Carpe Diem...(or in Italian Cogli L'attimo) is the name of the game. In fact, my sophomore year of college after 2 years of living in the eternal city I decided to get the saying tattooed on my right foot as tribute to my experience. It is also a reminder to live more in the moment instead of being fixated on the future.
Living abroad entails a lot of patience, open-mindness and flexibility. It's not for those that can't see beyond their daily routine in suburban America. I love my afternoons driving to Target and Starbucks don't get me wrong, but there is SO MUCH more than just that out there.
Here are some tips I have acquired over the years:
1) Keep a Journal: Whether it's a blog or a hand written notebook it's so fun to capture your thoughts as they happen
2) Learn to live simply: Condensing your "stuff" down to one suitcase for 3 months sounds like a huge challenge, but it's also liberating knowing you have everything you need... the bare essentials. When Blair was headed off to Sevilla I was there to help her get rid of all the extra stuff. I think she ended up taking like 2 pairs of pants, 4 shirts, 2 skirts, 2 jackets and maybe 3 pairs of shoes. Blows my mind too, yet once abroad all that "stuff" seems truly unnecessary.
3) Don't be afraid to ask: I've met some truly nice people just by doing everyday errands like going to the grocery store. I also ask the old Italian women in line at the butcher recipe advice, for instance. They are actually all over joyed to help the "Americana."
4) Go with the Flow: We are used to the hustle and bustle of everyday life, but sometimes it's nice to do as the Romans do. In the morning get dressed, go the bar and get a cappuccino and sit outside and just people watch. I'm telling you it's fun. At first the weird Italian guys looking at me really pissed me off, and sometimes they still do, but I've come to the conclusion that they don't do it to be rude, but rather to be social and friendly.
