First Notes

I arrived in Italy 2 weeks and 2 days ago. It took me a bit to get my blog up and running so this initial post may be lengthy. My life has completely changed within the course of an 8-hour flight. Well, I take that back, my life started changing about 8 months ago when I fell head over heels in love with my then boyfriend....now husband. The story of his life path is not mine to tell but suffice it say, our paths have intertwined and we have suddenly found ourselves newly married and living across the ocean, thousands of miles away from everything we've ever known. One of the beauties of this is that Nick and I are starting a brand new life in a place that is new for both of us, experiencing it all for the first time together. And the place is Italy! It really can't get more romantic than that. :)

So I said good-bye to my sweet family on November 4th and arrived to my awaiting husband on November 5th. The flight was easy and uneventful. I was too excited to sleep so I calmed myself with movie after movie. I never have had time or taken the time to watch many movies so this was a pleasure. My husband had left 6 weeks prior so my #1 priority was to look fresh and fabulous when I met him. Mission accomplished with the help of my very good friend Leah.

Arrival at baggage claim was chaotic, but that's to be expected I guess. I was allowed 4 large bags plus my hefty carry-on so imagine the fun of maneuvering that alone! I found Nick easily, or should I say he found me. I wasn't difficut to spot with my cart over loaded with bags. So onto the bus, which took us to our 'new' car and then onto our apartment located in our new little town situated in the heart of the Italian counteyside.

The small town feel isn't all that foreign to me....I grew up in rural Minnesota. But our apartment is huge! Not at all what I would expect to find in Italy, let alone an Italian village. So let me just mention to our friends and family that there is ample room for you to stay comfortably with us when you choose to visit.

Since we had expected much smaller accomodations I had sold all of my living room furniture, placed most large items in storage and only shipped the bare minimum. Now we are faced with the need to buy items to fill the space. Somehow I don't think my husband is as excited about this 'opportunity' as I am. :)

We have 3 bedrooms, the 3rd is on the 2nd level. We have an adorable winding staircase which leads up to our 3rd floor. We have a balcony which is cut into the rooftop of the building with a view of the town. The perfect location to enjoy that evening glass of local wine and unwind from the day. Keep in mind that unwinding from a day here is much different than unwinding from a typical day in my previous life.

All of life's needs are met here in our small town. We have a church, grocery store, butcher shop, vegetable stand, bakery, pizza place, gelato cafe and last but not least a wine shop. One quick word regarding the wine shop. The wines are local, on tap and delicious! And ridiculously affordable. $5 buys you a bottle and the wine. $3 buys you a refill. Once I learn Italian I hope to apply for a job there! Such a happy place.

My husband works for the US government so in addition to our simple Italian life, we have access to some US services that we would not otherwise. Like a grocery store with some US products, a Walmart-type store for household goods, some fast-food chains, a bank, library, movie theater and post office. It's a great way to balance the transition since neither of us speak the language yet.

And this has been a big transition. I have been used to a small condo in the middle of Minneapolis, with a short walk to work surrounded by the hustle and bustle of corporate America. My social life consisted of Starbucks, shopping on a whim, happy hours, committee meetings, fundraising events, family events, friends events, and on and on. There was hardly a dull moment. Now I work from home, there is no corporate anything around me, when I'm awake; most everyone that I know in my life is asleep and Facebook has become my BFF. Rather than running here and there every night of the week, our weekday evenings consist of walking down to the local pizza place, splitting one of 50 options with my husband and ordering a carafe of red wine. I split the wine with my husband as well but I think I could polish it off by myself without too much trouble.

Yes, life has definitely changed, but it's a welcome change. I loved my life in MN but it was missing something. Now I have that something....or I should say someone, and I am purely excited to start this new chapter.

Addio for now! Will write again soon with details of our trips to Venice and Verona!

Below are pictures with my nephews before departure and of our apartment.