By the way Vin,
I'd never thought I'd say this, but I might just like Italy more than I like Belgium. Well, I like Bologna more than I like Antwerp, because as you know Italy is not very much of a whole. It's odd because Italian students don't really treat me as a 'straniero'. Not because my Italian is great or anything (it is very okay though and I'm not the one saying that, they are), but because the Italian mentality is so right for me. I actually feel at home now. I know it's odd, but for the first time in my life I'm at ease. Even though I will never get the robe and the slippers. That's just weird.
People who have lived in Italy before me always told me how difficult it was. And how Italy was very different from Northern and Central Europe. But for me it's actually easier to live here. Nonetheless I'm glad I'm not an Italian though. In the same way I'm glad I'm not an American. Not because I dislike the countries (on the contrary), but because I'd always want to look at them with the eyes of an outsider.