“Give me one of your children and you’ll have my butcher shop,” he joked.

I put Brunello in bed for his afternoon nap. He curls up close to me, his nose tucked into my neck and his arms around me. Brunello is very sensitive and has a lot of love in him. I look at his long eyelashes and blond curls, he is so terribly handsome, it is almost dangerous to walk around with our blond God here in southern Italy. Brunello is almost an attraction for the people here, on the street, on the beach and in the supermarket: everyone melts and compliments us on our handsome children.

worn on hands

Sometimes moments flash through my mind from the past seven years and where I am now. Three insanely beautiful healthy happy children later, living in a country where they are loved and where everyone speaks to them sweetly. Mariangela, the sweet lady of the farmacia (pharmacy) among us, greets them like an angel. She helped them a few times when they fell and since then she cuddles the kids when we walk by. She was also very happy with the children’s Dutch peppermints. We hand them out to those we love here. Like the brothers Lino & Roberto from restaurant La Rotondo. Brunello is already welcome in the kitchen there and often helps chef Roberto. We eat there regularly and already feel so welcome and at home. More than we have ever felt in the Netherlands. Roberto’s look at Brunello moves me. It makes me cry, so sweet and special how sincere his love radiates to my children he has only known for two months. Even police officers greet Brunello as if he were the prince of the city.

special man

That I can raise three healthy happy children is anything but self-evident and I am well aware of that. A man who approached me on the street moved me. He had no children, but he always wanted to be a father. How bad is it if you have the desire to become a father, but it remains only wishes, and you are surrounded by children. All the way here in Italy, where children are sacred and everything revolves around the child’s well-being. The man looked at me with his deep green eyes and beautiful sun-kissed skin. He sat on a chair outside his butcher shop, waiting for people to come in. “Mi complimenti”, he said with a friendly smile, watching my three children hopping like ducks down the street after me (because cars, so stay close to mom). We passed him because we were on our way to the greengrocer after a lovely day at the beach.

“You have beautiful children, unfortunately I don’t have any,” he said, and for a moment it seemed as if he was moved and got wet eyes. “Give me one of your kids and you’ll have my butcher shop,” he joked, giving me a friendly wink. “It was my wish to be a father, but it was not allowed to be, you are a blessed person.” After a short but powerful conversation, I walked on. I shot full, got tears in my eyes and kissed my three special children very hard. What a special man. Normally you would get the creeps if someone says that to you, but not from this gentleman, you literally felt the love radiate from him.

Also read: Bien: ‘He makes her feel like she’s not worth it’

‘Ciao Bello’

On our way to the greengrocer we passed the large square where a group of boys of about ten years old were playing football. We had to pass and as I was holding Barolo dolce, I said to one of the boys with the football under his feet: “Fai attenzione”, in other words: pay attention! The boy turned and looked up happily when he saw Barolo dolce. “Ciao Bello”, he said in his enthusiasm and stroked his cheek quickly. I shot up again, because I really didn’t expect such a reaction. Such a loving, respectful, very sweet response from a boy of ten. It might have happened in a split second and he went back to playing football, but the way things go here, how people interact with each other is so incredibly valuable.

Moments like this happen to us all the time, several times a day Arjen and I look at each other and we swallow our tears, or we are amazed again by the cordiality that is due to us. I’ve never experienced this, never felt so warm and intense, where have I been all my life?! I may have moved here thirty years too late, but luckily we’re here at just the right time for our three insanely beautiful children.

Really enjoy

For three months we traveled along the Atlantic Sea from Amsterdam all the way up the front of the boot to Castellabate. Taste, experience, feel and see. This way we knew that Northern Italy appealed to us the least and that only increased our curiosity about the Adriatic side. It was already clear that we wanted to emigrate, but we left open where we would end up. By driving, calling hotels and making deals, we have visited all the new places in the past few months. As soon as we drove into southern Italy, it felt like we were literally stepping into another world. We had to get used to it, because everything was so different from what we were used to. Now we are blending more and more into the way of life and I can’t, no, I don’t want to imagine myself any other way.

The red terracotta earth was initially enchanting to see. But also the richly filled pieces of land with thousands of olive trees. I can laugh so hard when I see Dutch people walking on the beach and hear the two meter tall Dutchman shout from the bar: ‘Nadien! nadine! Seam! Would you like ice cream or a slice of pizza? Huh what?’ – ‘Just do ice cream’ and that he then walks on the beach with two pieces of pizza, coffee and ice cream to provide Nadine with the Italian delicacies. You see them relaxing, having fun together in the sea and enjoying themselves. Because that’s what you do here: really enjoy it.

Take care of each other

Vincenzo, the chief of police here, who first worked as chief of police for the Napoli police, appealed to us because of – you guessed it – the beauty of our blond Brunello. Such a blond child is exceptional here and the officers lifted him proudly. He got shy, that doesn’t happen quickly.

“You will have a wonderful happy life here,” he said with a warm smile. He scrolled through his phone book and gave the number of one of the best pediatricians in the area. “Tell him I gave you his number, I wish your children the best care, call him if you need him.” We were stunned, someone who speaks to you on the street, has a chat with you and immediately gives you the number of the best pediatrician. “You take care of each other here,” he said. “Get used to it.” Hopefully we will too, it’s such a gift that so many lovely people care about us and are committed to us. I think it’s worth a documentary, I see a new project coming. To be continued…

Ps do you want to make a start to shape your emigration plan? View this photo on my Instagram account. In it I give a list of tips on how you can start making your emigration dream come true.

See you next Saturday!

Bacio Bien

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