Summer is often about barbecues, backyard parties, and family trips. But for military families, it’s also a season of reconnecting, recharging, and building new traditions. This summer feels especially unique for us. After a recent PCS move to Naples, Italy, we’re finally starting to settle in.

Embracing a New Chapter

We’re slowly immersing ourselves in this new community — navigating the language, adjusting to new routines, and learning from the daily challenges of making a foreign place feel like home. We aren’t just tourists; we’re becoming locals. Even the most basic outings, like grocery runs, feel like mini-adventures.

Our 2-year-old calls every weekend excursion an “adventure,” and we’ve happily adopted his outlook. We’re taking it one day at a time, finding joy in shared discoveries and moments of connection.

Adjusting to Life Abroad Post-PCS

Since I’m originally from Bulgaria, many think that adjusting to our new life in Italy is a breeze for me. The reality is, like everyone else, I’m still a foreigner in a new country with a different language, uncertainties, and challenges. Adjusting to life abroad after a military PCS move always comes with a unique mix of emotions — excitement, uncertainty, and at times, a sense of isolation.

Moving to Italy brought its own set of hurdles for our family — from language barriers to understanding how even a simple coffee order worked differently, and don’t even get me started on the Italian driving system.

What truly eased the transition, though, was finding community among other military families. For example, one of my favorite things is living on base now, even though I was initially reluctant to do so. Being able to walk everywhere — from the gym, library, and store — and seeing the same families with kids at the base’s playgrounds has brought us physically closer to the community and created a stronger sense of belonging.

We’ve been fortunate enough to make friends with people who understand the challenges we face, as they are either going through them or have already experienced them in the past. Volunteering with local organizations has added another layer of purpose to my days, not only allowing me to give back to the community but also helping me adjust to and connect with our new environment more quickly.

It was my primary aim to also create new routines — balancing military responsibilities with lots of family time and local exploration.

Spontaneous Adventures and Connection

One recent adventure that helped us feel more grounded was a spontaneous hike in the surrounding area. Often, due to a lack of information in English and an imprecise Google Map location, we don’t know where we are going. The skies that day were gray, and rain was forecast, but this did not stop us from going on our “adventure”. We found the trail almost by accident and saw only a handful of locals, most of whom did not speak English, but everyone was incredibly helpful.

Far from the busy tourist streets and the military base, we found peace in the woods. We spent two hours hiking through what appeared to be a lush, green rainforest. We spent quality time together as a family, singing funny children’s songs, laughing, and engaging in deep conversations. We inevitably got rained on on the way back, got locked in the park, had to jump over a fence, and got lost on the way back home, but that day marked the start of feeling like we could belong here, even if only for a season.

Cultural Discovery and Family Bonding

One of the most rewarding parts of this overseas PCS move has been the chance to explore Italy together through summer travel. Every weekend, we set out on a little “adventure” — a day trip to a medieval town, exploring ancient ruins, or simply trying a new pizzeria. All of these bring us closer together and deepen our appreciation for our new home.

Additionally, our son has started attending an international school where Italian is the primary language, and watching him navigate this new environment, albeit with a bit of shyness, has been filled with a lot of curiosity, which has been truly inspiring and rewarding. As a bilingual family, we’ve always valued language and cultural openness, but living here has stretched our perspective even further. Being able to do this with my family has been the most incredible and rewarding experience, and I am grateful for that every single day. This chapter of our life is not just about living abroad; it is about who we are becoming as a family.

Checklist: Making the Most of Summer Abroad as a Military Family

Here is a small checklist of activities to make the most of your summer abroad as a military family:

Summer Abroad for Military Families

Summer can be a season of reset, especially for military families who have recently completed a PCS move. After the rollercoaster of emotions with moving abroad, the slower pace of summer offers a chance to relax, reconnect, and settle in. Whether you have just arrived or you’ve been living abroad for a while, you can now build routines, explore new places, and strengthen your family bond.

If you’re struggling, remember that you’re not alone. Organizations like the Armed Services YMCA (ASYMCA) offer ongoing support to military families, even when they are stationed abroad. Your community is there to help navigate this transition, because no one can do this alone!

Savoring the Season

Summer is in full force here in Italy, with temperatures rising every day. Lately, we’ve found ourselves spending more time indoors (and I’m definitely an outdoor type of mom!). My house is a bigger mess than ever, but it’s the kind of mess I don’t mind at all. It’s the happy clutter of slow mornings, long lunches, and the remains of sensory activities left on the table.

A mess like that used to stress me out a lot, but now I see it as a reflection of time well spent. As much as we love our “adventures” and spontaneous summer travel, it’s the everyday moments that matter the most: my son proudly picking a strawberry from our little planter that he waters daily, splashing unexpectedly in a random fountain, or simply walking hand in hand to the playground — these are the memories I live for and cherish more than anything.

Summer with ASYMCA

Summer is a great time to slow down and spend more time together. Savor those small, beautiful moments no matter the zip code. For any military family navigating a recent PCS move, remember this: you don’t have to plan anything big. Sometimes, the most meaningful memories are the ones that come as the most unexpected.

If you ever need a bit of extra help, the ASYMCA is here to support military families through every transition. From enrichment programs to seasonal events, the ASYMCA empowers families to feel grounded and connected, even after a big PCS move. To learn more, find your local branch and explore what’s available to you and your family.

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