1 Day to London: Goodbye Rome

 

Goodbye Rome. Time is over. I enjoyed all my years spent here, but now I need a change. London is pretty close and so I'll periodically be back to Italy, but only for short period.

Thoughts. I think I'll miss every person I've ever met and, of course, all my friends, relatives and parents. All you will be in heart and maybe in my Skype (lele_ballack, add me!).

Traffic? I don't know if I will miss anything else of Rome, anyway I'll tell you during the next days. For sure not the GRA and the traffic, maybe just the climate! So, see you somewhere in the world.

2 Days to London: Packing Time

I've always loved to pack. It needs organisation, precision, attention and a bit of madness. It's not easy to put all my life in such a small space like a suitcase. However, is a great challenge.

Mess, just mess. All the clothes are scattered around the room, accessories packed in several boxes and everything else no one knows if it will fit in. No worries, just order and method, as said Poirot.

Weight issue. The good news is that everything fits in, but the only problem is the weight: not more than 30 kg. I will face it maybe few hours before leaving or directly at the airport. Anyway, all things that will exceed, maybe will be useless.

Today is the my mom birthday. I delayed my trip for this reason, I wanted to give her this last gift. And, of course, it is nice to spend one last night with the whole family.

Time is over. Finally, only a last goodbye and a promise, perhaps vain, like many others, or maybe not. Time will tell us, I hope.

6 Days to London: Friends Night

I'm ready. Today I did the last medical exam and I'm finally ready to go. Now, it's my moment, everything is already planned and 14th November I'll finally go. I can't wait any more.

Here we are. The countdown now runs towards the end. The last major step is to greet all most important friends and that's why I organized a fantastic goodbye beer. Among invitations not received, missed calls and last-minute surprises, the night was really satisfying and especially long, as usual.

Thanks friends. I will miss you very much. Hope to see you soon... in London!

7 Days to London: Goodbye Books

I donated all my books to the local library. I just saved my favourite ten and then I let them go on their way.

I think that the culture should be shared. Books don't belong to anybody: they just belong to the world. Leaving books on the shelf collecting dust it's a great waste: they can still be read by many people.

Reading is a pleasure. I think that everyone should have the possibility to read books for free. Even because the current price of the books in the bookshops is pretty expensive. 

So books, have a safe and funny journey. I hope you'll be treated well as I did and you could make dream many other readers.

8 Days to London: CV Day & Friends

CVs and UK: mistake. Someone told me that my European standard CV wasn’t suitable for United Kingdom.  That was really a bad news. So, I had to write afresh a new curriculum. I goggled to collect as more information as I could about this new standard but I didn’t find anything really official. Finding common aspects among different models, I started it. But, it wasn't so easy as I thought it was.  At the top of the blank page I just wrote: “Curriculum Vitae”, than a guide that I downloaded showed me that I shouldn't  So, I just wrote my name. And after e-mail address and my Italian cell phone number. Now, the trouble started. 

Too much space to fill in. CVs for UK should have “Key Skills” and “Profile” sections. I really didn't know what to write in. Every guide I read proposed to use an original template: it was already hard to outline it that I was almost to give it up. But I resisted and I just decided to fill as better I could this blank page: after it I’ll take care of the rest. That part of the work was very funny: finding right sentences, associating words  and summarising information. In my opinion, I did a good work. Changes will be put tomorrow: I believe a new mind will fix any problems.

Friends night. I stood up from the chair and got dressed: it was time to go out and met all my Krav Maga friends. That was an amazing dinner and night: it always very pleasant to know people that before were just training partners.  I’ve always loved this kind of way to stay together. And as always it ended very late: travel talking usually last very long. Every word, suggest, idea I received enrich me. 

Now, I’m even more enthusiastic to start this trip. Of course, there will be difficulties but I kwon I can overcome them. 

15 Days to London: Special Goodbye

Special person deserves special goodbye. What makes someone special is not a question of time, but the way that person can reach and touch your heart. Indeed, the amount of time you spent together is really less important than its quality. So, it's truly hard to say goodbye, especially pretending not to be sorry at all.

I think there are many crossroads in life and only choices make the difference. There aren't good or bad choices, but just choices. They change people, places, situations and the way the World turns. And our choices were different. It's not a matter of guilt, but a matter of freedom. That's the ground of happiness.

To say goodbye is not an end, but a new start. Two different lives, two different places, two different worlds, but the idea of a connection that will never stop. I already told and wrote you all my thoughts, sensations and emotions, but I never confessed that I'll sure miss you.

We have an appointment. In the future. Is up to each one to remember. So.... see you.

15 Days to London: Greetings Time

It always happens. The awkward moment when I have to say goodbye. It means there will be a change and something will happen soon.

Yes, I'm leaving: I don't know how long I'll be away, maybe a year, maybe forever. Anyway, I'll be far away for a long time and I'll probably miss every thing and every person of my previous life, but I have and I want to go. There will be a rift and after it nobody knows what can happen. I don't know and I'm afraid, but I'll do my best.

Saying goodbye is for sure the last step before leaving, but usually is the first I think about. Leaving people with whom you spent most of your life is not easy. How to survive it? I prefer to avoid sad situations, but I have to face them. Tell someone that I'll leave, grab some money and assure him we'll keep in touch is pretty simple. The hardest part of this ritual is to say goodbye to old relatives. Uncertainty, anxiety, emotion and a mix of different sensations usually block me. Only reading happiness in their faces rewards me, but I truly hope to see them again.

So, goodbye. But not now, just in 15 days.