Ask Me Anything August Edition
+ A big change and a mini trip to Venice
August 31 has been a date circled on our family calendar for a few years now. It is the official date of Mark’s retirement from the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization. After 30-plus years of a work-life that began in Africa and brought us to Rome, it is time for something new. Something without the security and limitations that come with the support of an enormous international organization. The past few months have been quite a roller coaster ride that has included an elusive offer of an extension, mountains of paperwork, and some BIG decisions about where to live. Lots of filling out of forms and Zoom calls with tax experts and immigration lawyers. For now, we are in Rome until January 2023. Stay tuned.
We started the month with some of our dearest friends visiting from Toronto in our favorite place. Noah has been here for a good long visit. We spent a few days in Venice at the Biennale.
For most of the month, I have been home here in Monti. I love August in Rome. Yes, it’s hot, but the worst of it is usually over after Ferragosto. Yes, it’s inconvenient that things are closed but the assumption is that you are taking a break. It might not be an entire month. It might not even be in August but the whole vibe is all about slowing down. The way Rome feels in August is different. At the end of July, every conversation is about when and where you are going. The dry cleaner made sure I knew he was closing on the 6th and wouldn’t be back from the mountains until almost September. At my local market, all but one stand has been closed for the entire month. Before everyone left I had conversations with my neighbors and market pals and manicurist about a top-floor apartment in San Marino with a view of the sea but no air conditioning and trips to Corsica and Spain and Greece (Does it feel like everyone is in Greece this summer to anyone else?)
In the last few days, I felt the almost imperceptible shift in the light that means summer’s end. September is a month that welcomes a new season and new beginnings. In our family’s case this year more than ever.
Do you have questions about moving to Italy? I am NOT an immigration expert and every case is different with different requirements but I can probably connect you to the right people.
Not quite ready to move here? Are you coming to visit Italy in the fall or winter? Ask me about that! If you would like something more personalized we can do that too.
