Yes, it’s been a long while since my last blog. Mostly because Covid set me back. I still can’t believe that I tested positive for three full weeks. I wasn’t very sick, mostly tired. I slept a lot and had little energy to do much.
Our attention these last few weeks has been focused on several “administrative” tasks. First, Mike still has not received his official Permesso di Sogiorno. Our neighbor asked a few questions of colleagues and got minimal results. Last month, I sent a message to the Questura (police) from their website, explaining our situation and asking for information. Then, surprisingly, on 7 December, I got a phone call from a woman at the Questura in response to my message. She didn’t speak much English, so she gave me her phone number and told me to call back when I had someone with me who spoke Italian. Now, I still was testing positive for Covid and obviously could not do that. So the troops rallied at Giuseppe’s house, and with my phone, he called on my behalf. The woman told him to gather certain documents (which we had already submitted, but…), and to come to the office in Chieti the following Tuesday at 3:30. I finally tested negative, and Giuseppe drove us there in pouring rain (3 hours there and back). We waited. She never showed. Another woman took our documents and said she would hand them off to the first woman. A week later, since we had not heard back, Giuseppe called her again.
It seems that Mike’s application is in Rome. Why, we don’t know. His permesso will be approved through March 23, 2023. And he needs to reapply for a Carta di Soggiorno at least a month before that date. So, we start the process all over again. Welcome to Italy.
Anyway, now that we have most major admin things settled, we have turned our attention to financial and health issues. We need to find an accountant, a dentist, an eye doctor, and a dermatologist. I think the timing is good, because I have to pass the driving test and get an Italian driving license. The class I’m taking is an introduction to what’s on the test. There is so much to learn. And a lot of it I don’t know in English, let alone in Italian. So It is a challenge. I hope to complete it all in May.
These holidays are very quiet for us. We’ve enjoyed video chatting with the kids. We wish we could hug and squeeze the grandkids. They are so cute and we do miss them.
Here's Mike enjoying a Christmas brunch. Above is a photo of English Rock Cookies, a tradition in our household. I am very pleased that they turned out so good.
In addition to dealing with tedious tasks, we have started to think about places to go and things to see. We are expecting guests here in April and May, and Kate and family are coming end of June. Our cousins in Mirano may come in August. Our dance card is filling up!
Here’s wishing you all a very Happy New Year!
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