See through her eyes

Coming back to my own country, I was surprised to discover many things about it that I never really noticed, or given attention to. It was my country, so I considered many of its features obvious, normal, natural.

But this time I was not alone, my love from the other end of the world was with me. It was her first time here. She is herself from one of the greatest and oldest civilisations, and yet she could not believe her eyes looking at the majesty of the vaults and pillars of St. Peter’s Cathedral in Rome, or at the quiet elegance of colourful flowers on the window ledges in Bellagio, overlooking the Lake of Como, or at the sense of living history seeing Milan through the white and pink marble spires of the Duomo.

Only then did I realise how much, after all, poor Italy has done and is still doing. How great the accomplishments of its people, and how fine their living standard – made of good environment, good food, good drinks, good social life and love for beauty – is, in spite of all the problems they have as a country. It was the first time, perhaps, that I felt proud of them and thought that, maybe, one day I could even come back to my homeland, Lombardia.

Never would have I understood these things, but for my alien love. Seeing through her eyes, her sweet, almond eyes free from my prejudices and emotional biases, I saw my country and I saw myself, what I was, what I am, and what I can be if only I imagine it. And just for that, she deserves all the love I could give her in this life.

Truly, love can be a great vehicle to transcendence!