Today is a very special edition of 15 Confessions on the 15th because today my family has been living in Italy for TWO YEARS!!! That’s right…it’s our Italianversary!
I can’t believe it. It has been the best two years of my life and the most frustrating 2 years of my life. I truly wish we could live in Europe forever. This has been the greatest gift to our girls and I will be grateful forever.
In celebration of this special day, I thought I’d share fifteen lessons I’ve learned since moving to (Northern) Italy.
1. Sometimes you just have to slow down. Allora, aspetta, domani. Things aren’t getting to get done today. Or tomorrow. Or possibly even this month. And that’s okay. Just breathe, pour a glass of prosecco, and relax.
2. Everything tastes better here. This is not an exaggeration. Wine, cheese, truffles, meat, tomatoes, pasta, gelato…I am ruined on these things for life. They will never ever taste as good as they taste here.
3. You will get lost every.single.time. You will never get anywhere the first time you try. There are no such things as street signs, and thank God for GPS- but that doesn’t even work most of the time. Just go with the flow.
4. There is no such thing as ordered line waiting. It’s all just basically a clusterF*&#. There are no straight lines, just groups where everyone is breathing down your back and stepping on your toes. There is no personal space. You will wait for an hour and once you get to the front they will send you to another line where you will wait for another hour. When you get to the front of that line, they will be closed for riposo. You will come back later and start the whole process again, but the person at the front will act like they’ve never seen you before and then they will put up the “Chiuso” sign and go drink coffee.
5. It’s never too early to have a drink. Day drinking is a sacred art. But no one ever gets wild or drunk or sloppy. Bella figura is a real thing, y’all.
6. Italians love big families. But no one has them. Remember, this is NORTHERN Italy I’m talking about. Things are different in Sicily, for example. Most families here only have one child. And they don’t start having children until their late 30’s or early 40’s. My big family gets a LOT of attention. We get stopped everywhere and I also get lots of compliments for being such a young mom. Ha!
7. Driving is serious business here. Don’t ever try to pause for one second to turn left and don’t you dare hesitate at ALL when the light turns green…or you WILL get honked at. Aggressively.
8. Women dress to the nines here. All the time, no matter the hour of day or the occasion. You will NOT see yoga pants, workout clothes, or flip flops. And you WILL feel like a slob when you wear these things. After 2 years I’ve let it go. I cannot always look perfect! But the Italian women manage. You should see them rock the high heels on their bikes. Also? They are all TINY. No clothes or shoes fit me here.
9. It’s not considered rude to stare. Culturally, it’s very different than the US. It’s not considered rude to openly stare. At first I was very taken aback by it, now it doesn’t bother me. I just like to smile and wave.
10. Produce here is incredible. Affordable, fresh, and free of GMOs and all that added crap. But don’t you dare touch it without putting on gloves first!
11. You can get milk from vending machines and wine from the tap/ gas station type pumps at special stores. I still get very excited every time I see these things.
12. There are bicycles EVERYWHERE. This is not an exaggeration. It is common to drive down the street with bikes completely surrounding your car. And lets just say that many of the cyclists don’t abide by traffic rules. I have to be on high alert every single time I drive. I’ve gotten crazy good at dodging people.
13. ‘Latte’ is milk and ‘pepperoni’ means peppers. If you ask for a latte you are getting a milk and if you ask for pepperoni pizza you are getting pizza with papers. Ask for a diavola and a caffe con latte. Macchiato literally means “spotted”. If you ask for a macchiato here you will get an espresso with a dollop of cream (j’s fave). Not a sugary drink like at Starbucks. For me? ALWAYS cappuccino.
14. Don’t expect to find a hearty breakfast here. It’s coffee and a pastry every morning. And that’s about it.
15. It’s every bit as dreamy as it seems. Yes, it can be frustrating. Efficiency doesn’t exist and the language barrier can make you feel vulnerable. But every day here is a gift and I’ve loved every single second.
Thanks for helping me celebrate our two year Italianversary. And thank you for always joining me on this crazy ride!
I’m so glad that you got to experience the last two years, and fortunately share it with us, your readers! I check your blog almost daily just to live in your fairy tale!!!!
May many ocntinued blessings come your way. Love to you and your family.
I have enjoyed following along so much! You seem to have made the most of it and have so many adventures. What amazing memories you have made.
My family did a New England road trip this summer and spent a few days in Newport thanks to your blog. It was every bit as magical as you described! And I have been going through Del’s and lobster roll withdrawal since we got back. Thank you for the guide to Newport. We hit almost every spot on the list. I’m already scheming to get back :).
And this burst in blog posts? Loving it!!!!
Can’t believe it’s been two years already! I enjoy reading your many adventures with your beautiful family.
oh yes! I remember getting so yelled at when I touched a piece of fruit!
Love this post! I read it greedily and didn’t want you to stop at fifteen! I just adore hearing about your adventures and when you write, it’s just like having a conversation with you, love that! You’re truly an excellent writer!
Amazing! Thank you for sharing this “Dream” with us!
I’m Italian and some of the things you wrote are SOO true, LOL 😀 We are “just slightly” obsessed with our food and cyclists, OMG, they are wild! I’m so happy to read that, in spite of everything, you enjoy your time here 🙂
Totally agree on 2, 8 and 10 for here in Luxembourg. Food! Just. the. Food!!!
Thanks for sharing and letting us live vicariously. Your pictures are always so beautiful and though I know life with young children makes for lots of tough days, you always seem to be able to see the positive (or to ignore the negative), which is a good way to go through life. The happy memories you make with your kids always outweigh the tough, rotten, no-good days we all have. Thanks again, and, please, keep sharing.
Congratulations on two wonderful years in Italy! And, thanks to following you on Instagram, I have the prettiest feed! Thanks for sharing your adventure!
Happy Italianversary! Thanks for sharing all of this with us! What an amazing experience you’re all having. 🙂
Spent three weeks in Italy last summer. We loved it so much and your list is so true! Enjoy the rest of your stay. I can’t wait to plan a return visit.
I have really enjoyed reading about your crazy ride! What memories you are creating and storing! Hope your European baby adds even more times to treasure! X
I am terrified to fly. But I tell my husband that if I wasn’t, we would be immigrants and live in a foreign country. Greece or Morocco! I had to laugh at your comment about people dressing up in Italy. We had a Cultural Day presentation at my daughter’s school, and the woman presenting Italy said the same thing. That they have less clothes that we do, but they cost more and they always look great! My husband was impressed at how nice the young men dressed when he was in Italy for work last year. I don’t blame you for wanting to live there. Maybe when your husband retires? My inlaws want to live in Spain (both Spanish teachers/professor).
what a great list!!!! we visited Rome when I was in high school. Italy is #1 on my list of where I want to visit and explore next. what a great opportunity for your girls to experience the italian culture!
We are hoping that maybe DH can get a NATO post in about 5 years and we can go and have adventures like yours! Maybe Italy, maybe Belgium, maybe somewhere else–but an adventure in any case! Your posts make me excited for the possibilities.
Love this! It’s been fun to follow your journey. Thanks for sharing.
Congratulations! So happy you are enjoying your time in Italy! Love sharing your journey, thanks for that!
Amazing stories, love each and every one of them. Your girls are so beautiful like their mother!
Please tell us if you are having a boy or girl….just have to know!!
Thank you, as always, for the lovely pics of your travels…keep doing this!
Thanks my friend!!
steph, i LOVE LOVE LOVE how you always find the positive no matter what because I KNOW that it must have been a big adjustment, yet look at you girl, you did it! two years! I am sad when you have to move back! I loved learning about Italy through your beautiful family. thanks for the beautiful gift of sharing your life!
tara
I’ve so enjoyed living vicariously – thank you for sharing! I wish my brother and his wife had kept a blog when they lived abroad. Can’t quite believe it’s been 2 years….
I really enjoy your posts about life in Italy, and I’m so glad you’ve enjoyed it so far. What an amazing adventure. CJ xx
I want to eat your photos.
Hi Stephanie! I stumbled on your blog for the first time (recommended by Bridget Larsen). It immediately spoke to me as I lived in Italy for 17 years. You seem to be enjoying it, I did. I’m glad the food is still as good as I remember it. Tomatoes have never tasted the same since I left Italy.
Yes, the women look like I don’t know what indoors, but as soon as they go out (even if it is just for a loaf of bread) they will dress up in designer stuff. I must confess I still do that. I wear a house dress indoors, and when I go outside I change.. No designer clothes for me lol! but still I make myself look presentable.
I’d better get changed now as I need to pop to the post office.
CU soon,
(I’ll be following you… on the blog and in spirit)
Lisca