(x-posted to Livejournal because this is big)
So, after months of agonising over where H. would be posted for work, the big news finally arrived yesterday.
They’re sending her to Rome.
Well, me and H… I think we’ve got something special. Something I don’t want to give up, y’know? So I’m going with her. I’m leaving my job, my apartment, my friends and family, and going to live in Rome for the next three years.
Now, let me make it clear, I’m fully committed to this and I’m delighted she got Holy See and not Vilnius (or, God forbid, Addis fucking Abbaba), but my brain is still reeling from the shock of it all and I’m having trouble trying to understand exactly what this means. I tried to get my head around it yesterday but instead ended up staring at a wall and muttering “fuck… fuck…” for twenty minutes instead.
What am I going to do there? No idea. The pessimist in me is looking on this as my life being turned upside down for a few years and panicing at the enormity of it all. The optimist, however, is seeing this as the great etch-a-sketch of my life being given a good shaking. Erase, start again. So I’m completely open to suggestions for what I could do with my new life. I’m roughly halfway between “Ride around on a Vespa saying ‘ciao’ for a living” and “Do a TEFL course and teach English”. But you’re a bright, creative bunch. Any other suggestions?
When are we going? Again, no idea. A few people got posted yesterday, so HR was understandably swamped and managed to duck out before H. could grill them for details. Hopefully it won’t be too soon. We need to sort out a going-away party.
Playing on my DVD player this weekend:
- Godfather I-III
- A load of Fellini
- The Italian Job
- Suspiria
- Season 1 of Rome
hey jk, firstly – Congratulations to Helena on the posting, secondly – what an oppurtunity for you both. This will be a wonderful & enlightening experience for you & Helena in one of the most culturally & historically vibrant places in Europe. yeah, it’s a frightening thought to move to a foreign country but, together, you can enjoy the fruits of a new direction in your lives (& in your relationship). Grasp this oppurtunity with both hands and make it yours. Contact the Italian Cultural Institute on Fitzwilliam Sq. They not only run very good Italian courses (recommend them), but will provide information on job oppurtunities and setting yo’self up in Rome. Contact Nicola Foxe. she spent a year or two in Rome, so she could pass on some invaluable advice. Take a trip out there before you go. a weekend or something. it’ll be less of a shock when eventually you set yourself up there. Use those ‘stars in your belly’ to your advantage.
Well Holy Moley (if you’ll pardon the pun). That’s amazing news dude. I know it seems like a ‘new start’ or a ‘big change’ and all that, but it’s really more of a detour – you’ll have the familiarity of being there with wonderful girlfriend and experiencing some AWESOME things. Rome would also be a great place to see the rest of Europe from, so you have that to look forward to in the longer term. I’d totally suggest working casually in a restaurant or something for at least a few years before getting into your more normal work over broadband or something. It’ll be mad stressful and maybe disheartening for the first while, but that’s the story with every new experience – new job, learning to drive, etc – it’s just being human. WOW ! Enjoy it dude.
oops meant months, not years re the restaurant thing !!