Unforgettable Summertime Adventures in Italy

Hello, lovely tribe. August has left the building, and now September is here. Summer is just about finished, isn’t it? Italian summers feel quite long for me. In the sense that my littles are out of school for a whole three months! So making sure they have activities to do, summer camp, and time to be bored too. Because, of course, they need a break! All while I try to work from home.

I really tried to slow down and be more present this time around, and I did manage that, at least a bit. My brain loves to constantly think about other things, worry about all the things I should have done. So, almost daily meditation has been my thang. And journaling as well. I’ve been easing back onto social media. I created a whole new Instagram account, more focused on the immigrant/expat experience abroad. I’m intentionally more focused, connecting differently, more meaningfully, without getting buried in the constant flood of content. That was the whole reason I stepped away for almost two years—too much noise, too much overwhelm. It’s been nice to keep a bit of distance, not be plugged in 24/7. A relief to just step back and breathe while being online in a new way.

Looking back, this summer was pretty full, even though I didn’t travel much beyond Italy. Still, there were a lot of joyous moments and new lessons—staycations, about business, and about how to work smarter, not just harder. One highlight was a bike ride with this great group called InterNations. We went to a beautiful island near Chioggia, and the ride was stunning. It felt good—just being outside, moving through beautiful places with great people.

June was quieter, mostly focused on working on the home restaurant and catering business with Ale. We figured out new ways to team up and build systems that help avoid repeating mistakes. One big lesson there was about partnerships—how important it is to set clear boundaries and expectations from the start. A couple that came to the home restaurant who wanted to work with Ale and fly him out for a gig. We tried to get details and a contract, but they kept saying they were too busy. They told us to come anyway. Fast forward—they didn’t host us as promised, didn’t pay for our tickets, and we couldn’t get a refund or resell them since the tickets were nonrefundable. So, we ended up losing that money. It was frustrating, but it taught us a lot about being clear upfront on what we expect and what others should bring to the table.

Another bright spot was my sister coming over from England to visit. It’s always special to have family around when you live abroad. She spent time with my nieces and nephews, which brought a lot of joy and comfort.

I also managed a quick trip to Verona, my first time there. That was exciting. I saw the opera Aida at the ancient arena. The venue was amazing, a real treat. It was hot—very hot—but the experience made it worth it. I felt fortunate to be able to immerse myself in that kind of culture and history, even for a short while.

August brought my birthday, which falls on Ferragosto, the 15th. In Italy, almost everyone takes a vacation then, so the mood is quiet everywhere. I went to Recanati to celebrate with friends from New York. That time was really nourishing for the soul—so relaxing and peaceful. Big thanks to Ila and Gio for hosting us and letting us enjoy nature surrounded by sunflower fields. The Le Marche region was breathtaking, and I also got to visit Macerata, which was lovely.

Now I’m back in Treviso, getting ready for the start of the school year. These quiet moments before the busy season feel like a good time to pause and reflect on all the wins from this summer.

I did have a bit of a health scare recently, which landed me in the ER (Pronto Soccorso in Italiano) here in Italy. The system worked well—everything was clean and efficient. I got some tests done, including blood work, and the visit cost me just 57 euros! I’m really grateful for the healthcare here. I plan to share more about that later since it’s one of the reasons I’ve chosen to stay in Italy.

So, tribe, I hope your summer’s been treating you well. I want to be more consistent with sharing here, so if you have tips or ideas on how I can stick with it, I’d love to hear. Mostly, I want to stay present and connected with all of you, especially through this blog. Wishing you a wonderful rest of the summer. Talk soon.