Jessica in Rome

I’m Back Baby!

WOW.wow.wow. What a wonderful time I have had this past month! Beginning with a trip to London, my wedding and a 16 day trip to the U.S, I am happy to be home and am completely exhausted! While I very much feel like the globe trotter (Italy-London-Italy-USA-London-Italy), I am happy to be back in my ugly pink robe (I’ll spare you the visual) and ingesting better quality food. I really learned that home is where the heart, and your ugly robe, is. The months leading up to the wedding were stressful. That combined with not having time for Italian lessons made me really hate Rome there for awhile. The break was needed and appreciated. When D and I were driving home from visiting relatives during our trip I said that I couldn’t wait to get home. He looked at his watch and said, “We’ll be there in 5 minutes.” Referring to the hotel.

“No, home home.” I said.

This trip opened my eyes in a lot of ways. It being my first trip back since my permanent move almost a year ago, I wasn’t sure if I considered Rome home. Now I know I do. It is where my life is now. My pet, my clothes and 50% of my family (as in the in laws who I love and adopted as my own) are all here. I can sense it deep down. Rome is where I want to be. With this my attitude has changed a lot. I actually want to learn Italian and get adjusted, and maybe even *gasp* get a job…well, we’ll see.

The trip also opened up D eyes a lot as well. I think he has a much better understanding of where I am coming from, not only literally, but in terms of culture. Things ARE really different in our two countries, and now he sees that when I complained, there is a source behind it. I loved seeing his annoyances about the U.S. Of course he thought the food was utterly gross, but he also found it sad that there was a drive thru for EVERYTHING.

“Can people really not get out of their cars? Are they that lazy? Drive thru banks, coffee, dry cleaning!!! No wonder everyone is fat!”

He has a point.

I adored the fact that he turned into a Starbucks addict and begged for American style breakfast every morning. I am so thankful for the things this trip has taught us and how closer we are from it.

I absolutely loved showing D around my old haunts: The Oregon Coast, Portland, Seattle and my hometown of Spokane. Most of all, it was awesome to see my sister Angie again. Here are Galleries of my favorite pics from each place!

Seattle:

Newport and Tillamook, Oregon

Seaside, Portland and the way to Spokane:

Spokane:

Posted in Jessica Romes: Road Trip! | 8 Comments

Nov 14th, 2007

8 Responses to “I’m Back Baby!”

on 14 Nov 2007 at 8:55 am1*Bluefish*

Looks like you had an amazing time with your husband My boyfriend found a lot odd things when he visited me-super size ice cream, coffee, soft drinks, etc. Also complained about the bad roads and not so high tech public transportation. I think it’s great to have a love one who sees the world different than we normally do. Take care. I really liked the pictures. I spent almost 2 months in Seattle when I was a kid and I still miss the seafood soup.
on 14 Nov 2007 at 10:59 am2Farfallina...

Welcome back Jessica!
Ah, I was also debating whether I wanted to make Rome my home for many years to come, and I came to the same conclusion you did Isn’t it great? I’m glad you love being where you are, and can appreciate its beauty
on 16 Nov 2007 at 3:19 am3lisa

Thanks!!! I’ll def be posting recommendations and insider tips! Congrats on a fab honeymoon!! That’s great that you now think of rome as your home! There are so many things to lvoe about it there–ps love the pics!
on 16 Nov 2007 at 11:34 am4Sarah Newton

Hey Jessica

Thanks for checking out my Blog, I’ve seen this blog a few times. I live in Rome too. I wondered if you’d be so kind to add a link to my blog from here? è possibile? per favor?

Sarah - wine90
on 16 Nov 2007 at 10:21 pm5Delina

Welcome back! It’s sounds like a fantastic trip. I love a comfortable old robe
on 17 Nov 2007 at 1:25 am6Elle

Welcome back! Cute pics

Isn’t it great we can actually wear robes at the moment - I was so excited when the weather dropped a little for me to be able to get out my blue sheep PJs and my robe!

The feelings you described are identical to those I had a few months ago. I was feeling down with Rome and was actually talking about leaving - in fact it was all I could talk about. Then we went on holiday to the States and I have never in my life, looked forward to coming back to anywhere more, or considered somewhere so much my home, I don’t ever recall having those kind of feelings after a holiday and returning to our home in London.

It was bizarre, as I was totally not expecting to feel that way!

But it is a great great feeling.

(Oh, just noticed my OH has posted on here above me! Great minds ‘n’ all that! Oh and PPS - I found H&M. I have no idea how I missed that great big mall at Porta di Roma literally 4 minutes from my house (doh!) but that Mall and H&M - plus the fact THEY STOCK MY SIZE! could be a reason I am even more in love with Rome right now!)
on 17 Nov 2007 at 1:30 pm7mentalmosaic

Sounds like your ruby slippers take you to right back to Rome these days! It’s such a good feeling to know where your home is.

I am curious: did you eat any pasta in the states, and if so was it really overdone?

Welcome home.
on 18 Nov 2007 at 9:56 pm8*Bluefish*

http://betweencanadaanddenmark.blogspot.com/
I started this but have trouble to use it…it’s not like OD at all.