Big Announcement on Andrea's Future

In two weeks, I will be completing my second three-month stay in Naples, Italy. After much thought and prayer, I have decided not to return to Italy after my trip back home in October but, instead, to stay in the States and look for employment. Although I am sad to leave my friends (and especially my boyfriend) in Naples, I am certain this is the best decision and am excited to get back the good ol’ U.S.A.

Many who have followed this blog are aware that my time in Naples has been challenging. I am proud of the things I have accomplished here (acclimating into a new and different culture, beginning to learn a new language, making a decent profession for myself) and do not regret my decision to give it a try, but I feel very strongly that God is telling me it is not the place I should be now. Most importantly, although many people (Italians and expats) assure me it is perfectly fine to live and work here illegally, I refuse to do that any longer; however, getting the proper paperwork to stay is a long, cumbersome and confusing process. It requires someone really be committed to making Italy their home, which I am not. I have never completely liked it and career opportunities (especially in Naples) are extremely limited (if you don’t want to settle for teaching English).

I will cherish the time I have spent in Italy, but I look forward to saying arrivederci to Italy and stepping back on American soil!

(The picture above was taking on the island of Capri last week, where Mohamed and I attended a wedding as English-speaking witnesses.)

Short Trip to the Amalfi Coast

The Amalfi Coast is truly a place of beauty and splendor just 1-2 hours from Naples. People from all over the world flock to this area just east of the Sorrentine Peninsula to catch glimpes of towns clinging to steep cliffs or nestled on the water between lush, green mountains. The town of Maiori hosts a coastline of prestine beaches, colored with beach umbrellas and recreational boats. While towns like Amalfi and Positano seem to attract more foreign tourists, Maiori is a bathing resort for local Italians.

In our last attempt to embrace the spirit of vacation (and before I start back to work full-time Monday), Mohamed and I took a short trip to Maiori last week, where we met up with our friends Bruno and Patty and their children. Bruno and Patty have a boat, which gave us an opportunity to enjoy breathtaking views of the coast from the water and endulge in some beachtime on a secluded, rocky beach close to Amalfi.

I got some great pictures of the trip! You may view them at http://www.andreasodyssey.shutterfly.com/.