Mia's Life

Life feels like a fever dream, as if I’m just waiting for someone to pinch me and jolt me awake. My weekly routine has become so surreal. Each day, I wake up for school and head to the gym around 1:15. Once I’m back home, I follow one of Chloe Ting’s 10-minute ab workouts. Later, I take a stroll through the beautifully festive streets of town, soaking in the atmosphere. My evenings end with a warm, comforting family dinner before I head off to bed. Weekends have been reserved for dinners out with friends and exploring new cities through day trips. I have always adapted to new environments easily. Since the beginning I’ve felt comfortable, but now it truly feels like home. It’s sad to think it won’t always be like this, but I’m distracting my mind from that thought for now.

Many people have asked how I celebrated Thanksgiving in Italy. The answer is simple: I didn’t. Most people here didn’t even realize it was Thanksgiving on the 28th. Although I still enjoyed a day of delicious food—homemade pizza for lunch and a Spanish paella for dinner. My nonna did add a little magic to the day, surprising me with an apple cake topped with a proud American flag and playing the Star-Spangled Banner in the background. It was a small but heartfelt nod to home.Before coming to Italy, I had convinced myself this would be the hardest part of my exchange year. Thanksgiving has always been my favorite holiday. I love everything about it: the traditions, the chaos of my huge family squeezed into a house far too small for us all, hours spent in the kitchen crafting family recipes, and waking up early to run the turkey trot. (Yes, we’re that family.) For the longest time, I assumed everyone ran a 5K on Thanksgiving—it blew my mind to discover that wasn’t some universal tradition. But to my surprise, I wasn’t sad or homesick. Maybe it’s because I had already prepared myself for the absence of Thanksgiving this year. I’ve come to accept that I have the rest of my life to celebrate this holiday. Missing it this once didn’t feel like a loss—it just felt like part of the adventure.

The transformation from passively sitting in school each day, staring blankly at my desk, to now feels like a complete 180. I’ve become so much more involved in my studies and activities. Twice a week, I attend an Italian language class for foreigners, and I’ve been dedicating myself to studying and taking tests for my English class. Now, you might wonder—why would a native English speaker need to study for an English class? Well, this isn’t just any class. It’s extremely advanced. My classmates are practically fluent, and the curriculum goes far beyond grammar and language fluency. They dive deeply into history and literature, including works by Shakespeare and other classic English writers. I was genuinely surprised to find myself feeling nervous before my tests. The last exam I took covered a staggering range of topics: the Magna Carta, the Hundred Years’ War, the Wars of Roses, the Black Death, the Normans, Roman Britain, Celtic Britain, The Canterbury Tales, Geoffrey Chaucer, the Celts, and the Peasants’ Revolt—all in one test. It was mind-blowing! Comparing this to the two years of Spanish I studied in Texas, the difference is night and day. This class feels more like an AP World History course, except designed for non-native English speakers. Beyond classes, I’ve been putting together a presentation on the differences between the Italian and American school systems. Soon, I’ll be visiting different English classes around the school to share it with students. I’ve also started stepping into Italian-speaking classes, gradually immersing myself. I’m even studying the same materials my classmates are learning (currently, Dante’s works) only I’m using beginner-friendly Italian resources.

Last weekend I was invited to a WEP event, along with 2 other exchange students in my area, in Mestre, Venice for Italian students going abroad this spring. We immediately agreed when we found out we could skip school AND go on a day trip. We weren’t exactly sure what we were walking into, but it was a blast. We got separated into different groups, sadly, but my group was really cool. They were all going to different English speaking countries: Canada, New Zealand, and one even going to the U.S. We went on a “scavenger hunt” around town, which really consisted of us coming up with a group name and making a Tik Tok then going to lunch. We went to an all you can eat sushi restaurant. Where they served all the sushi on this huge wooden boat with a tiny smoke machine hovering over to add a cool effect.

After the event came to an end, we all exchanged numbers, buzzing with excitement as we started planning another meetup in Venice for the Christmas markets. Bella, Mercedes, and I—the other exchange students—weren’t ready to call it a day, so we set off to explore more of the city together. We wandered through the festive markets, soaking in the holiday spirit, visiting Santa, and warming up with rich, creamy hot chocolate. When hunger struck, we found the perfect spot for dinner: a cozy little ramen restaurant. I ordered a spicy broth with hand-pulled noodles and beef—it was so flavorful, I’m convinced it was some of the best ramen I’ve ever had. I love spending time with other exchange students; it’s always inspiring to hear their unique experiences and perspectives, knowing we’re all navigating this journey in our own ways. Before heading back to the train station, we took one last walk through the markets, savoring every moment. It was such a fun day, packed with laughter, delicious food, and loads of holiday magic.

For the past couple of weeks Italy has opened the gates to a winter wonderland with jump-in-your-face decorations and markets crowding the streets. In every city I’ve visited, Santas roam the streets with picture-ready smiles plastered across their faces. Even the street musicians have swapped their usual mellow tunes for the timeless holiday classics. Every tree and building is draped in twinkling lights, and shop windows are dressed to impress with Christmas-themed displays designed to entice. The air is filled with the aroma of roasted chestnuts and the sweetness of rich hot chocolate, sold at nearly every corner. The weather has shifted too—not quite snowy, but chilly enough for everyone to bundle up in padded jackets, cozy scarves, mittens, and stylish hats. I love it except for the few times I feel like I’m receiving frostbite. Back in Texas, it rarely feels like winter this time of year, so I’m thrilled to finally be experiencing all the festive seasonal vibes here.

Bella stayed over at my house the following weekend, and our adventure began the moment we walked back from the train station. To our surprise, the streets were lined with bustling markets I’d never noticed before. Even though I walk through the city center almost daily, I’d never ventured along these particular streets between the train station and city-center. I had no idea all those markets were there—I might as well have fainted because my body practically malfunctioned from the flood of emotions that came with discovering them: excitement, shock, disbelief, impatience, and most of all, happiness. However, exploring all those tempting food stands on an empty stomach wasn’t our brightest idea. Bella and I had to physically restrain ourselves from buying everything that caught our eyes—or noses. Despite what our hearts wanted, our heads only allowed us to purchase some drinks. Bella got a classic hot chocolate and I tried a warm punch filled with all the seasonal spices, orange slices, and apple quarters.

As we wandered through the shops later on, we shopped for outfits for our upcoming Florence trip. I managed to find two sweaters that I immediately envisioned pairing with some flare jeans I’d bought earlier in the week. I also bought an advent calendar because duh, is it really Christmas without an advent calendar? This particular calendar was filled with handmade chocolates from one of the most beloved gelato shops in town. We felt obligated to take photos with Santa as we came across the giant Christmas tree in town. To top it all off, we came across a live concert where performers were covering classic Christmas songs, adding to the festive atmosphere.

By now our stomachs were practically begging us for food, so we found an all you can eat sushi place, again. Despite the noises leaving our abdomen, our eyes were a lot hungrier than what our stomachs prepared for. We ordered nearly everything on the menu, earning plenty of amused side-eyes from other diners who silently questioned, Are they really going to eat all that? Spoiler: we did. Not because we wanted to, but because we assumed we’d be charged for leftovers—only to find out later that wasn’t the case. Stuffed to the brim, we waddled the 2.5 miles back home with full stomachs and zero regrets. We ended the night in cozy pajamas, watching Home Alone and soaking in the warmth of the perfect holiday evening.

The next morning began bright and early as we prepared for our train ride to Verona. Once we arrived, I met up with Giorgia, a friend I made last year while she was on her exchange in Texas. It was wonderful to reconnect with her and hear about what life is like after completing an exchange year. We spent the day window-shopping, but I also managed to pick up Christmas gifts for my nonno and nonna, as well as a new pair of shoes for myself. One of the biggest challenges of this exchange has been adapting to an entirely new fashion culture. In the U.S., especially in my case, casual and “lazy” clothing like leggings, sweatpants, and sweatshirts are everyday staples, whether you’re going to school or just hanging out. Here in Italy, it’s a completely different story. Athleisure is strictly reserved for the gym or workouts—it’s never part of regular day-to-day wear. Adjusting to this has meant doing a total 180 with my wardrobe. One of my personal goals has become looking as “European” as possible, blending in with the local style. That’s why buying a pair of Adidas Sambas wasn’t just a want—it was a need. Everywhere I turn, it seems like everyone is wearing those classic black-and-white sneakers, so naturally, I had to get a pair for myself. At least, that’s what I tell myself to justify the purchase.

For lunch, we stopped at a pizza restaurant in the heart of the city, and I had one of the best pizzas I’ve tasted since arriving in Italy: carbonara pizza. It was absolutely delicious. I also checked mulled wine off my bucket list—a must-try after seeing it at nearly every Christmas market. It tasted like a blend of freshly made apple cider and red wine, served warm with a slice of orange. Afterward, we strolled past the Arena of Verona and caught a glimpse of Juliet’s balcony. We decided to skip the long line to see it up close—it felt unnecessary when we could admire it perfectly well from a distance. As the sun began to set, we noticed a terrace overlooking the city center and immediately set out to find a way up. We wandered into the museum, where a kind staff member told us we could access the terrace for just 5 euros. Best 5 euros I’ve ever spent! The view was absolutely breathtaking, especially with the timing of the sunset. It was a serene and magical moment, made even better by the fact that the spot wasn’t crowded—most people didn’t seem to know it existed. I even met a mother and daughter from California. As we talked, I learned that the mom had spent an exchange year in France during high school, and the daughter was actually from a relationship she had there, and they’re still together today. Isn’t that crazy? The world really is so small.

Bella and I did a bit more shopping and got so caught up in Zara that we lost track of time. When I finally checked my phone, it was the exact time our train was leaving. The next train wasn’t for another 17 minutes, and we were still two miles away. Needless to say, we sprinted back to the station as fast as we could, bags in tow. When we arrived, the doors had just closed, so I had to bang on the window to get someone to open it. Luckily, I made it home, only 40 minutes later than expected, and everything worked out in the end.

“I dwell in possibility”- Emily Dickenson