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Tim Dawkins's avatar

I’m in Italy right now with my wife, our fifth time here together. This time we are spending the holidays in Bologna, and it has been the best trip we’ve had here. I just wrote about my observations and how different life is here as compared to the pace at home in the states, especially during Christmastime. I yearn to live here, but that will have to wait for retirement in 10 or so years. Your piece has only driven that desire home even more poignantly!

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Nancy Raff at Itch.world's avatar

I really like Bologna. I’ve been getting to know it better as our son is living there for a year. Seems very liveable. Yes, jump in when you can—living over here magical.

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Tim Dawkins's avatar

We’ve been in Milan for the last two days, flying back to New York tomorrow (let the tears flow), and it only drove home how lovely Bologna is. Milan is certainly nice in its own right, but we really took to our eight days in Bologna. It is just so accessible, walkable, and the food!! We will definitely be back.

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Mary Kay Wall's avatar

Beautiful essay. I felt what I feel when I’m there!

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Nancy Raff at Itch.world's avatar

Awww. Thank you so much. It matters a lot to know that what I am writing connects with reader’s hearts.

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Rick Bailey's avatar

Wow, I love this, Nancy. I’m a midwesterner married into an Italian immigrant family. In retirement my wife and I live three months of the year in Italy. I see and hear and feel what you so beautifully describe. We leave in two weeks for Bologna, then down to San Marino where we live over there. Si che si sta bene.

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Nancy Raff at Itch.world's avatar

Thanks so much for writing, Rich. Sounds like you enjoy here as much as I do. I need to get to San Marino… not too far away and on my list!

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Thomas Kuegler's avatar

When I went to Europe 5 years ago, Italy was my favorite country to visit. My wife spent a decent amount of time there in her 20's and loved the people there as well. We speak Spanish and I feel there's so much overlap with Italian. It's not a perfect 1:1 all the time, but it's similar enough for me to understand what people are saying sometimes. Thanks for this article. Makes me want to move to Italy.

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Nancy Raff at Itch.world's avatar

It is a magical place to live. We’ve never looked back.

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Mary  Jane  Cryan's avatar

love your take on life here... complimenti.

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Nancy Raff at Itch.world's avatar

I really appreciate that! Thanks for taking the time to tell me.

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Mary  Jane  Cryan's avatar

What town are you in ? Im in Vetralla, prov Viterbo…stop by if you are in the area.

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Courtney Jill Bishop's avatar

Beautiful! I can’t wait to live in Italy one day!

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Nancy Raff at Itch.world's avatar

It has certainly been positive for us.

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Gillian Longworth McGuire's avatar

I love the description of living out of focus! That is the perfect way to express it

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Nancy Raff at Itch.world's avatar

Thanks! Certainly true for me.

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Geoff's avatar

These two lines made me laugh out loud: "the last time this house was remodeled— In 1777." and "I discovered that our kids were a lot less fragile than I thought when we lived in Berkeley." Profound and far-reaching. Wonderful, Nancy!

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Nancy Raff at Itch.world's avatar

Thank you! I had fun writing this one.

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Lolly Martyn's avatar

Wonderful read! So gappy to have found a kindred spirit in your situation and writing!

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Nancy Raff at Itch.world's avatar

Thank you so much!

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Who's avatar

I just saw this. Thank you for these perspectives. I particularly like the myopia analogy.

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Dec 28
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Nancy Raff at Itch.world's avatar

Thank you. Oh my, what a complicated topic language is. Our kids are native speakers at this point, but we are limping along much more slowly than I’d like. It’s a long discussion, but the bottom line is that comprehension is very situational for me. And much better if someone is slightly slower and clearer. I’m still struggling with speaking—gotta get over my self-consciousness. How is your Italian coming? Any hints?

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