Note: This was originally written on Monday, July 24 for my old blog at www.cincike.com

It’s hard to believe that we already have a month under our belts in Italy. And, what a month it has been. 

We have been introduced to and navigated the Italian emergency medical system, weathered one of Aviano’s worst storms in recent history, survived two bouts of a stomach bug, a spider bite and insanely severe allergies.

We have made several new friends and sadly already said farewell to some of our new-found friends (dh’s predecessor and his family). We have learned the rules and regulations of Italian driving and have been licensed to do so (one of us is even the proud owner of a coffee mug proclaiming her “100% Street Smart”ness for acing the test), though the quirks of Italian driving are still taking some getting used to. 

We have eaten some of the most amazing food and have learned that dinner is not a rushed meal.  We have learned that wine is the preferred beverage with dinner and costs about the same as water - and less than Coke.

We have settled into our house (as much as we can with loaner furniture and only a fraction of our belongings) and hosted a get-together for the Group’s commanders and their families.

Cooper has decided he is okay with the rooster and other fowl that live behind us. The jury is still out on the rooster for the rest of us.  

We have ventured up to the mountains and down to Venice and toured several little towns throughout the region – one that recently celebrated its millennium.

We have celebrated with friends as they assumed command of new squadrons and others as they bid farewell to Air Force life.

And, the hardest thing we have done is watch the men and women of the Maintenance Group struggle to come to grips with the loss of a fellow airman, his wife and unborn child in a car accident only to have their grief compounded two weeks later with the loss of another maintainer in a tragic hit-and-run accident.

Our first month ended on happy note as we cheered on the newly inducted Senior NCOs at their ceremony on Friday night.

Bring on month two!!