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Italy is one of those rare places that enters your heart, soul, and mind in a way very few can. Time spent there changes you; always for the better. You are reborn, and in many ways, you are no longer the person you were on the day you arrived . Italy remains with you long after you have departed, she visits you in your dreams, and she reminds you of her presence while you are awake.

I have had the good fortune of having lived in Italy for several years in two completely different regions. The people, the culture, the landscape, and the food are unrivaled in my mind. My memories of the sweet life in Italy are intensely strong despite the fact that I have been away for quite a while now. I long everyday to return to the place which I know in my heart is my true home.

I began my time in Italy in Catania on the island of Sicily. The landscape was rugged, and Mt. Etna loomed in the distance. During the night, I watched the volcano spit lava into the darkened sky; orange and red against black. All at once beautiful and terrifying, the volcano was constantly in view; asking to be held in awe, yet treated with respect for her power. Catania is a vibrant and colorful Sicilian city, and I learned to appreciate not only her rich cultural heritage, but also the architectural treasures that proudly stand behind her ancient walls. The inhabitants of Sicily are a warm, generous, and hospitable people from whom I first learned the importance of embracing the cultural differences of all of the regions of Italy. Leaving Sicily brought a mixture of relief and sadness. I was ready to start a new adventure in a different place, but I was aware in the core of my being that I would miss the island immensely.

Vicenza offered a stark contrast to the more rugged way of life in Sicily. I found northern Italy beautiful beyond imagining, and I fell instantly in love with the Veneto region. Close to Venice and within close proximity to other countries, Vicenza is a small, manageable city filled with the architectural works of Andrea Palladio. The people of Vicenza are intensely proud of their city, and they taught me how to fully embrace the Italian lifestyle. Over time, Vicenza became the one location in the world where I believed I could stay forever, and because my deceased father's birthplace was in nearby Verona, it held, and will continue to hold, a special place in my heart. Residing there connected me to my father once again, and therefore, I felt a deep sorrow in departing.

My dream is to one day return to Italy permanently, and to spend the rest of my days experiencing and delighting in "la dolce vita". Thoughts of Italy breathe life within me, and I am certain that the day will come when I will, once again, feel her love and warm embrace. Until then, Italy remains as she always has; a part of my soul, and forever in my heart.

Learn more about this author, Mary Ann Rudy.
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