Tuesday, August 7, 2012
These past few months, I have been a bit silent on my blog. Besides my need to adjust to the important shifts that have occurred in my life, I’ve been feeling restricted by my blog. Now that I spend half my time living in Paris, I felt that I couldn’t write about my experiences there because the focus of my blog is Florence. For this reason, I am stopping this blog and am starting a new one tomorrow. My new blog is called “My Heart in Two Places” and my intention is to write about my life in my two favorite and beloved cities: Florence and Paris. [Read More]
Wednesday, August 1, 2012
Returning to Florence is something I always look forward to. I enjoy my time no matter where I am, but there is nothing like coming back to Florence. My beloved city has a way of welcoming me that I appreciate. I always feel safe and loved in her arms. The minute I walk out of the airplane, I look at the mountains in the distance and take in a deep breath. This time, the warm air surrounded me and filled my lungs. My body softened and a smile spread across my lips. All I could think was, “I am home.” [Read More]
A warm welcome by a Parisian bistro
Monday, July 16, 2012
For some reason, every time I arrive in Paris I feel a little melancholy. Once I get in to Paris and arrive at the apartment where I'll be for two weeks, I first unpack everything and then go for a walk. I like to breathe in the cool Parisian air, smell the city,and study my neighborhood. I do all this just so I can feel comfortable in Paris again. I was in Florence for three weeks to get my life back in order and to get used to living alone again. It was the perfect amount of time for me to get settled in before taking off again. It was almost as if I wasn't supposed to get too comfortable or get stuck into any routine before returning to Paris. [Read More]
Friday, July 13, 2012
A month ago, I was sitting in the emergency room of a Parisian hospital waiting to get my newly sprained ankle looked at. I sat there in shock. I hadn’t hurt my body bad enough to have to go to a hospital in over 13 years. I had already cried before I arrived at the hospital, but was still feeling sad at the thought that I might not be running for a while and wondered if I hurt it so bad that I wouldn’t be able to run ever again. The longer I sat in the waiting room, the sadder I got. I had a half-marathon planned two weeks later, which I knew I would have to cancel no matter what. [Read More]
Tuesday, July 10, 2012
With the many small changes I made in my life over the last year and a half, I made only one significant one that everyone noticed. Many of my friends said that I ended a chapter and am starting a new one, but for me, I feel as if I have ended one book of my life and am starting an entirely new one. As a part of my new life, I have decided to travel more, see more of Italy and the world, enjoy each day I wake up to, and embrace new experiences. [Read More]
Friday, July 6, 2012
For me, the summer months in Florence entice me to step back a little and just take in each day as it comes. I find myself strolling instead of rushing down the narrow streets with the warm air brushing against my face. I find it a challenge to be productive this time of year. I can look out at the Arno and the low hillside across from my apartment and get lost in the soft colors and shapes of the buildings, trees, and grass. [Read More]
Friday, June 29, 2012
I’ve been back to Florence for a week now and taking my time to adjust to the big change I just made. I want to make more changes and shifts in my life, but the warm summer air entices me to slow down, enjoy, and relax. To add to the weather, my sprained ankle is also forcing me to take it slow. I can’t walk as fast or as far as I’d like to. I’ve been wanting to walk along the Arno and get lost in my beloved city’s beauty, but I can’t go far and can only take quick glimpses of it when I’m out. [Read More]
Sunday, June 17, 2012
It’s been two months since I’ve made an important decision in my life. One that I’ve been wanting to write about on my blog for at least a month, but have been dreading it a little bit. Alessandro and I have decided to get a divorce. The fact that I’ve kept it in for so long has only made it more difficult for me to write anything else for my blog. I’ve had so much to say, but felt blocked by keeping this piece of my life a secret. At first, I wanted to make sure all my close friends and family knew, but that hasn’t been possible because many of my friends are either busy or out of town. [Read More]
Sunday, June 10, 2012
Tuesday evening I returned to Florence after a little over two weeks in California and today I’m in Paris. My trip to the US was a great personal success for me. Besides recharging my batteries, I redefined my goals, met new people, made deeper connections with family and friends, and committed myself to my goals and priorities. Being an expat is an enriching experience that can be quite challenging at times. So for me, it’s a great respite to return to my natal city and reconnect with the energy I was born into. It’s as if I can more easily reassess my life by seeing where I am and where I was. [Read More]
Friday, May 25, 2012
I practically picked Venice Beach out of a hat when I was pondering where to stay in Southern California. On one hand, I wanted to visit part of my family and my friends in the Los Angeles area, but I had a great desire to be by the water and not have to drive a car for the first week of my trip. I asked a few people about the area, but most thought I should choose Santa Monica instead because for them Venice Beach was crazy and a bit weird. Fortunately, they were unable to persuade me to change my mind. I knew virtually nothing about Venice Beach and was eager to discover it for myself. [Read More]
