It has been awhile
Yes, I realize I have not blogged anything of substance or interest in quite awhile. This is due to various factors, one being I am quite busy at work, and two I haven't felt the inspiration to write. That is until last night my darling husband told me a little story that...shall we say inspired me. So sit back or lean forward, I have a story to tell you. It is a true story based on my younger years. Take away from it what you will.
I married young, eighteen to be precise. The man I chose was in the military, United States Navy. After two years of marriage, and two small boys, we were deployed to Italy. Not the mainland but an island 125 miles off the coast of Rome. The island of Sardinia. A beautiful place in the middle of the Mediterranean. I did not speak Italian. I had a few years of high school Spanish, but Spanish is NOT Italian.
We found a little apartment in the small village of Ruoni. The closest market was a mile and 1/2 away. The military base was located on its own small island about an hour from Ruoni. Therefore, most food I purchased I bought on the economy. We only had one vehicle so anytime I needed supplies I would walk the dirt road pulling the little red wagon and dragging the baby and toddler with me. It was far from easy.
Water was scarce and during the summer months I would have to go to the village water spout and fill my five gallon bucket up in order to have water to bath, do dishes, and laundry. My husband, ex-husband now, was rarely home. Being in the Navy he was deployed anywhere from two weeks to three months at a time. Thus, I lived a very isolated existence.
This experience could have gone a variety of ways. I could have been miserable and demanded to be sent back to the States. I could have complained incessantly to anyone who would listen, spouting the “oh poor me” attitude or I could do what I did. I learned to speak Italian well enough to befriend my neighbors. I immersed myself in the culture. I walked to the small store carrying my eggs in a basket, my bread in a plastic bag and my meat wrapped up in some wax paper. I made friends regardless of the fact I could barely communicate to them. The little family that ran the store always took the time to give Justin, a precocious toddler, a special treat each time we entered the store. My neighbors introduced me to all kinds of gourmet delights. I ate snails as well as drank regional wines. I was taken to beautiful restaurants known only to the locals. And I was able to experience Italy as a pseudo native.
Had I allowed my lack of knowledge of the culture or inability to speak the language deter me, I would never have had such an amazing experience and met so many wonderful people.
Life is about choices. You can chose to be a participant and relish all that life throws your way accepting that every day is a challenge and opportunity to learn and embrace diversity or you can be passive and believe life is there to beat up on you. Personally, I prefer to participate and enjoy the challenges life gives me.
I married young, eighteen to be precise. The man I chose was in the military, United States Navy. After two years of marriage, and two small boys, we were deployed to Italy. Not the mainland but an island 125 miles off the coast of Rome. The island of Sardinia. A beautiful place in the middle of the Mediterranean. I did not speak Italian. I had a few years of high school Spanish, but Spanish is NOT Italian.
We found a little apartment in the small village of Ruoni. The closest market was a mile and 1/2 away. The military base was located on its own small island about an hour from Ruoni. Therefore, most food I purchased I bought on the economy. We only had one vehicle so anytime I needed supplies I would walk the dirt road pulling the little red wagon and dragging the baby and toddler with me. It was far from easy.
Water was scarce and during the summer months I would have to go to the village water spout and fill my five gallon bucket up in order to have water to bath, do dishes, and laundry. My husband, ex-husband now, was rarely home. Being in the Navy he was deployed anywhere from two weeks to three months at a time. Thus, I lived a very isolated existence.
This experience could have gone a variety of ways. I could have been miserable and demanded to be sent back to the States. I could have complained incessantly to anyone who would listen, spouting the “oh poor me” attitude or I could do what I did. I learned to speak Italian well enough to befriend my neighbors. I immersed myself in the culture. I walked to the small store carrying my eggs in a basket, my bread in a plastic bag and my meat wrapped up in some wax paper. I made friends regardless of the fact I could barely communicate to them. The little family that ran the store always took the time to give Justin, a precocious toddler, a special treat each time we entered the store. My neighbors introduced me to all kinds of gourmet delights. I ate snails as well as drank regional wines. I was taken to beautiful restaurants known only to the locals. And I was able to experience Italy as a pseudo native.
Had I allowed my lack of knowledge of the culture or inability to speak the language deter me, I would never have had such an amazing experience and met so many wonderful people.
Life is about choices. You can chose to be a participant and relish all that life throws your way accepting that every day is a challenge and opportunity to learn and embrace diversity or you can be passive and believe life is there to beat up on you. Personally, I prefer to participate and enjoy the challenges life gives me.
posted by Kelly @ 12:22 PM
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