Reflections

This week I have been in a very reflective mood, perhaps it’s due to the approach of the three month mark or maybe the initial euphoria has settled and now I must get on with the task of living here or maybe homesickness has finally struck.  Whatever it is I’m not quite sure, most likely it’s all of the above. 

As I sit in the surprisingly high spring temperatures with the first of the summers mosquito attacks launched it’s hard to believe that that icy cold march morning of my arrival was just three months ago.  So much of the time between then and now has been a blur of looking for and starting a new job, looking for and moving into a new home and reacquainting myself with this crazy place that now things have settled it has almost come as a shock that I'm actually living here! 

There is still so much to get to grips with that sometimes I think I’ll never manage it but then I walk out of my house on a gorgeous warm sunny morning and the world feels right.  Most days I notice something peculiar, frustrating or just down right funny that I wish I could share it with my dearly missed friends in Melbourne.  As much as I am thrilling to my experiences here sometimes the everyday difficulties wear me down.  From snap transport strikes putting your Sunday plans into disarray, to having to trawl through three stores to get ingredients to cook anything more exotic than Italian food or simply the culture shock of the Italian way of doing things.  This week I have really longed to be able to walk into the Pinnacle (my local) and just have the release of a few beers, playful banter with friends and live music, another thing I’m really missing.

Sunday arvo at the Pinnie

 Having left the UK twelve years ago I have come to terms with the ache of not having loved ones near and new technology means keeping in touch is so much easier but cyber hugs are no replacement for the real thing especially Lucas and Robbie hugs.  I have been waiting for these feelings to strike and in fact am surprised they didn’t hit sooner.  I’ve travelled enough to know these times are fleeting and it is a sign of the wonderful people you have in your life that you miss them.  Being a bit of a wondering soul my nearest and dearest are scattered all over the world from Europe to Australia, China to Argentina which makes the prospect of visits very exciting.  For now I just need to let such feelings pass and then get on with the next exciting escapade or bureaucratic nightmare that Italy holds for me.    

These three months have been intense and I need to give myself a break and understand that as much as I want it to not everything will come together immediately.  Patience has never been a strong point of mine and I often get frustrated with myself at a perceived lack of progress.  Rome wasn’t built in a day and I need to lighten up and give myself the credit for what has been achieved rather than focus on what still needs to be done. 

To the best bar at the end of the world and all who drink in her - well almost all, Ted's not included.

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NB: This post was written while listening to a particularly melancholic Tom Waits album