Mia's Life

The past couple of weeks have been eventful to say the least. I keep reminding myself to write it all down, but each day seems to bring something new. Right now, though, I’m finally here, sitting by a canal that wraps around Prato Delle Valle, surrounded by Sunday markets and leaves glowing in warm autumn colors. Christmas music plays in the background as I type this out, and I can’t imagine a better way to soak up this sunny fall-into-winter day. To recap, I visited Milan, celebrated Halloween dancing on a rooftop, spent a weekend in Sanremo, explored Monte Carlo, made memories with friends, and deepened my wanderings through Padova. Life feels so full, so rich. I wish I could freeze time, hold onto each of these moments, never let them slip away. It’s strange—being fully present in a moment while already knowing how much I’ll miss it someday.

Milan—a city I’d heard so much about and half-expected to be overrated. But the moment I stepped off the metro, I was captivated by its energy. High-end boutiques lined the streets, and every step was filled with passing accents from around the world. Street performers claimed their corners, hoping to draw a crowd and collect a few euros. It’s a fast-paced, vibrant city with endless details to take in. After a quick two-hour train ride, I arrived in Milan to meet up with Lana. She surprised me, sneaking up behind me in the Sephora where I was waiting, and I practically melted into her hug—I’d missed her so much. Lana brought along another exchange student, Marie, who’s from the northern part of Italy near Austria and speaks German. Later, we met up with Felix, an exchange student from France, and his classmate Gabriele. The five of us drew plenty of curious looks as people tried to guess where we were from. We kept switching languages—English, Italian, French—so it was only natural with friends from the UK, France, Italy, and the U.S. in one group. Our first stop was the Duomo di Milano. Photos can’t capture the awe of standing in front of it. The architectural detail is staggering, and I couldn’t help but marvel at the fact that such a masterpiece was crafted by human hands alone.

We made our way to the McDonald’s in the center of the Galleria, trying to save on lunch. I, however, couldn’t resist crossing the street to indulge in a God-made sandwich from Al Antico Vinaio. Some people might be deterred by the line spilling out the door, but not me. Gabriele and I waited a good 30–45 minutes before finally placing an order. The place is chaotic and intense; the moment you step inside, a sandwich maker shouts “Next customer!” in an aggressive Italian voice. After scrolling through TikTok in line to plan the perfect order, I was briefly disappointed to find my choice wasn’t available. But that faded fast when I received a fresh, crispy focaccia sandwich stuffed with mortadella, pistachio cream, and stracciatella—worth every second of the wait. Afterward, we wandered around before settling on a spot to sit, then made our way toward Chinatown. I had no idea Milan even had a Chinatown, but discovering it felt like opening a hidden door to heaven. I only had 30 minutes before my train, and Chinatown was exactly a 30-minute walk away. The responsible choice would’ve been to save it for next time, but we power-walked our way there, cutting the time as much as we could. Once there, I was wide-eyed, practically gawking by every shop I passed. If I could have bought the entire street, I would have. I settled on a fluffy Japanese matcha pancake and a skewer of dumplings but made a mental note of every store to raid on my next visit. With just five minutes to spare, Gabriele navigated us back through the metro to catch my train to Padova—only for it to be delayed by 25 minutes. I didn’t mind at all; somehow, the atmosphere of a train station has a calming effect on me that I still can’t quite explain.

Halloween was truly unforgettable—I’m not sure I’ll ever want to celebrate it any other way. Can we make it mandatory to dance all night on a rooftop in the heart of an Italian city? There was lights beaming from every angle, a fantastic DJ spinning a mix of American hits and irresistible Italian songs, a crowd in the most creative and sultry costumes, and a bartender stationed at the back wall. Language barriers didn’t matter at all; everyone was communicating through the lift of their hands and the sway of their hips. I even met a few people who spoke fantastic English and were incredibly friendly. I was also pretty impressed with myself for making it up all those flights of stairs to the rooftop and then standing all night in my new heels. Before this, I’d only ever worn heels for homecoming—and even then, they barely survived past the photos. But by the end of this year, I might just be giving Naomi Campbell a run for her money in the art of the catwalk!

After going to bed around 2:30 a.m on Halloween, I woke up bright and early for a 7-hour road trip with my family to Sanremo. I honestly love long car rides so it was no problem for me. I had the whole backseat to myself where I sprawled out among the seats wrapping my blanket across me and listening to my perfectly crafted “travel” playlist that took me a couple weeks to complete. There were amazing views along the way, but none compared to the pure shock I faced when seeing the view from the terrace at their house. It’s safe to say I spent majority of my time there sitting along the balcony soaking in the flawless outlook. The house was placed on a hill just above the city overlooking the sea. From daylight, sunset, to nothing but city lights- It was stunning. I read my book, “The Rule Book”, FaceTimed friends and family, stargazed, and just took in the view. The house itself looked SO Italian. Stone walls, white interior, windows thrown open, small yet cozy kitchen and bedrooms, tables on the terrace, it was perfect.

Sanremo is one of the most beautiful cities I’ve ever seen, radiating authentic Italian coastal charm. While there, I even learned how olive oil is made! My host family’s home is surrounded by olive trees, and they gather the olives and bring them to a unique mill in Taggia, a small town nearby. Inside, the space was filled with huge machines, and people shuffled in and out, carrying large barrels of olives. The air had this wonderfully warm scent, like the cozy feeling of holding a bowl of hot soup by a crackling fireplace. It’s a fragrance I wish I could bottle and take with me. My favorite part of the process was watching the olives being crushed by two massive stone wheels—a mesmerizing sight that really brought the craft of olive oil-making to life.

Irene and I spent a few hours exploring the city center, wandering in and out of bakeries, clothing boutiques, jewelry shops, and even picking up a postcard for my collection. For lunch, we sampled a variety of focaccia—some topped with rich tomato sauce, others studded with olives.

The next day, we took a quick drive through France and into Monte Carlo, Monaco. Somehow, every new place leaves me completely mesmerized; since I first landed in Rome, I haven’t seen a single thing that wasn’t beautiful. The buildings stacked along the hills, overlooking the water, were a sight I’ll never forget. We spent hours wandering the city, popping into a few museums but mostly just circling the streets and soaking up the city’s charm. Watching the sunset spill over the buildings was my favorite moment—it cast everything in a magical light. Though our visit was brief, it was one I’ll always cherish.

Last night, I went out with five friends from school to a pizza place called Rossopomodoro, which fittingly translates to “red tomato.” It might just be my favorite pizza experience since arriving here! My pizza had ricotta stuffed into the crust—by far the most mouth-watering part. It was topped with three kinds of tomatoes, a sprinkle of breadcrumbs, fresh basil, creamy buffalo mozzarella, and a bright, tangy tomato sauce that brought everything together. After dinner, we wandered through the city streets before stopping for drinks. I even survived another night in heels! Even though I don’t always understand every part of the conversation or can’t always join in, I still have an amazing time with them. I know I’ll miss these Saturday nights when I’m back in Texas, so for now, I’m savoring every moment.

One thing that hasn’t dwelled since my arrival is my love to roam the city. Most days after school, I will walk through the shops or streets. There’s nothing that romanticizes your life more than seeing the city lights sparkle through your eyes while hearing street musicians crowd your soul with their beautiful harmonies. I can already feel the city preparing for Christmas. The other day, I watched as lights were draped over towering trees and wreaths were hung on shop doors. Now, as I stroll through the streets, instead of my usual playlist, Mariah Carey’s holiday classics have taken over.

“Know your own happiness”- Jane Austen

(P.S can you tell I love Jane Austen, yet?)