Becoming Home

The insanity of orientation is over. There were moments when I thought I would never be able to say that. It was a solid 2 to 3 weeks of 12-14 hour days, and I was pooped. I can finally relax and unwind.

HA. What a ruse. Relaxing and unwinding doesn't seem like it will be happening here unless I am traveling, which thankfully is coming up this week. Thursday, Pedro, Mike, and I are leaving to meet our friends Conor and Claire at Oktoberfest in Munich, and I can't wait. I desperately need the time off, and I think it is coming at the perfect time.

I'm really settling in here in Rome. My Italian is coming back slowly (okay, anyone here in Italy with me would correct me to say "very slowly"). I'm doing some exploring and figuring out a routine, and I'm getting the hang of the job. I planned a wine tasting at Eataly for 52 people on Tuesday of next week. I finalized all of the plans for the Greece study trip. Calcio has started, and I'm leading the team to victory (along with my student who is Spanish and used to play at an American college and scored 5 goals last week). I'm getting to know some folks at local businesses, and I'm getting to know the hotel staff very well.

I work more than I've ever worked in my life. I work 9 to 5 Monday to Friday, and I also have duty 5 nights per week. Unfortunately, these don't match up, so I'm working every day just at different times. I have Monday and Tuesday nights off, and Saturday and Sunday days off. I am already going a bit stir crazy, but in a way, I was prepared for this with Korea, I think. It's difficult to live where you work, and it's easy to feel trapped. I felt it last year, and I've felt it at moments this year. Today, I went exploring in an area that my boss suggested called Ponte Milvio. I brought two students along, and we walked around a bit and went for tiramisu and french fries. It was a good relaxing day. Then, when I got back, I had a beer, smoked a cigar, played guitar, and talked with my friend Elly on the terrace. It was a solid evening backed by a solid day.

I need to keep reminding myself how lucky I am to call this place home for the next year and potentially longer. I need to keep going out and exploring. I need to find a way to barbecue if it's the last thing I do. The school has a fire inspection coming up, and afterwards, it's time for me to get a smoker. I need to keep doing things that stir me up. I love this city, and I need to keep making it about more than work, even if the main reason that I'm here is work.

I haven't really had time to be homesick, and as bad as it sounds, I just started really missing people in the last few days. My mind has just been so occupied with other things that I didn't have time for emotions. I'm sorry if I've been distant to those I usually keep in touch with, but it hasn't been very easy to do anything about up until now!

One of the tough things that comes with being so far away is missing things that matter to you. My good buddy Brett Stockmann is getting married in February, and he asked me to be a groomsman. I checked my work schedule, and it's just not possible to get home. It sucks to miss something so important. While I know he understands, I can't help but think that it's a letdown, and that many more of these situations will arise if this is the life I continue to want to lead.

I like the job. I like the students. I like where I'm living. I like my coworkers. I just need to keep those things in mind when the stress starts to mount. I need to separate the JFRC from Rome and go out and get to know it. I leave for a stress-free trip to Germany on Thursday, and I hope I come back rejuvenated and ready to roll.

Besides all of that, not too terribly much to report. Life's good. The food and wine are a bit too good. Cheers to hoping I'm not 20 pounds heavier next time you see me. Thanks for reading.