Italy, Family and a battle of anxiety.

I am in Naples, Italy -with my entire family and my heart could not be happier. When I arrived here, my immediate family was not here because they missed one of their flights due to weather. I was greeted, with kisses on each cheek by my Italian family, who does not know English.

One things you need to know before this post gets started, I have been battling fear and anxiety like a mad man for the past two weeks. I have lost all joy, I have lost the ability to enjoy simple moments because I am trying to figure out why bad things happen in this world, I am trying to understand how God works and I am trying to figure out my life's calling. I wonder most days if something bad will happen and how I will respond. It has been a struggle. A STRUGGLE. 

I was with my family who does not speak English and culture shock set in. When you arrive in Naples the airport is on the industrial side of town, it looks barren, but still beautiful - you pass a volcano, some big buildings and tons of apartment complexes, that is how people live here. Its is cheaper and nicer to live in apartments. I was in the car with my cousin and her husband, they didn't speak English - but she knew a few words, and that helped a bit. We arrived at  Zio Fanco's and Zia Rosetta's (Nonna's brother and his wife) apartment, I sat at the table for a little bit while they tried to figure out a way to communicate with me, I had a glass of water and then my anxiety kicked in so I knew it was time to take a nap. I went to my room and slept for a bit. 

I woke up, tried to communicate with Zio Franco and then messaged Paola to see when she would be back. I got dressed, still fighting the anxiety, I showered and cried a bit because I was still so overwhelmed by being 100% immersed into the Italian culture just coming from Uganda. I got dressed, threw up and then went out with Paola, her husband and their sweet daughter. We drove around Naples while we she typed on Google Translator to tell me what things were or ask me questions about myself. Trying to explain why I lived in Uganda was a fun time, I laughed. She told me that she was a special needs teacher and that she had been doing it for 14 years. She is a gem. We had pizza for dinner and they can throw down on pizza here, they ordered a pizza for themselves - its  medium sized pizza and then they devoured it, so quickly and gracefully. I have never seen anything like it before. 

They took me home, I feel asleep in the car and when I arrived at Zio Franco's apartment, he was waiting up watching television - Zia Rosetta and their puppy, Black were already asleep. Mind you, he knows ZERO English. I waved goodnight and he said, 'buona notte' and I said it back slowly and he giggled and gave me a thumbs up. It was a moment I will cherish for the rest of my life, I am sure of it. 

The next morning I woke up nervous about my parents flights and fought through it, we drove to the airport and everyone who lived within a hour distance showed up to greet my family at the airport. They lost their luggage which caused a delay, and FINALLY they were here- I gave them such giant hugs, a few tears were shed and we were on our way. We all were together - half speaking only Italian and half speaking only English. We loaded up and headed to our villa, it was a ways from the airport and I rode with Nonna and Nonno - my thoughts were still getting the best of me and I tried to push them aside and enjoy every second thrown my way. 

The house we are staying in is beautiful. 

Clean white walls. European to the core. 

You can see the sea and the mountains from our balcony.

The little pizzeria across the street is tasty. 

& the cars never stop coming by. 

I am here, with my family and this week I am fighting about this demon called anxiety that I battle. I will not let it steal my joy while I am here, I will not try and figure out my life's calling while I am here - instead I will enjoy every second thrown my way.  I will write when I can and I am avoiding Facebook because it steals my joy - I compare myself to people, I waste my REAL LIFE wondering about Facebook, my next move and what everyone else is doing. 

I am thankful. I am happy. I am full because I just had bruschetta, made by Nonna and I am in Naples seeing where my Nonna was born and raised. My keys on my computer and lined with a tiny bit of olive oil and I am about to take a nap because we are waiting for luggage to make its way to our house. 

This is me saying bye to Facebook for a bit. To anxiety because it is stupid.