Pages

Saturday, October 18, 2014

Of Friends, Family, and Voyages


If you grew up and spent your life in the same place, your families and friends have witnessed most events in your life. Some people know this rooting in place is important, and they treasure the instances when everyone shows up at an event, when  they can catch up with each other on anything that happened out of sight just spending an hour or so at the local coffee shop.

At seventeen,I knew this life intimately.

Because of an enormous desire to travel and experience the world, I left my family, friends and hometown for the great adventure awaiting me in America. Did I have any hint of what was waiting
across the ocean? Did I contemplate the effect such a move would have had on the rest of the family? Did I analyze the pros and cons, the long term consequences of such a voyage?

NO. I WAS ONLY CONCENTRATING ON THE GREAT ADVENTURE IN MY FUTURE.

Did I find all the things I had anticipated? Yes and no.
Did I miss all the people and things I left behind? Yes and no.
Would I recommend such an adventure to others? Yes and no.
Knowing what I know today, I would have a long talk with that seventeen year old....
(to be continued...) 

14 comments:

Rian said...

Actually, I can't imagine doing that at 17. My biggest adventure at that age was going off to a college that was 1.5 hours from my home. It turned out to be a wonderful adventure and I loved it... but moving to another country at that age I just can't imagine. Please continue with your story.

Hilary said...

I understand the "yes and no"s. Although on a much smaller scale, my recent move 4 hour away from family and friends evokes some of those same duo answers.

#1Nana said...

Looking forward to the next chapter!

#1Nana said...

I'm looking forward to the next chapter!

MunirGhiasuddin said...

I left my family too but in a different manner. My marriage was arranged and I moved to England leaving my folks. I learned a lot too. I was twenty. Like you said the experiences are both good and tough, but that is life.

Velva said...

The beauty of being young is that not having experience leads us to taking on more adventures helping us expand the stories of our lives.

Velva

Tom said...

If we knew the challenges and consequences of everything we did, we might not do anything at all. And yes, I too am looking forward to the next chapter.

Vagabonde said...

I know what you mean. Where you alone when you left for the US at 17? You were younger than me because I also left, alone, at 21 for the US. But I did not know I would stay, my intention was just a long trip to visit all the states. I managed about 23 states in 3 months, but then I ended up in San Francisco and that ended the story. I’ll look forward to hearing more on your trip.

rjerdee said...

What you did was very daring, Rosaria...I can't imagine doing it myself...

yaya said...

I often wonder how my Grandparents really felt about leaving Greece and never seeing their family again...so hard..not sure I'm made of the stuff to do that. I'll look forward to the sequel to this! This also reminded me when I found an old diary of mine. I wrote it between the ages of 12 and 16...I would love to have a conversation with myself too! Ha!

Brian Miller said...

after college i travelled...saw the states quite a bit and made my way back to where i grew up...well an hour away at least...i would still love to see the world a bit but it is growing on me....smiles.

The Broad said...

I so know what you are talking about. How lucky I am to have been able to go back and forth as often as I have. I am really looking forward to learning more about your story...

Amanda Summer said...

You are speaking the truth when you answer both yes and no. There are no guarantees when we operate on faith and follow inner direction that the journey will be without challenges. If you had stayed in Italy, your life would have been completely different. But your life path was calling you elsewhere.

Helen said...

My life changed dramatically one month prior to turning nineteen ... I gave birth to my first child. Though that was pretty major, I cannot imagine leaving family and the world one has known from birth behind ~ seeking new adventures. Brava, Rosaria!