Saturday, March 29, 2008

Who's reading?

So yesterday, I got another blog comment and personal email from two people who apparently have been reading my blog over the last year. I dont know these two people and it got me thinking about how many people have contacted me over the last year because they read something in my blog. I decided to give you the low down on my readership as I know it and ask that if I have missed you, please add a comment to this message so I can be sure to understand the full scope of my audience!

First, I started the blog only because I thought it was going to be the easiest way to keep in touch with friends and family and avoid writing hundreds of emails. My dad is a dedicated reader and I am glad he can get a glimpse of what is going on here since he wasnt able to come visit me this year. My mother catches up every few weeks, but to her credit, she never liked reading so I am impressed she has hung in there with me. I am pretty sure my brother in Chicago never even opened the site but his wife reads occasionally I think, so she might give him updates. My brother in Puerto Rico probably doesnt even know I am writing a blog and my brother in Germany reads it when I remind him to. My aunt doesnt have a computer but I think she would have been a dedicated reader also.

As for my closest friends, well, they have mostly petered out over the year and some never even started (which in all honestly surprised me). There are other friends who I think read regularly because every now and then they send me an email telling me such. I think there are a few old coworkers who check in once in a while and probably a handful of my fellow church goers.

But, then there is the rest of the blog community. There was the girl in California (sorry I have forgotten your name) who loves to tango and wrote me after her first visit here last year. There is Bob in London who wrote yesterday and Annette in Nebraska who sent me a great email yesterday also. There are my new friends from back east, Anglu and LouAnne, who I met here in Venice when they came to visit and gave me great tips for my Malta journey. There was the woman in North Carolina who told me she wanted to do what I was doing but she is married to a military pilot and has 3 small kids, so that dream is on hold for a few years. I met Jo in Prague and I think she keeps up with me through this site. Holly wrote me from Reno and we recently had a nice dinner when she was here visiting. Tonya is from California I think and is writing a book that has some settings in Venice. She asked me to answer a few questions about buildings here. There have been a couple friends of friends who have come (or will be coming) to Venice and want to meet. And there was the Venetian who has an American friend who reads my blog (which is how he got the address) and was nice enough to 'correct' me on some of my Venetian ideas. There is Gil who has been faithfully posting on my blog and is always positive and encouraging. And dont forget Maryann who is the author of the only blog that I read (http://findingladolcevita.blogspot.com/) and has inspired me to maybe try to cook something one day. There are several other expats who I think check in on my blog occasionally and have put links to my blog on their site (which I assume is how many of my readers have found me). And I am sure there were other contacts throughout the year that escape me at the moment (please dont be offended).

So all in all, I actually think there are more strangers reading my blog that people I know. Which in itself is an interesting concept. Who knew that I would actually gather an audience! I use the computer alot and keep in touch with the world that way but I dont think I really understood how far reaching and how small the world is until I sat down to contemplate todays writing. For whats it worth, I appreciate your reading. When I go back home in May, I probably wont write much more after the first week or so because then I wont be living the charmed life in Venice anymore and the charmed life in Phoenix just really isnt quite as exciting! Until then, let me know who you are and I will do my best to keep it entertaining.

17 comments:

Anonymous said...

Thanks for the mention... my 5 seconds of fame :-) I think I ran across your blog link on Expats in Italy, but can't remember.

I want to ask how you found your apartment. I know you mentioned that prices are usually higher for non-Venetians, so wondered how you found your place and didn't pay too much of a premium. I doubt I'll be in the market any time soon, but you never know.
--Annette

Anonymous said...

I read! Megan leaves for Italy tomorrow...

Ryan said...

i check your blog everyday and that is a pretty cool post... im started to be sad thinking about you leaving.... i have enjoyed the times we have shared together.... i hope to have a few more before you leave....you need to come to montebelluna still!!

Ryan said...

i check your blog everyday and that is a pretty cool post... im started to be sad thinking about you leaving.... i have enjoyed the times we have shared together.... i hope to have a few more before you leave....you need to come to montebelluna still!!

Anonymous said...

Hi Susan,
How sweet you are to mention my blog :)
You shouldn't be surprised at all about the amount of readers you have because you write so well and your photography is beautiful. I'm hoping you will continue to blog, even when you leave.

We Love Italy said...

Hi Susan, I'm not sure how I found your blog, but I have been following your adventure from almost your arrival. We too lived out a 1 year dream near Cortona April 2004-2005. Many of the things you write about were also our experiences and it makes me smile to relive them. There is something so powerful in really living in another culture and you have shared it beautifully. Your life will never be the same after Italy. I'm sure you know that!! Thanks again for sharing and all the best as you make your re-entry to Phoenix. Jill, Larry and Daniela in Seattle

Jessica said...

I read your blog and subscribed through my google reader. I have enjoyed hearing about all your adventures in Venice and will miss your posts when you leave!

Anonymous said...

susan, I have experienced Italy with you through your blog, not to mention the beautiful week I spent there. I have been on the road so much these last several months tht I do not get to read every day but I catch up.
Welcom home. When are you actually arriving. Brenda

Gil said...

I can't believe that your time in Venice and the wonderful postings about all of your adventures is about to come to an end so soon. I have really enjoyed reading your posts and have especially enjoyed the pictures you posted of places I have never visited and of views of places that I have visited but never saw. A good example different views would be your aerial views of Venice.

Thanks for the mention but, the trip was my pleasure.

Michelle | Bleeding Espresso said...

I always read you through Bloglines even thought I don't get over to comment as much as I'd like :)

Anonymous said...

Thanks for the mention. I've followed your Blog since last summer and, as Ryan says, are saddened to think of your blog coming to an end.

When you get back and are settled maybe you could do an Insiders Guide to Venice website, most of the sites out the are very biased!

Anyway, enough of that, thank you (& Mr P) for letting us into your 'special time' in Venice.

Rob, Canary Wharf.

Anonymous said...

I started reading about 6 months ago through a link on bleedingespresso. I just love your writings and became fascinated by the expats in Italy. Your experiences will be missed.

-- Joe in California

Anonymous said...

Well Spike, as I am zipping around the US, I do not always have the time to be a diligent reader. However, when I do catch up, it is usually a few weeks worth at one sitting. Thanks for keeping us in the loop. Your friend Matt!

Anonymous said...

Well, I do read, just catch up on everything about once every two weeks or so. I cannot believe it is coming to an end!

Ava said...

Found your blog a month ago, (wish I'd found it sooner) but read it every week. The Wakefields from Arizona told me about it and although it took a while, I read months of postings and thoroughly enjoyed them. You are a great writer and I love the pix. Looking forward to meeting you later soon when we come to Venice.
Ava

Anonymous said...

Susan, I haven't missed a day's entry since you left. I may have to read a couple weeks at a sitting, but because I have been living vicariously through you over the past year, I remember "where I (we) last visited" and I start reading there. I knew I liked you when we served on the WWV committee, but you have totally cracked me up this past year - I have laughed and "fussed" with you throughout your stay. Thank you for the fun and the journey. Have a safe trip home...spring has arrived in the desert and it's beautiful!
==Carrie S. in Phx

Nancy - Girl in Giro said...

ok i am commenting here anyways, but i suppose you know by now that im reading you! i made months of progress today!