So. This will be long. I don’t like not blogging. So I have some words built up in me. Apologies in advance. 🙂
Now that I’m out of the land of no-internet-exile…
Where to begin? Let’s see.
The movers came.
They brought everything up into our apartment on this tiny lift. You see, it’s about a zillion stairs just to get up to our apartment. And the stairs are NARROW.
Hence this contraption. I said a prayer and let it go. No time for worrying.
The Italian movers? Were amazing. There were seven of them. One was about 80 and his name was Gigi. He had an eye patch.
He knew I didn’t speak Italian but he LOVED me and would go on long winded tirades in Italian. I would just smile and nod. He let me ride up and down on the lift on the back of his truck.
One looked like a German bearded Harley rider. One was the perfect cross of Jason Statham and Hugh Jackman.
One was ridiculously handsome and charming and drew me a map to the best wine store in Vicenza. They all treated our belongings the way they should be treated. Like treasures. Memories.
The results from America? Not so amazing.
All of the glass Christmas ornaments that I’ve lovingly collected since the beginning of our marriage? Smashed.
Tables, armoires, dressers, headboards and footboards, framed photos…broken.
I found my Mac Desktop and my John Derian trays shoved in boxes with other items. With no wrapping around them.
Gigi went on and on in Italian. All I caught were the words “American brutes!”. German Harley rider and Hugh Jackman taught me curse words in Italian. It was very helpful.
Moving on. What else has happened?
We unpacked. Pretty much all of it in 2 days. I’m GOOD after so many moves. Not afraid to toot my own horn.
We explored our neigborhood:
(their birthday is 24 november)
and walked/explored our neighborhood some more:
I found out that Italian groceries sell liters of prosecco for less than 2 euro. That’s what you get for living in the birth place (well, region) of prosecco!
We went grocery shopping dressed like this:
I discovered my new favorite drink is Prosecco Spritz with a dash of raspberry.
We attended our first Italian carnival.
Oh yes.
I also got my debit card eaten by an Italian ATM machine.
I ate too many pasta dishes and too many clams. I had too much gelato. For the record? Nocciola is still my favorite.
I tried, and failed horribly, to speak Italian. Usually the Italians take pity on me and start speaking English. I don’t like this. How will I learn? 🙂
I had my washer and dryer delivered and undelivered 3x because they kept bringing the wrong kind, then they forgot the lift, then they brought the wrong kind of lift that couldn’t fit in my courtyard.
I had a long conversation with a nun on my street. I understood maybe 1/3 of it.
I drove. A lot. And stopped gripping the steering wheel so hard.
Lucy stuck her ciocallato gelato on Harper’s bottom. The Italians laughed so hard.
I tripped the breaker. Lots. Still don’t know why.
I navigated a Chinese buffet where everyone spoke Italian and I had NO idea what to do.
I filled up my car for the first time.
I tried to explain bidets to our girls.
I tried to bake 12 minute break and bake cookies in my oven. It took one hour. And they still weren’t cooked.
Don’t think I’ll be cooking poultry anytime soon.
Ciao Ciao!
S
i need to know the wisdom of your unpacking ways. two months later and i still have piles of boxes. i can’t even use the small children excuse because you have one more than i do! 🙂
Wishing you continued good luck on your adventure and hope the first day of school went fabulously.
Stephanie, you’re awesome!
Thanks for the update! Glad that you are finally wired, so sorry about your broken treasures!
Maybe the tripping of the breaker has something to do with how much electricity you’re using? One of my cousin’s hubby just got stationed in Germany and she said that their landlady had only alloted them a certain amount of electricity they could use ( apparently they can do that), and she couldn’t run the washer and dryer at the same time. Or the dryer and the a/c unit. She had them change it or they are in the process of changing it (she said it’s taking forever!), so maybe that could be it? I love reading all about your adventures in Italy and ooo-ing and aahh-ing over all the gorgeous pictures 🙂
oh man! it’s beautiful but very challenging at the same time, but the beauty more than makes up for it right?!
your twins are getting sooooo big and looking more like harper&sadie each day.
I wish I could live a day in your life, ahhh! but I know I would be tired ha ha!
can’t wait to see some scrappy pages soon!
too bad the americans broke your stuff, no pride!
I too have gotten great at unpacking 3 moves in 7 years, 4 houses, it makes you efficient!
xoxo
tara
Laughed so loud about the bidet. Glad to here you have unpacked and that you’re settling in.
you are awesome.
Welcome back to the internet world, we missed you!!! Italy looks so beautiful!! Have you all adjusted to the time difference yet?
I don’t think I would even know how to use a bidet without researching it. Never have.
* sooooo sorry about the awful broken stuff. BOO!! I recognize one of those ornaments as one I sent you too.
* I want a pic of this Jason Statham mover. RAWR!!
* bidet lessons = AWESOME
Thanks so much for sharing with us. It was so good to see you back! Oh my youhave had a time of it! You are a strong lady! Everything looks wonderful!
I want unpacking lessons! 🙂
Loving checking in to see what you are all up to! LOVE living vicariously through your blog. Enjoying your adventures.
Hate the broken ornaments…so sorry! 🙁
Hang in there!!
Stephanie – I am sorry they broke so much stuff. I know you have had a similar situation on a previous move. It’s sad that people do not care. I think it is amazing how well you are adapting to your new life. You’re doing a great job, mama. 🙂
I cracked up so hard about the cookie baking. Guess that is going to take some getting used to! I’m impressed at your unpacking skills. I moved last December and still have boxes stashed. You’re definitely a pro.
So sorry to see all the broken ornaments…finish breaking them, put them in a big pretty glass jar/vase with a tag on it with the picture of the city you are living in. Put it on the shelf as a wonderful reminder that this experience is so worth it.
Yay – you’re back! I’m so spoiled with wifi everywhere these days…I take it for granted. I think I would go a little (more) nuts without it for long. Looks like you are back to adventuring and embracing la dolce vita…or is it la pazza vita? 😉
I’m so sorry about the broken stuff! 🙁 Heartbreaking!
But thumbs up to the great movers!
Glad you’re settled in – your family is the cutest. Welcome back to the internet. My daughter went along with her dad on a trip for a couple days – and their hotel had no wifi…you would’ve thought it was the end of the world! Spoiled 😉
Oh Stephanie you are a star, an absolute star. You really do live life and I admire that about you so much. My best friend had a similar removals nightmare when she moved to France. So sorry that your precious things got smashed. But there is so much joy that shines from your blog. I hope you settle in to your new home quickly. It looks as though you are in a lovely area. And prosecco for less than 2 euros, wow!
Sounds like a time of ups and downs……including the lift! Lots of adjustments for you all. Love the photos. Love prosecco…..what a bargain. Would be rude not to indulge. Have fun. Take care. Hope all the hiccups pass soon. X
You crack me up but still you are doing great hanging on you have a thriving family peace in your heart, you are doing good! Military wives know no other way and all I have to say is go girl!
The breaker thing… too funny! it will be what you least expect it to be: I had all the right equipment and adapters and such and when I plugged in my hair dryer in Paris – BOOM – I blew out the electric on the WHOLE ENTIRE FLOOR of our hotel! How embarrassing! 🙂
Very cool!! Sorry about your belongings…and I could never explain the use of the bidet 😉
Glad to hear from you, so sorry for your broken treasures :(. You are creating such great memories. This is awesome. Take care, until next time May God bless you and your family. Love from OKC
I am so sorry to hear so many treasures of yours was damaged during the move….but it looks like you’re all having a blast in Italy…..can’t wait to see more pics of your new home!!! Ciao bella 🙂
You’re amazing! Love that you go with the flow and just enjoy where you are!
You are amazing! What you do each and every time you move blows me away and how easily you and the girls adapt. Am loving your posts and all the photos….it’s about the closest I’ll get to Italy! So sad about your broken things….those American movers sound like they could learn a thing or two from your Italian movers….and a few of them sound deelish 🙂
(I think you mean he knew you could not speak Italian)
So I have been to Italy, once, and sadly am not surprised by the oven and electrical issues. But you have found the good in it all. And I moved my mother’s years of belongings across the US and most were smashed because of the way it was packed. So, also not surprising. I was impressed with what you were willing to move with you all the way to Italy. You are much braver than I. But now toast (with all that good stuff) to the future and all the new ornaments your kids will buy you some day. And to the single floor house you will someday own. And certainly the memories…oh the memories.
Oh Steph, I am crushed. I am so so sorry your special treasures were broken. Why oh why can’t the Army be a little careful with one’s belongings. I do love the photos, and that Prosecco spritz looks good!!! Good luck with the oven.. it’s going to take some getting use to, huh. As for the moving, I have moved over 3 dozen times in my 45 yrs. I too have it down to a fine art. I had our house unpacked in a couple of days when we moved where we are. When you do it alot, you get really good at it. 🙂
Love hearing your adventures. You are amazing!
The little ladies have the best Birthday!
I am truly sorry about your ornaments and furniture 🙁
But what an adventure! 🙂
And your kitchen is lovely.
My grandma was italian and I loved when she would speak it. She taught me a few curse words herself (lol)
Never a dull moment in the Howell home. Such adventures and always embracing life with good grace.
Thanks for using some of your very precious time to share with us.
I’ve already commented on the handling of your precious belongings by those “brutes”, so I’ll move on. Woo Hoo – Two thumbs up for caring and hunky Italian movers, maps to wine stores, cursing in Italian, cheap prosecco, carnivals, and exploring your gorgeous neighborhood. xo
Sorry to hear about the bad stuff, but happy to hear about the good stuff! My dad was in the Air Force and when we moved from Florida to Germany when I was in high school we had a similar incident with our stuff. Our “sealed” container had stuff in it that didn’t belong to us. The strangest thing was that our wok cover turned inside out. Somehow, while on a ship to Europe, the wok cover/top’s handle unscrewed itself and the part that used to be inside was now outside (the screw) and the handle was inside. Weird.
As for your ornaments, I had something similar happen to some of my glass ornaments and I put the pieces in one of those larger white/clear/glass ornaments. I think there’s one that opens like a hinge.
It stinks that so much of your stuff was busted. I’ve had fairly good luck with the movers until our past move from Germany back to the USA. The movers were in a hurry as they were double booked and many things were broken. Fortunately, I had all of my ornaments and precious things pre packed into plastic totes and everything made it ok. My craft stuff on the other hand received lots of damage along with a desk, dressers and we had missing hardware to our outdoor patio set and elliptical machine.
While in Germany we could not run the washer and dryer at the same time and if we had the washer or dryer running we could not use the microwave as it tripped the fuse. The microwave tripped the fuse 65% of the time just running it on it’s own. Whenever we tried to use our mad Deutsch speaking skills we were rewarded with english as well. I think it is because they liked to practice their english.
I am glad to see you are settling in. As I read about your experiences I sit and nod along in understanding. I remember driving on the autobahn for the first time and having white knuckles.
Brilliant!
you are my hero!!! complete admiration for you!!! looking forward to hearing of the next part of this wonderful journey!!!
Oh, the picture of your broken ornaments makes my heart sad. We’ve moved several times (govt) and one of the times we put our stuff in storage. When our stuff was “repacked” (using that term loosely) we had so many things broken. At least half of our furniture was scraped, dented, broken, etc. They treated our stuff like it was garbage. I saw my furniture being unloaded & instead of being wrapped in moving blankets it was wrapped in something that used to be a blanket but could only be described as rags. I filed a *huge* claim…every single dent & scratch was claimed. I’m glad to see that you’re enjoying exploring this new adventure!!
I love these updates, they are so interesting and funny! So sorry to hear about everything that was broken, I’m very sentimental so I would have shed a few tears about the ornaments. Hopefully the return trip will be better!
Stephanie, I have been here in Italy for 18 years now and I have to say “thank you”. After a while in this lovely country, the Stendhal syndrome tends to take hold. You reopened my eyes and helped me appreciate again what we have all around us. I keep seeing two words over and over again from other comments: beauty and beautiful. And they are right: we are surrounded by so much beauty and we are fortunate to be able to live here. I wish you all the best, it sounds like you are already off to a good start with the right attitude. Ciao, allora… Birgitt 🙂
It is so interesting to follow your move to Italy. 27 years ago my husband was stationed at Camp Darby and we lived in Livorno on the economy. I was only 22 with a 9 month old son and that was before computers or cell phones. Back then my husband made $11,000 annually and it was quite an adventure. You had to have metal tokens for the pay phones and long distance calls were so expensive that I could only call home every other month. Vicenza was the big military base that everyone wanted to go because Camp Darby was tiny. The people were lovely and loved children. They had a wonderful lifestyle that concentrated on family first and money after which made it hard for them to understand Americans working themselves to death, disintegrating families and everything being disposable. It was very hard for me because my husband was SAT COM and would be deployed to Germany a lot and I couldn’t drive or speak Italian, but it was also one of the best experiences of my life. Have a great time and thanks for sharing your journey.
Our things were smashed as well and some things were missing. My son decided the bidet was for washing our feet. Honestly, I was so young and the world wasn’t wired then so I didn’t know what the bidet was when we first arrived. That was so long ago and your blog has made me want to go back more than ever! My husband loved it so that he never wanted to leave. I remember that I had to use bottled water to cook because back then (everyone did) the water was different. Does everyone still use bottled water for everything?
As far as you being in a slump and cannot create, my guess you are having a sensory overload. I am sure Italy offers so much beauty and you are soaking so much in, your brain cannot keep up.
Give yourself a few days or so of not creating anything…remember to breathe! Dance around in your apartment with your arms in the air…don’t ask why, just do it.
Then see what happens…
I so enjoy your blog, always look forward to your goings on with your precious little girls!
So, slow down, breathe, enjoy….