There are times when dreams come true. We all been there, right?
I wonder, is there a way to get those times in our lives a bit more frequently?
When I have turned 16, I went on a family trip to Italy and fell in love right away.
The language was like music to my ears, the taste buds were consistently jumping out of joy, throwing signals of happiness to my brain. The eyes didn’t tire of Roman columns and ancient fountains.
All these and more knocked me out with the magic of the country in the form of a boot.
After only 7 days in this continent, a new desire began to form in me— “A day will come and I will live here.”
Fast-forward to age 22: while wrapping up a trip to South America and across the United States, I came to realize that my time to live my fantasy and move to Italy had finally come. The truth is, my journey to Italy began long before it became reality.
I would daydream of spreading red and white plaid table cloth upon a wooden table, at a local Italian restaurant. I have vividly seen myself there in my thoughts and my imagination. I’d see myself walking in the inspiring streets with their overflowing art and amazing food. I could see myself feeling joy and gratitude while speaking my favorite language to new friends.
Planning wasn’t only in my mind. The thoughts were shared with everyone on my way, hoping to find a thread for connection of someone who’s living in Italy and could help with a soft landing.
The reactions were often accompanied by a skeptical smirk: “Moving to Italy? On your own?! What will you make a living off?”
These comments have never made me doubt that I’m going for an act that might look strange to many. Side to side with the expressed doubts, there were some uplifting encouragements, till I finally found the person with the thread I was looking for.
Rome was a top priority as it was where I fell in love with Italy, but I couldn’t afford to be picky, especially when an offer came to stay with a friend’s family in Milan. Without any delay, I purchased a one-way ticket.
With a shaky Italian, a small suitcase, and a lot of faith, I have landed.
Only three days went by, and as I hoped- I already found a place to live. The truth is, that if I would have tried to plan everything for details before my departure, I probably would have retreated quickly. I simply could not have possibly managed to generate a successful turn of events as it evolved.
Although no restaurant owner accepted my request to work as a waitress, within two days, I happened to meet an elderly lady named Flora, who had recently broken her leg and therefore was looking for a young girl who would accompany her, on top of a private chef and a physiotherapist. I was happy to join in her summer home in Rapallo- a small town in the Italian Riviera.
Not only did I not need to look for a home, delicious Italian meals, staying in a sought-after resort among Italians and tourists from all over the world, and for dessert: a nice income – came with the package.
On the other side, not everything was great, the times of self-doubt were shortly to come. At a pretty early stage, I felt as if I was a modern slave while getting commands all day long.
Luckily, as I shared my thoughts about turning back to the city and look for other opportunities- Flora could see my struggling, and that’s when a real friendship grew between us.
By one conversation the uneasy experience has transformed into a new, completely different one of mutual care and friendship, which made my stay with her an experience I will never forget.
Later on in Italy, I found myself in Venice just as I had imagined – spreading embedded maps on wooden tables that stood in the most picturesque way you could imagine, near a water canal and overlooking beautiful little bridges, while I was watering in a local restaurant.
Every morning, I was amazed to find out I was living the dream.
The city lifestyle was revealed to me, that the very best thing this city has to offer – is what most tourists will miss out on, such as beautiful hidden spots on the sides of quiet canals, half a euro gondola (yes, there is such a thing), or a long conversation over a “termizini” with the local bar owner.
Today, more than ten years later, the love for Italy continues to take part in my life as I keep visit on an annual basis, either by myself or with friends.
Ever since living in Italy, I’ve been rediscovering how surprisingly comfortable life appears to be outside the comfort zone.
I found that more than anything, when traveling abroad alone, things manage to go the right way, beyond expectations.
At this time I come to wonder, could it be that this reality which tends to appears when I’m abroad alone, would re-expose itself on a day-to-daya life?
