each time we move I get nervous. It’s who I am and it will never change. I am worried we won’t make friends or will not settle in. Each time we move, however, we have created little families that support us at each location; so each year our support system grows and strengthens.
I’ve always dreamed to live abroad. I wanted to soak in the culture, the environment, the food, and the people. I still do. It’s just that with good comes bad and the bad is we’ll miss you, all of you.
Given our nomadic lifestyles we are not always able to accommodate you all like you have done for us. So, if you are willing and able, come and see us in Italy!
