*this is a really mini- chapter, the idea was to write from where the story left off (so from graduation from university until my first move to Italy but, as you can see, I skipped over that part). I hope to complete it at some point but for now:
Day 365 in Italy – BACK TO CANADA FOR CHRISTMAS
I had been “living” in Italy for 365 days on a working-holiday visa when the time came for me to go back to Canada. I never thought I would long for a Double-Double from Tim Hortons, Canadians the world over call that stuff liquid cocaine but I think it’s something stronger than that- patriotism. If you are not Canadian and reading this, a double-double is a regular brewed coffee with two creams and two sugars from a chain that is our version of America’ s Starbucks. There is nothing more Canadian than a Double-Double on a snowy day before skating or heading off to the hockey game. The coffee doesn’t cause the addiction, a bond to Canada does. I started thinking about ordering my Double-Double as I was loading my bag to be weighed in Milan’s Malpensa airport. Just 16 hours away, I could see the light. One year of Italy later and here I was, back at the beginning where it all began, in an airport, the same airport that I had kissed Massi goodbye in all those years ago on my very first trip to Italy. That time, when I turned on my heel and tried to walk away with dignity without bursting into tears, he had slipped a hand-written note into my hand. I couldn’t bring myself to read it immediately. I kept it in my pocket until I was sitting in front of the Air Canada screen with “Toronto” scrolling in capital letters. I nimbly unfolded it, read it, and boarded the plane.
...to be continued. Chapter 5 coming Tuesday, April 28, 2020.
Previous Chapters:
This Sweet Life: Chapter Three
This Sweet Life: Chapter Two
This Sweet Life: Chapter One
This Sweet Life: Prologue
Day 365 in Italy – BACK TO CANADA FOR CHRISTMAS
I had been “living” in Italy for 365 days on a working-holiday visa when the time came for me to go back to Canada. I never thought I would long for a Double-Double from Tim Hortons, Canadians the world over call that stuff liquid cocaine but I think it’s something stronger than that- patriotism. If you are not Canadian and reading this, a double-double is a regular brewed coffee with two creams and two sugars from a chain that is our version of America’ s Starbucks. There is nothing more Canadian than a Double-Double on a snowy day before skating or heading off to the hockey game. The coffee doesn’t cause the addiction, a bond to Canada does. I started thinking about ordering my Double-Double as I was loading my bag to be weighed in Milan’s Malpensa airport. Just 16 hours away, I could see the light. One year of Italy later and here I was, back at the beginning where it all began, in an airport, the same airport that I had kissed Massi goodbye in all those years ago on my very first trip to Italy. That time, when I turned on my heel and tried to walk away with dignity without bursting into tears, he had slipped a hand-written note into my hand. I couldn’t bring myself to read it immediately. I kept it in my pocket until I was sitting in front of the Air Canada screen with “Toronto” scrolling in capital letters. I nimbly unfolded it, read it, and boarded the plane.
...to be continued. Chapter 5 coming Tuesday, April 28, 2020.
Previous Chapters:
This Sweet Life: Chapter Three
This Sweet Life: Chapter Two
This Sweet Life: Chapter One
This Sweet Life: Prologue
RSS Feed
