As a Brit, it seemed almost incredible that I was able to sit outside on 23rd December and enjoy a meal lakeside in Trevignano… Yet here we were, the day before my flight back to the UK for Christmas with my family.
I also couldn’t quite believe that my first term in Italy was done and dusted. I’m not a big Christmas fan, for various reasons, but I was really surprised to see how much more low key the run up to Christmas in Italy is, compared to how it is in the UK. Having worked in schools in the UK for the past twenty years, by now, I’d have spent the last month scoffing “tins” of Celebrations in my break and lunchtimes. There was no chocolate to be seen in school here in Italy! I’d have been nibbling on chocolate coated Lebkuchen in the evenings and sipping Glühwein in the evenings. My time in German speaking countries as well as the prevalence of German goods in the UK have definitely shaped my festive diet.
There were no awkward conversations at the checkout in the supermarket where the cashier enthusiastically asks, “So, are you ready for Christmas?” I hate this question in the UK. The truth is, I would usually spend Christmas on my own (happily) eating my favourite foods, having been to the spa in the morning. My Christmas plans never met with the traditional British Christmas.
Have I actually missed the craziness of a British Christmas? Maybe just a smidge. I certainly missed some of the treats that we have but my waistline has definitely thanked me!
In an ideal world, I think I would probably go to the UK before Christmas, stock up on my favourite products and then have a very low key Christmas here in Italy. This year though, I had to return to the UK for Christmas as my sister and my nephew were coming over from New Zealand. I couldn’t miss out on seeing them. Coming to terms with this potentially being the last Christmas in the UK for a while was relatively easy to come to terms with.
I’ve got to say that the prospect of going back to the UK was a bit nerve racking in some ways. How would I feel, would I miss Italy? Would I be glad to be “home” in the UK? The reality is that I arrived home late on Christmas Eve, happily scoffed down a scampi and chips and swigged a lime and soda and got on my merry way. It was as if I had never been away. I guess that’s the weird thing.
I was back for ten days and enjoyed catching up with some of my loveliest friends, regretting not being able to see everyone in the time that I had. Happy memories were made with my siblings, photos were snapped and in no time I was back in Rome, ready to start a new year.