My First Day - 4th/5th November 2003
I arrived feeling a complete mixture of emotions; nervousness and concern at having left behind people and things I knew I would miss greatly, to hope and excitement at the prospect of being with Felice again, and the imminent discovery of a new way of life. The weather was extremely welcoming, the sun was shining and there was a pleasant breeze in the air.
It amused me when we arrived at our rented apartment and discovered that on our outside mailbox my surname was spelt Harday - Felice hadn't even noticed when he was sorting it out at the office of the agency we were renting through! However I was pleased to find that the apartment was lovely - airy, clean and spacious. The front door opened to an ample sized front room with a balcony and small kitchen. Behind the front room was the narrow but long bathroom and behind that, a large bedroom with another balcony opening to a view of the sea. I felt content until the realisation of the enormity of the step I had just taken threatened to overwhelm me. But the important thing was that I had done it and I had no choice but to give myself time to settle in despite the fear that gripped me every once in a while about what I would do and what I would find.