Eventually you get used to certain things that in the beginning seem intolerable.  I've become used to living in a tiny space.  Though I'd love to have more room, I'm no longer feeling squeezed and confined.  I haven't had a screaming fit about no storage, no privacy, no exercise room, (yeah right), for a couple months.  But there are still so many things that have me longing for home.  Mostly it's the ease of familiarity.  It's familiar therefore it's easy.  Anything I do here comes with questions and hesitation because I don't really have it down yet.  It leads to a sense of insecurity.  I count on GP doing so many things for me here that I'd never dream of him doing in the States.  Making appointments, taking my car to the garage, paying every bill.  I've lost my independence.

I miss the comfort of English.  I miss knowing what everyone is saying in every situation.  Even with background noise.  After 30 years I still have trouble with talking on the phone and reading the paper and watching the news.  The vocabulary the news people use is so different from spoken Italian. They use really long words!  I could take classes or read more but I'm simply too lazy and unmotivated.  Of course not following the news means I'm cut off from so much.  I don't know what's going on in the country.  I know nothing about the politics.  The other day someone mentioned the president and I couldn't think of his name, (Letta).  Sad.  But do I really want to know anything about Italian politics.  Nah.

So instead of being immersed in Italian life, I sort of live on the edge of it.  Ah well.  At least the food and wine are available at the edge...  xxoo me