Smiles, sixes and a little bit of home

Last Sunday was my lovely Mum’s birthday. For several reasons I wasn’t able to make it back home to celebrate with her and as a result, despite the fabulous day I’d had, I felt a bit of melancholy wash over me late in the evening. For the majority of the time, living away from home is wonderful, exciting and full of adventure but then there’s a tiny, small slither of time where one’s mind wanders and a home-shaped hole suddenly opens up like a gaping chasm in the heart. That’s how it feels for me at least. I’m not sure if it’s the same for everyone else. It’s usually prompted by something in particular. Like missing Mum’s birthday or a photo of a loved dog. That’s not to say I don’t want to see the photos or hear the news from back home, far from it. To feel connected with home I think actually helps. And on that particular evening a conversation with someone I love about organising a visit back to England soon pulled me out of my reverie.

When I feel sad or down and miss home (please don’t think it’s very often because it isn’t) I need an “England fix”. It usually comes in the shape of food or television! A plate of beans on toast (yes a source of Heinz Baked Beans has been found locally) or tuna mayo jacket potato works wonders for the soul. The other week though it came in the shape of 24 British cricketers from Hampshire! Through word of mouth the captain of the Hampshire Hogs cricket team had contacted me to provide a tour to kick off their weekend long cricket trip to Rome. Jonathan, the captain, had the unenviable task of reviving the cricket club’s annual tour and what an exceptional job he did too. Our communication beforehand was brief and to the point so I didn’t really know what to expect. Jonathan had likened it to herding cats and I could see what he meant but luckily these cats were all wearing brightly coloured, striped team blazers which caused considerable interest amongst the crowds! The team ranged in age from early 20’s to a bit older let’s say, some of who were accompanied by other halves; who incidentally were the only ones at the correct meeting location! I’ll be honest, my expectations of interest levels and attention span were not the highest. You hear British sports team, first evening unleashed in Rome and you assume learning about Bernini’s Fountain of the Four Rivers probably isn’t their starting activity of choice! How wrong I was though, their immediate barrage of questions proved that not to be the case and a very enjoyable couple of hours ensued. The slice of home continued a couple of days later when I went along to watch one of their cricket matches against the Vatican. It was a delightfully sunny day and I spent a lovely couple of hours chatting away to the quintessentially English soundtrack of cricket. The regular whack of the ball against willow, the distant chatter on the field, interspersed with the odd cheer and applause. If it wasn’t for the iconic Roman pine trees I could so easily have been on an English village green. Thank you to Jonathan and the Hampshire Hogs for the little piece of England.

I said above that TV also helps fend off the home sickness. I’m not sure I should admit this. It’s not very cool. But then this is all about sharing my experiences and feelings so I’m going to fully embrace this confession. I don’t watch much TV. But a quintessentially British programme can be relied upon to pull me out of my mood and lift my spirits. It sounds bizarre. You would think it would make it worse but it doesn’t. Now, I can almost hear you asking what programme do I choose. This is the part I’m reluctant to admit…. but here goes. The faithfully, reliable is ‘All Creatures Great and Small’… there I’ve said it. The James Heriot period drama set in rural Yorkshire is quintessentially English; full of beautiful scenery, loveable characters and enough heart-warming scenes to heat the coldest of cockles! However, recently it’s become even worse. My Mum told me about a new programme that is going to decimate any ounce of street-cred that I have remaining. It’s called ‘Sam and Ade Go Birding.’ (I actually can’t believe I’m immortalising this in black and white.) The actors Sam West and Ade Edmundson travel around the UK on the hunt for some of the finest bird species it has to offer. Episode 2, filmed in North Norfolk, a place I absolutely love and where I’ve spent many a happy time as both a child and an adult, was just the tonic I needed. I fully understand if you decide to no longer be friends with me!

All that being said, I don’t think I’ve ever felt so at home somewhere as I do here. Every time I return to my little house, or cycle to work I still find myself smiling and my heart full of joy. This city is infectious. It recently celebrated it’s 2,779th birthday. It was founded on April 21st, 753 BC by Romulus (of twin and she-wolf fame) who went on to become the first king of Rome. There must be a reason a place can thrive and survive for that amount of time. I’m aware I’ve written in previous articles about the places, the monuments, the churches and my life experiences. But as I’m pondering where this post is going, I’ve realised I haven’t done much to portray the true Rome.

Having been here a while now I feel like I’ve gone beyond scratching the surface. Past the touristy level, past the honeymoon phase where rose-tinted glasses can make everything look slightly skewed. Instead, I’m getting to know the real Rome. I’m living in the real world, in a real district where no tourists go, just real Romans live. And I love it! What made the Roman empire so successful was the dogged determination and loyalty of the Roman people. Their dedication to the city went above and beyond and in some ways it still does. But with a laid-back, humorous side thrown in to the mix. Despite being thought of as slightly closed and cold by the rest of Italy, the Romans, I think, are some of the friendliest and funniest people I’ve met. Often humour can be the last aspect to grasp when learning a new language and it doesn’t always translate. It didn’t when I lived in Paris that’s for sure but maybe that was more of a reflection on the Parisians!

However here, despite the lack of spoken English, a bit of banter can be expected nearly everywhere you go. If I’ve learnt anything from my travels around the world it’s that a smile or a bout of laughter goes a long way to cross cultural divides. It’s universal. It’s disarming. It breaks the ice and helps put people at ease. It’s something I’m finding myself doing more of recently.

“A smile is the shortest distance between two people.” – Victor Borge

It’s also something that the Romans do a lot and maybe that’s one of the reasons I love this place so much. Going to the panificio isn’t just a mundane, transactional bread-buying experience like in so many capital cities. Instead, it’s like receiving a hug; you walk out smiling with a warm, fuzzy feeling inside. The people that run the local cafe are no longer strangers after just the first visit, they remember your order and greet you like a lifelong customer after the shortest of times. Even the national chain book shop offers a friendly service that you wouldn’t expect; only yesterday resulting in a free calendar and the largest of smiles from the lovely lady who works there. Don’t get me wrong, there’s a huge amount of moaning, anger and passion thrown in to the mix too. But I get the impression that people here make the most of life, they’re happy with their lot, they aren’t constantly in search of greener grass and that has got to result in inner peace and a certain level of happiness. Their smiles and infectious sunny dispositions are testament to that. As I find myself smiling more, I can see and feel the positive effect it has and it’s something I intend to make sure I continue doing. So why not spread a little bit of joy and make the world a slightly brighter place. For me at least, how is it possible to live in the Eternal City and not smile?!