Remember That Once You Dreamed of Being Where You Are Now

“Remember That Once You Dreamed of Being Where You Are Now”

I had always dreamed of visiting Italy. I had been obsessed with the ancient history all through high school and had even started trying to learn Italian. My favorite movie was Eat Pray Love, but only the ‘Eat’ part.

I truly NEVER thought I’d be able to go. I watched my college roommates go on trips to Europe for spring break while I stayed back in the dorm alone, and there was a deep sadness that I couldn’t go on one, and that study abroad was just too out of reach.

I thought it was too expensive and it wouldn’t ever be possible. It was also intimidating in many other ways… First time in Europe?? How do you get around the city? How do you deal with not knowing the language? I was scared about a lot.

But then I got the trip of a lifetime with a great friend. It would be an understatement to say that this trip changed my life. I wholeheartedly believe that this trip changed EVERYTHING for me. It began the now decade long quest to find a way to be able to live in Italy.

I was obsessed. I loved the buildings, the smell, the golden light. I loved the people, the food, seeing everything brand new for the first time. I loved how I felt here- free, and like anything was possible. Home. It was the strangest feeling to feel ‘at home’ in a place I’d never been.

Now, after 11 years of romanticizing this place, a lot of that has become more realistic. There are hard parts about living here, challenging parts, ugly parts, part’s I’d like to trade. But it still is beautiful to me. It still has that ✨magic✨

And that version of me in 2013 as a 21-year-old tourist NEVER would have thought I’d actually be living here for this long, in a relationship with a loving Italian man, with my DOG @that.lily.dog (!!!)… it really does feel like a dream sometimes.

Видео Remember That Once You Dreamed of Being Where You Are Now канала Alyssa Mae Friend