8 years ago this week, I had just stepped off the airplane into the unknown. I remember it was rainy and freezing cold. I had no heavy jacket or boots, just my midriff sweater, low waisted jeans and converse. A stereotypical beautiful Italian woman in a matching pink and white suit picked me up, fit everything into a mini audi as big as my luggage and we were off. I remember trying to keep my eyes open in the car as the rain pitter-pattered on the window, so I could take in all I could of the landscape. All I saw were big grey buildings and eventually just lots of fields in the mist. I walked into a "school" an hour later which looked more like a Victorian Age museum, a place from a different time... and this is where my Italian adventure started.
Cyclically 8 years later, I am transitioning again. The house is full of boxes, the cleaning and purifying process of sorting all the accumulated clutter is done, and once again a new adventure is about to begin. After a tumultuous few weeks of uncertainty about whether or not we would have an apartment to move to, we have finally signed the lease today, less than a week till we have to be out of here. That is a whole story in itself!
Even so, I can not wait to start this new journey into the unknown and the start of a better life! For the first time I don't feel sad to leave or move because I know this is the moment I have been waiting for. Although I wanted to take a jump in the dark and move without having a job, I have kept my Saluzzo teaching job to make the transition a little easier even if it means waking up at 5:30 and taking the bus to school on dark winter mornings. This is a sacrifice that I am willing to make, in order to make my wine dreams come true! Bra...here we come!
Good luck, Anna! The first time I visited the wine region of Piemonte 20+ years ago, I was on my own and stayed in a hotel in Bra, where despite the cold they wouldn't put the heating on, as apparently Italian law didn't allow it until 31st October (so they said). Still enjoyed the visit hugely, including lots of highlights involving food mainly, that I'll share with you one day?
ReplyDeleteawww...I am sure you have so many stories to tell! I do know that law very well because I am always suffering from the cold in this period:) Silly Italian laws. If you ever come this way again, please stop by Bra and we can get a coffee and croissant at Petrini's stomping ground, Converso...or now that I think about it... Pollenzo's wine bank might be the better option for us! Thanks for the encouragement and comment. Hope to run into you soon!
DeleteAnna, I admire your courage and passion for your dreams and at the same time envy your wine journey. I wish you all the best in your future endeavors!
ReplyDeletethank you so much! can't wait for what's ahead!
DeleteBra won't know what hit it. Wishing you all the best from Parlo and me
ReplyDeletehaha that sounds funny... the bra won't know what hit it.. thanks a lot and hi to the "sposa" :)
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