At the age of 20, I went for the first time to Italy, a country that fascinated me, I always dreamed of returning “…and why not…” to live there. I pursued that dream with such desire and fervor… 30 years later it became a reality.

In the early 80’s, in the mornings I studied at the Autonomous University of Guadalajara and in the afternoons I worked as an assistant to Professor Giorgio Ferrari, who at that time was the Director of the Casa de Italia in Guadalajara (cultural center for the promotion and diffusion of Italian language and culture). Thanks to Professor Ferrari, unforgettable mentor, who motivated me and arranged a scholarship to enroll in the prestigious Italian University for Foreigners in Perugia Italy, and to my family, who with a lot of fear and scarce economic resources, made possible that trip, which looked like a crazy adventure, at that time trips to Europe were not so common and accessible, they gave me their blessing and I left.

When I was 20 years old, I flew to Rome to Perugia with a group of students, most of whom were students of the Casa d’Italia and shared the same spirit of adventure and the desire to live extraordinary experiences in that unknown and beautiful country, known only for its unique architectural-artistic-cultural jewels, of which I had only heard about or seen on a postcard.

Perugia, walled city of Etruscan origin, capital of Umbria and heart of the Italian territory. Located on top of a hill overlooking the Subasio Valley, yes, it was love at first sight, it captivated me, I always wanted to return.

Perugia, a medieval-renaissance university town with one of the most beautiful historical centers in Italy, was a meeting point for locals, tourists and international students who enriched the local culture with their artistic and gastronomic contributions.

It took me 30 years to return and settle in an apartment in the heart of the historic center of this beautiful city of Perugia, which became my Italian base. During the summers and well into the autumns of the years 2015-2018, I re-enrolled in the Italian Language and Culture courses offered by the University for foreigners in Perugia, obtaining certification in Italian Language and Art History in 2018, a certification that would not have been possible, without the unconditional support of my husband in the pursuit and achievement of my crazy dreams. I have managed to transmit to my family the fascination I feel for Italy, especially to my husband who usually accompanies me for 12-15 days year after year in search of that dream, adventure or fortified borgo (small town), of narrow alleys in which a medieval-renaissance church dominates a historic center full of life and cultural activities where we can write a new and exciting chapter in our lives, but in Italian.