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Veni, Vidi, Didici.
I came, I saw, I learned is how this latin phrase is translated.
It is a slight change I made to the famous Julius Caesar quote – Veni, Vidi, Vici. (I came, I saw, I conquered), to remind me of the time I lived in Italy and how much I learned from being there for three years with my family.
Living in Italy forced me to learn its culture, to experience new ways, to adapt, and to appreciate what I have in life.
And, it sure taught me patience.
Does the phrase domani, domani (tomorrow, tomorrow), ring any bells for you?
Well it was something I heard almost every day. Nothing ever got done quickly.
When we ordered the phone line to be installed and asked when? They said domani, domani.
When we called a week later to ask when it would be installed? Again, we were told domani, domani.
When we called another week later? Again domani, domani. After a month it was finally installed.
So I became very patient and understood that life is better when it is slow. Once I did that, my life in Italy became so more relaxing and enjoyable. We all need to slow down!
Living in Italy taught me to be adventurous.
Now up to that point I thought I was adventurous – but travelling in Italy without cell phones, Google and GPS as well as having a language issue, made every trip an adventure. You never knew what would happen or where you would end up!
Whether it was buying local wine and filling your own jug or visiting the Buffalo farm and getting mozzarella di buffalo or climbing Mount Vesuvius or exploring the catacombs of Naples or visiting the Vatican or being robbed on the Rome subway, life was an adventure every day.
I became fearless, especially when my husband was deployed on military assignments.
And when the kids weren’t in school, we explored almost every inch of Italy and other European countries close by – it was amazing.
Sure, we got lost. We got off the ‘beaten track’ so often that we made new beaten tracks!
But because we did, we experienced so much more. We saw what Italy was really like, and those experiences were invaluable for our kids too.
“True life happens off the beaten track.” – Deborah MacDonald
We experienced the people and how beautiful Italians are. Always so caring and helpful to a lost and sometimes frustrated Canadian family.
Finally, living in Italy taught me that I wanted more freedom in life.
To be able to experience these new adventures, cultures and places.
It gave me an appetite (not just for great Italian food), but for a different lifestyle.
And because of my Italian experience, I became an entrepreneur and developed a business that would allow me to work from anywhere – even the Amalfi Coast!
So do you want a different lifestyle than the one you currently have?
Then let’s chat and explore how to do that. Let me help you get off the beaten track!
Book a phone call with me here. I’d love to find out more about what you want to explore.
Veni. Vidi. Didici.
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