From Miami to Masate

It is day 4 now of no sun in Masate....nebbia actually which is the Italian word for fog. Welcome to "autunno" in Italy. I have lived here almost a year now with my wonderful husband who grew up only 3 miles down the road in Cambiago. It's amazing how Italians never move far from home. For the first 6 months we lived here, his mom mentioned at least once a day that he made a mistake buying a home in Masate and not Cambiago. To the point where eventually he had to say "Basta!" In America, if you moved 4 hours away, you were considered close.

It was around this time last year we decided it would be best I quit my job and come to Italy to live with him. We were, after all, married so it made sense but the thought of living in Italy seemed so huge to me for I had lived in the U.S. my whole life. But here I am...from Miami to Masate.

Masate is a small village about 30 minutes east of Milano. It is a typical Italian village- just enough shops to get by: two small stores to buy groceries, one pharmacy and 3 coffee bars (cafe' e' molto importante in Italia!). At first I didn't know what to do with myself- where was the big grocery store where I could buy everything? And then I discovered the beauty of buying food everyday - FRESH.

After living here for about 6 months, I finally got up the courage to go to the store here by myself. Right away they knew I wasn't Italian. The American accent is like a flashing light on your forehead. But they now call me by name and hold my favorite bread for me daily and going there has become my religion.

So I have found the beauty here in Masate...a beauty I could not find in 3 years in Miami. E' una bella vita.