Sometimes we have to move far from our home. We feel lonely, overwhelmed by many new things we are not able to grasp entirely. That’s when nostalgia starts.
It is not bad. It just reminds us where we are from, but it should never stop us from embracing the new life, the new experience we are living. Old is good when allows meeting a new present.
I told myself these words during these first few days in Philly. I have to confess that I had the great opportunity to stay in a family. And what a family!
I will remember them for the rest of my life (I am still in contact with them and hope to meet them again soon in the next few days). The mother is a force of nature. She is Italian and she has spent a lot of time with me teaching me how to live here. I have seen rarely such a sincere and genuine attention towards other people. Her husband is one of the most patient, authentic, passionate, and family-lover man I have ever seen. Their three kids have changed my idea of family at all. Even the 3-year old showed an independence that I guess we could never meet in our country, if considering same-aged boys. The other two girls the same. They are a team first of all. They are full of passion for what they do, and can instill enthusiasm in all people surrounding them.
THEY ARE!!!
I have always been skeptical about having a family. However, now, I see that there are many other possible models to follow. This has been my “family-diversifying experience” (i.e., an unusual experience deeply impacting on our life). It doesn’t mean I want children or related stuff right now. I can just see things from a different perspective.
I’ll let D.K. Simonton talk about what Diversifying Experiences are..
There are researchers spending their entire life to study the effecs of experiences abroad on life-change and creative ability. I am one of those, but I have never experienced what I studied. This has turned everything into a different light to me. Could it be the beginning of my diversifying experience?
Love
AWE 