It's finally beginning to sink in that I'm leaving my New York life behind. People complain about the bureaucracy in Italy, but for some reason I am only feeling grouchy about the bureaucratic tasks involved in getting there from here.
When I left my last meeting at corporate headquarters, I thought of the people I'll miss at my company. I did get to say a few words to some and confirm that my last day at work will be February 28. I'll miss my colleagues at the clinic, too. I hope that I'll have people dropping in at Il Loggino over the next few years. The invitations are heartfelt; the recipients are part of my history and I'd like some continuity and I'd like to get to know some of them better than I've had a chance to do while working.
But as I walked away from the place, thinking of all the changes that I had a small part in implementing (and hoping I did well by patients and colleagues alike), I was suddenly acutely aware of all the red tape to get through in the next month: fingerprints and an FBI certificate of good conduct required for the residency visa, all the documents (in triplicate), the financial arrangements (the pension checks, bank and brokerage statements, etc.)-- the anxiety kicked in. Thank heaven for my counterphobia. It'll get me through all of it.
Next thing you know, I'll be a casa. Magari!

posted by Joanna @ 1/13/2005 04:44:00 AM