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Published: October 27th 2011
So, I’m back. For how long? Who knows. I have this little problem with publishing things that I don’t like. And for me to approve anything, I must be motivated and 100% behind a post. I am sure you are saying a blog isn’t meant to be that special or that good, but I assure you I came up with at least another 1,000 excuses not to continue my blog, even after a measly 10 entries. LIFE happens.
Before I begin, lets go back shall we? Korea: LIFE changing? To say the least. Ups and downs? Like the T-Express at Everland-uh (look it up). Drama? Enough to rival a moderate episode of The Jersey Shore. Friendships? Check. Heartbreak and love? You bet. Torturous and overly stressful work? Unfortunately. Weirdo’s? Too many to count. Regrets? A few big ones. Memories? Some that will last a lifetime.
Now, here is a thought: Isn’t this supposed to be about traveling? Sure, but when you choose to travel for years at a time LIFE tends to happen while you travel. These things happen to all of us but they just happen to take place in a foreign country for me. So to sum it up, I left America for Korea with a completely different life than I now have. Not because I changed (although I did) but because of decisions (mistakes) that I made along the way that completely changed the landscape of me, and those I surround myself with. In the end, a travel blog for me may end up being a LIFE blog. But I’ll try to keep it light, but that wouldn’t be LIFE, so I immediately take that back.
In a way Italy started with a heavy heart, a joyful heart, a confused heart and a broken heart. The idea was that I would be completely emotionally ready to start a new journey that would bring its own challenges and difficulties. But here I was (am) with an emotional state that was completely not normal and I only had myself to blame. But you can only hope, while making decisions months before there are to take effect, that you are ready when the time comes.
To catch everyone up to speed on the travel side of life, I agreed to an au pair gig in Pianezza, Italy (15 minutes outside of Torino) about 4 months ago. I decided at 24 life had become too stressful and too focused around money and not around enjoying life. So I thought about an occupation that could keep me traveling but without the stress. Of course taking care of children can be the most stressful job in the world but I felt that if I found the right family in the right area, I could find the perfect job. And I did. His name is David, he is six years old.
Italy. I arrived at the Milano airport at about 2:30pm on Tuesday October 25, 2011. I was met there by my new employer and friend Massimiliano Del Mare (one hell of an Italian name, no? Max for short). It was an hour drive to Torino and my new home. The house is a vertical house with 4 floors (including the basement). It is an absolute wonderful place with a view of the mountains that will keep any aspiring cyclist motivated. Its perfect. Of course my room is the best part. Not only is it my room but it is also David’s playroom. This gives me unprecedented access to such things as a chalkboard, a Bob the Builder work station, a turtle seat/pillow, various stuffed animals, road map carpet, a million toys and a coloring station that would have Picasso blushing. Jackpot.
Food. I have been called a picky eater once or twice in my life. Most of the time I am referred to as a five year old when eating (and now when I sleep and hang out in my room). In my view, ketchup is a great way to eat tomatoes and chicken fingers should definitely be added to the food pyramid (I’ve been told it was recently changed into a plate). Seafood is something I stay away from, unless you considered fried shrimp as seafood (most countries outside of America don’t). Of course living in Korea was good for me in this regard and my food preferences expanded tenfold in the last 1.5 years. But I think twentyfold is about to go down. Every meal is explained in such a manor that you’d think it was on exhibit in some national museum. Everything is discussed. How it is prepared (usually contrasting the American way to the Italian way), how it is eaten, where it came from, what it goes well with and which vino it should be pared with. I have been blown away with this part of the culture. I knew they loved food, but I had no clue this much was possible. It is going to be an amazing year.
And that’s why I travel. To broaden horizons. To learn and to be challenged. If nothing more my palate will be thrown things it didn’t even know existed. Something tells me it won’t just be my palate.
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Mom
non-member comment
Awesome!
Oh, Jake! I love it! A great new beginning and I can't wait for each entry even if it's only 9 more!! Take good care of yourself!! ILYMTLIS!!