Tomorrow We Will Move
Monday, January 9th, 2006 -- adminIt’s done. Tomorrow we will leave Italy for the United States.
I’m nervous. J.Doe is nervous too. This is not a “vacation”, despite we filled suitcases, bought plane tickets, like for a leisure trip. We mailed many heavy boxes overseas.
When we mailed our first box, a few days ago, we found that shipping is more expensive than we expected — about 100 euros for a 5 pounds box. Then, shocked for the expensive price, decided to rethink the list of things to mail — i.e., we brought less stuff with us for saving money.
Nonetheless, the sum we finally spent was again a lot. In these cases you have to be selective, to decide what to leave behind you; what is necessary and what is not. Not a very easy task. If it is easy to pick just one of two clothes that look very similar (for instance, two black shirts or two dark pants), it’s hard to leave back stuff you’re affected to, things that remind you nice moments in the past, things that we think we cannot do without but that probably it’s useless to bring because are things easy to find and cheap to buy in the USA.
We are also carrying with us heavy suitcases. We spent part of our time weighing them more times, finding them heavier than the maximum allowed, redistributing the excess weight among the other suitcases.
You know, we knew that we are allowed to bring up to two suitcases up to 26 Kg each, and one carry-on suitcase up to 12 Kg. This lets us bring up to 128 Kg in 6 suitcases. Believe me, they’re not enough.
Is it anti-economic to bring one’s own clothes instead of buying them there ? It depends on how expensive clothes are, and how much you like those clothes on you. It’s not easy, and stressful to leave pieces of your life behind you.
Yesterday we had a farewell dinner with a couple of friends. We gave them our left food supplies. Obviously, They were only closed boxes of food.
They were two huge bags stuffed with food. It was our supply to be used in case of nuclear attack ! 
Obviously, it was all unexpired food. I told them: “anyway, you double check the expiry date, just in case !”
That food was A LOT. J.Doe and I have been repeating each other: let’s not make food supplies, because we are gonna move… sure, last famous words.
She is Canadian and he is Italian. I will miss them.
I am grateful to her because, in these 3 years of marriage, and of J.Doe’s life in Italy, she was J.Doe’s closest friend. I’m happy that J.Doe found this friend in our town.
I should have told them all these things yesterday night, instead of just writing them on the blog…
Best of luck to you both, on your return. I am sad that we are losing two exapts, but I am a bit jealous too. Have a safe trip *home*.
J.Doe was the expat in the family, now she won’t be anymore.
I wasn’t an expat, and I will be since tomorrow. So, this blog remains an expat blog.
Thank You Sara.
Safe travels to both of you. We’ll see you on the other side.
Did you write that correctly? It cost 100 euros for FIVE POUNDS!?? That is unbelievable.
I know you don’t know me much, but I’ve done some serious moving in my past and it’s always difficult to decide what to take, what to leave. Sometimes I look in my cupboards and find something that I’ve toted around for 20 years and wonder, what the hell was I thinking in packing THAT thing around with me. And then other times I so miss my old stuff.
But it’s about a fresh start and new beginning for you guys. Blessings to you!
(I love the spell check on this blog!)
Have a safe trip. Wish we could have met in Florence earlier. I hope the US is hospitable to you and that you have many great experiences. Eat a Krispy Creme for me.
Have a safe trip. You leave behind you a country in severe distress…
P.S. Your Wordpress theme is very nice, it is a variation on Kubrick, I guess. I’m looking for a WP mini-post plugin, but apparently they just work with the Kubrick theme. Sooner or later, I’ll get there
I guess it is hard to move. Having lived out of suitcases for the last 5 years of my life, I know how that is trying to decide what to leave behind. Have a safe trip and can’t wait to hear of your new adventures with the expat roles reversed.
Godspeed and safe travel…..may you both find the tranquility that you are seeking…..we’ll look forward to reports on this end!!!
Buon viaggio!!! I wish you a fun flight and a great new life in America! And hey, those friends can always visit you.
Hey guys, buon viaggio! Vi auguro ogni bene e serenità… e di trovare quello che state cercando. Migrare è faticoso, ma può essere molto appagante. Spero che sia così per voi. Buon viaggio!!
Hey! I think I missed you! (As you know, I too was in transit, but I finally made it.) I hope you’re having an ok trip back and that you feel once again a casa molto molto presto. I understand so well the range of emotions you’re experiencing. I also found myself in a position of having wished I’d said things I hadn’t said, done things I hadn’t done (isn’t that a K. Bush song??) and really it’s hard. But, we do the best we can, and no one can expect more. I will be very curious to hear about your readjustment process…I hope to get back into writing about mine…we’ll be able to commiserate, huh? It ain’t easy, that’s all I can say. Anyway, my warmest wishes to you both. Til soon!
Have a great trip and an even better one as you start your lives again in the US! I do hope you’ll continue to update your blog so we can share some of your experiences on the other side of the Pond!
Kalo Taxidi! Buon viaggio!
Thank you all so much for the wonderful messages! We really appreciate all your kind thoughts.
Our trip was rather uneventful,and now we are in New Jersey recovering from jetlag. Of course one of our suitcases decided to remain in Paris,but both Buzzurro and I are in New Jersey and that’s what counts.
We will definitely update the blog as we both embark on this new chapter of our lives.
Glad to hear you had a safe trip back!
Welcome to the United States!!!!
First thing, go shopping!
We are very pleased to have you both join us.
By now you are safe and sound in the USA: Hope you had an uneventful flight. Best wishes to you both!
Cyn
I hopr you don’t mind a special request. You both now have first hand experience in comparing the cost of living in Italy and the U.S. While the comparisons are still fresh in your minds, would you please let us know how they compare?
I suppose the differences may be explained by different average incomes, but for those of us that are considering spending a few months in Italy, it will be very informative.
Thanks,
Ray