December in Roma and the start of 2023

I kind of forgot that I usually write a recap post every time I get back from Rome, which goes to show how busy life has been ever since I got back from Rome in mid-December that I never wrote one (it completely slipped my mind). I’m sure it has something to do with the fact that I was fighting for my life with the flu for a week when I returned, then it was the holidays, and then I was traveling for work right at the beginning of January. But more on that later.

Roma

There’s really not too much to say about the 2.5 weeks I spent in Rome, it was all business as usual. I slipped right back into my life there and when my time was up, I couldn’t believe it and neither could anyone else there. I was asked quite a few times, “But you’re leaving already? I thought you’d be here a couple of months.”

I guess I shouldn’t say there’s not much to say—because in reality, a lot happened. But I don’t share everything here, in fact, I keep quite a lot of my life private despite sometimes going deep here on the blog.

I left the Sunday night after Thanksgiving and stayed for a few weeks in an Airbnb I rented, down the street from my apartment last summer. When I got there I took the PLIDA exam, to show I’m an advanced level of Italian for the visa I’m hoping to get. It was actually really easy for me (I just took the B1 test) which was validating since 1: I only studied for a month and 2: I’ve pretty much been self-teaching myself Italian for the last 4 years after taking it for one year at university.

It was really nice to see my friends, as always. A few of my Italian friends that I made in Minnesota are now living back in Rome, so it was extra special to hang out with them in Italy instead of Minnesota and have them see a bit of my Roman life, and vice versa. It was so great to return to my favorite cafes and restaurants and see people at those places.

One of my best friends came up from Puglia to stay with me for a few days too, which was so fun. We usually only see each other for a quick lunch or dinner, so it was nice to have a few uninterrupted days together and to bop around Roma and see some mutual friends together.

I took one day trip to Florence, to meet up with a new friend who has quickly become a very close friend. We got tattoos down the street from my first Italian apartment in Florence, which was such a surreal experience. Then when I was back in Rome—the day before I left actually—I got one more tattoo at a place I’ve been wanting to go since I lived in Rome for the first time in 2019. Everything about that tattoo was serendipitous and honestly perfect.

My friend and I also had such a magical day in Rome (she came back with me from Florence), which included talking to a lot of cool shop owners, making wishes at the Trevi Fountain after some reiki and intention setting, all capped off with the best aperitivo/dinner at Mimi e Coco, one of my steadfast Roman favorites since my first time in the eternal city 6 (!!) years ago. It helped that I know one of the waiters there, and he pulled out all the stops for us. It was so cute and one of my favorite nights of the whole trip.

I also had a chance to meet a coworker in Rome, which was so much fun. And there were a lot of people I wanted to see but didn’t have time (always!!). I’m glad I was able to see my host fam (literally the night before I left—I hope you’re catching my drift as to how this trip was way too short haha) and catch up with them at home.

I also enjoyed some really nice Sundays spent my favorite way—wandering around the city, visiting museums and new exhibitions, then hitting 6 pm English mass before aperitivo. Plus, the city was all decked out for Christmas. I think that was half the reason I wanted to go! Rome during Christmas is always beautiful. There was one moment where I had stayed at the Palazzo delle Esposizioni too long (there was a very interesting Pier Paolo Pasolini exhibit) so I had to hop in a taxi to make it to church on time, just down Corso Vittorio Emanuele. The taxi stopped perfectly in traffic at Piazza Venezia, the window framing the beautiful Christmas tree in front of the Vittoriano (this year it really shined, other years the tree has been quite scraggly haha). It was one of my favorite moments in my favorite city.

I also had a raging sinus infection during the trip which wasn’t great. But overall I am so grateful I went, especially since it was kind of the last little trip before I get my visa and make the move to Italy for longer. So, definitely worth it. And I didn’t even pay for the flight (shoutout to miles!).

The start of 2023

Like I said earlier, when I got back from Rome I had the flu. I was out sick the entire week leading up to Christmas, which was a bummer. I was a shell of a person by the time it was actually Christmas but I enjoyed the time with my family. Then the week after Christmas was the usual flurry of seeing friends in town, skiing with my dad and brother, and trying to figure out New Year’s plans.

Then, just 10 days into the new year I went on a work trip to California, which I extended to go to Palm Springs with my best friend who lives in San Diego. The work trip was honestly amazing, and I felt so aligned in my life and positive about the future. It was a great way to start the year! Plus I met so many cool coworkers during the retreat, from all over the world.

Then my friend and I went to Palm Springs and it rained like, the whole weekend. It was freezing too and everything seemed to go wrong for us, but we did eat some great meals and met some really nice people at dinner on our last night. We ended up, honestly by divine design, at an Italian restaurant and the waiter was from my neighborhood in Rome (what are the chances?) and the owner was from near Tropea (again, what are the chances!? haha). It was almost like I manifested them. It pays to speak Italian and also to sit at the bar sometimes. The dinner was so good and fun and we ended up barely paying anything. Italian hospitality beats all, even in Palm Springs.

When we got back to San Diego, I found out I had passed my Italian exam, which was so exciting! Then when I got back to Minnesota I basically had a week to find a new apartment (probably another reason this post got so delayed). I had started looking a little before I left for California, then when I got back I just sat down one Sunday afternoon and looked around and contacted some landlords. When I say I manifested a beautiful apartment—I’m not kidding. Within less than a week I was moving into a beautiful one-bedroom in my ideal neighborhood. I still can’t really believe it.

My sister and I had been living together but with my timeline uncertain because of Italy, we decided to move out of our apartment. She found a place and moved in with some friends, and I ended up finding this place with a six-month, very flexible lease, which is exactly what I was hoping for. I’ve never felt more like an adult then when I moved in here and was just like, wow I can afford this place by myself. It’s crazy and still kind of blows my mind. I feel like finally, I’m actually becoming an adult (I’ve always been a late bloomer).

So February was spent settling in here, plus announcing my blog redesign with the 5-year anniversary of this blog. I threw my annual Valentine’s party, which ended up also being like a housewarming and a blog anniversary party (we ate the custom cake I made haha). I had so many friends and cousins come, it was really nice.

Then honestly since I passed my Italian exam I’ve just been in visa land. Every week I feel like I have a million little things to do to coordinate everything and make it happen. But piano piano it’s all coming together. I celebrated my birthday at the beginning of March, much more quietly than I prefer but some years are like that, and it’s okay. I went to hot yoga at my favorite studio and the museum and journaled and saw an Italian movie, so it was a good day. Just hard to compare to spending last year’s birthday at the sea outside of Rome.

Now it’s April (how!?) and I’m leaving in a couple days on my first trip since January, to Canada. I am so so excited to see my friends, experience a new country (I still can’t believe I’m 27 and this is my first time to Canada, considering we share a border here in Minnesota), and just be on a plane again and be moving around. It’s been the longest winter of my life—literally and figuratively. We had such a long, cloudy, snowy winter there were days I questioned if I would make it. And I’m not used to spending so much time here after moving around so much last year, that it was really hard for me. But, I know in the end it will all be worth it.

So, I’m sure I’ll be back with more blogs soon. But until then, I’m going to live again—and by that, I mean travel. 🦋 xxMaggie