My September in Italy: Halfway Through and Full of Surprises
Ciao again! It’s Hadeel, and I can’t believe it’s already been four months in Italy.halfway through my eight-month journey. Time is flying by, and September was no exception. It felt like the month zipped by as fast as Super Mario on his way to rescue Princess Peach! A lot happened in September, so let me take you through it.
Celebrating Saida’s Birthday in Lake Como
One of the best parts of September was celebrating Saida’s birthday. Saida is the Moroccan woman who has been my mentor during my volunteering, and she has become like a sister to me. We went to Lecco, by Lake Como, to celebrate, and I wanted to make her birthday as special as possible.
Saida is amazing,she speaks five languages, she’s incredible at her job, and she has this beautiful balance between professionalism and kindness. I admire her so much, and honestly, I’m lucky to have her in my life. I feel like I’ve gained a sister for life, and that’s one of the best things that has come out of this experience.
Heartbreaking News
Earlier this month, I was looking forward to my friends from Jordan visiting me, but sadly just two days before my friends were supposed to arrive, everything changed. I received devastating news: their father had passed away. It was like a punch to the gut. I loved their dad, and hearing this broke my heart. It felt surreal, and suddenly, all the excitement drained out of me. All I wanted was to fly back home and be with them. This news also made me miss my own family even more, so I decided to book a flight to Jordan.
A Bittersweet Visit to Jordan
I was both sad and excited when I landed in Jordan. On one hand, I was thrilled to see my family again, eat my favorite dishes, and spend quality time with my loved ones. But on the other hand, I spent a lot of time with my friends who were grieving the loss of their father. It was emotional and heavy, but being there for them felt right. Despite the sadness, my heart felt full after seeing everyone and recharging in the comfort of home.
Back to Italy: A Big Event
After six days in Jordan, I flew back to Italy, straight into the chaos of a big event Avis Lombardia was organizing at Castello di Somma Lombardo. And when I say straight into it, I mean literally,I landed and went directly to the event, where I was scheduled to speak about my volunteering experience in front of Avis members from different cities in Lombardy. I was a bit nervous, especially since I arrived just hours before the presentation, but I managed to pull it off! It ended up being an amazing experience, and I was proud of myself for handling it, jet lag and all.
Finding Comfort in Milan
Once the event was over, I returned to my usual routine, and for the first time, I realized something: Milan feels like home now. I’m getting used to the flow of life here. I’m starting to love this city more and more. Oh, and speaking of love… I think I might be falling for a gentleman who lives here too! But that’s a story for another day.
September was a whirlwind of emotions,excitement, sadness, relief, and a growing sense of belonging. I can’t wait to see what the next months in Italy will bring!
