Month 2 | Vietri sul Mare, Italy
Where this month found me
At the start of month two, we relocated to Vietri sul Mare, one town over from Salerno, and the first town of the Amalfi Coast! We’ve begun getting in a rhythm; we have some favourite shops, regularly scheduled beach swims, a general understanding of the local bus system, and we’ve connected with a few people who are starting to feel like friends. Life has slowed down, in the best way possible, and it all still feels surreal!
Arriving & settling
We’ve been in our leased place for one month now, and we’re feeling pretty settled! Our landlord is wonderful; so helpful and very accommodating. When we first viewed the place, we mentioned a couple of things that were holding us back (no working AC and no laundry machine) and within two weeks of us moving in, he had both installed! I think we lucked out with such a great landlord, honestly.
Now we’re leaning into the small coastal town lifestyle – such a refreshing change of pace after living in the chaos of Toronto for over ten years. I don’t know if small-town life would be my default for the long term, but I can definitely say I’m enjoying it right now.
Finding a rhythm
We’re trying to navigate the day-to-day without work. At first, it left us both feeling a little lost, but after an adjustment period, we’re enjoying the slowness and having nowhere to be. The change of purpose from what's expected versus what you want to do is quite a unique experience for a couple of people in their late 20s. We’ve been filling our days with long walks, hours spent at the beach, swimming in the saltwater, lots of reading, and teaching ourselves the language.
Language & learning
After one week of Italian lessons, with language classes being a little out of our budget, we decided to take our learning into our own hands. We’ve been keeping up with our Duolingo, listening to podcasts, and sticking to self-made learning plans to keep us on track. But more importantly, I’m trying to speak in Italian when we’re out, unless absolutely necessary. It’s a slow process, but we’ll get there eventually!
Culture shocks
Cultural adjustment of the month? Small town business hours. In Salerno, larger grocery stores operated all day, similar to back in Canada. Moving to the smaller town of Vietri, the local shops shut their doors for a few hours in the middle of the day. Planning our day around shop hours is definitely new for us, but we’re getting the hang of it!
People & connection
This month we spent a lot of downtime together — it’s a good thing we actually enjoy each other's company! But we also had a few hangouts with some of the expats we met at the end of month one. We met up with one of the couples for all-you–can-eat sushi (who would have thought there would be such good sushi available in southern Italy?), and walked around one of the piazzas in Vietri with another friend and her young daughter.
It’s weird going from having a full social network in a place you’ve lived for so long to trying to form new connections from ground zero. It’s a little uncomfortable, it can be slightly anxiety-inducing, but it is definitely worth the effort!
Small joys
This month was filled with moments that made Tys and me look at each other and say, “Wow, I can’t believe this is our life.” Whether it was trying new gelato flavours, floating in the Tyrrhenian Sea, or spending mornings in the sun reading on our balcone (like a balcony, but Italian), we felt so privileged to be living this dream!
What this month taught me
Simply put, this month taught me to take things slow and enjoy the little moments. Well, that, and the Amalfi Coast requires a strong set of lungs… the hills in Vietri are brutal!
Looking ahead
With summer officially here, it’s time for everyone to start living their Italian Summer dreams, meaning we are about to have an endless stream of visitors. Goodbye, quiet. Hello, loved ones! We’re going to be exploring more of the Amalfi Coast with friends and family while they are here and show them around this little place we’ve made our home.
