It’s been quiet over here.

For good reason.

We arrived in Italy just over a month ago now, and to be completely honest, I still don’t feel like I have my bearings. After chatting with a few close friends, I’m finding that it is absolutely normal for an OCONUS PCS. It challenges your marriage, your soul, your physical body, and your patience.

From the moment we landed in Italy, I have been foundering for the words to describe one of the biggest transitions of our lives.  I was fooling myself thinking that I was prepared for a life abroad after already spending six months in Italy ten years ago.

That came and smacked me right in the face alongside the humidity as soon as I exited the plane.

Nobody speaks to you about reintegration; about how difficult it is to reunite your family after a time apart, especially when it includes time zones that are difficult to maneuver communication around.  Our family communication had been minimal as we attempted to get my husband set up in a foreign country, begin house hunting virtually, and finagle more than one issue with the airlines.

Our past month was spent in a temporary living facility (TLF for short) in a tiny town of Coltura, which is a quaint suburb of Polcenigo. The suburb was about a 20 minute walk from the main piazza, so it was quite isolated during the beginning when Bella and I were without a vehicle, especially since we were stroller-less and it was about 90 degrees out, so carrying her in a sling was quite the task!

Nobody truly explains the amount of mental exhaustion that comes from an overseas move. You’re thrust into a new culture, trying to understand simple things like: why don’t they supply high chairs for children? In addition, there’s a time zone separation from the support system in your life. Attempting to make new friends in a new squadron feels like an endless uphill battle as you show up to each function slightly less frazzled than the previous one, but just as late.

There are so many wonderful things about living in a new country, especially one like Italy that most dream of vacationing to. The views are breathtaking, the architecture is stunning, and the bread…..sigh, the bread is like pillows wrapped in crisp linen, soft and crunchy all at once. But there are also woes. Struggles that one wouldn’t have to experience on a week long trip. Like: do we really want to utilize the bidet on a daily basis? How will we teach our child to potty train over a literal flat hole toilet on the ground in public? How do we let the dogs out without a fence separating us from our neighbor?!

We live in Italy. Our blessings are abounding. We are thriving and enjoying our time. As we adjust, I’ll begin to tell you more about this crazy time of initiation!

Maybe once TMO finally decides to deliver our things 😉 you know, next year.