A Dream Come True: the Lake Como farm

After a week of parading around Torino with Paraskevas it was now time to take off to live out my true dream: working on a farm overlooking one of the most beautiful lakes in the world. Buongiorno Lago di Como!
April’s Rules For Italia: 1. Learn Italian (before, during and after) 2. Let your heart free (it makes the world so much more beautiful) 3. Live today as if all you know is right now(being present helps to appreciate the things you do, see and feel)

I called the farm before my arrival to get picked up from the train station and soon realized that my new family did not speak much English. I waited five minutes and up pulled a green van with an Italian woman inside. This was Sandra, a hard working woman with a giant heart and strong arm. Up the hill we went (thank goodness I didn’t have to walk) and as we got closer to the small town of Regolo my eyes began to swell with tears. My dream was now alive and for an entire month and a half this spectacular place was going to be my home.

The family consisted of Gigi (husband-father, farmer) ,Sandra (wife-mother, farmer/housekeeper/chef/painter/saleswoman …), Niccola (26, Son, Psychology student/Castel attendant), Lorenzo (22, son, Archeology student), Checko (18, high school senior, drummer/rock climber/animal lover), Serena (12, daughter, student), Tex il cane and many gati (including six kittens). Not only was this my new family but I also knew they would become my teachers for the duration. Niccola spoke the most English but it was very limited, so I thought my first mission was to buy a book to teach me some Italian.

My room was very simple with a bed, bathroom, dresser and a window with a view of kiwi veins. The house was quite large(three stories) and the back porch had the most amazing view. Three very small villages were insight of each other and every hour and half hour the church bells from all three villages could be heard. Giant mountains raised up out of the lake with forests of changing fall colors. The porch was situated in a place that was best for watching the sunset and a cool lake breeze could be felt in the late afternoon.

How did this happen? How was I lucky enough to go here and encounter such a sight? It was the beginning of what I learned to be true love and happiness.