DO YOU FEEL LIKE HOME ALREADY?
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September2025, Milan
A new chapter of life has begun again, this time in a new country. Strangely enough, I didn’t feel as
nervous as I did the last time. The first month here has flown by!
It feels like I only just arrived at Bergamo Airport. I still clearly remember being greeted by several
people, and how they offered me food at a café in the airport after all the travelling. I was the only one
eating, and I found the situation amusingly awkward.
My new home is a residence that houses many students and workers, most of whom have moved here
from Southern Italy. You can really feel that in the warmth of the people. Overall, I’ve felt incredibly
welcomed by the office, by my roommate, and by the residence itself.
My roommate, Thais, is from France. I absolutely love her language! She’s a bit younger than me, a sweet
and kind person who is nice to everyone. We’ve slowly started to form our own shared routines. In the
mornings, we both wake up around the same time, she gets ready while I eat breakfast.
Then we rush to catch the metro during the morning crowd. If we’re lucky, we manage to find a seat and
can read our books until we reach the Lambrate stop.
At the office, we all eat lunch together, which I really enjoy. It gives me a sense of working alongside
others, and It’s a great opportunity for us to get to know each other. In these first few weeks, I’ve had the
time and space to be creative, and painting again has brought me so much joy. It feels comforting,
like home.

Before I moved here, my dear friend told me this:
“Going away for a longer period of time. the journey will teach you a lot about the things in life that
are truly important to you. For example, you’ll notice who you stay in touch with, who you miss. You’ll
become aware of the little things in your everyday life that bring you comfort, maybe those things
are familiar from your life in Finland..

Traveling to a big, unfamiliar city pushes you to take care of yourself, both mentally and physically. That
is a gift.
You will have a beautiful journey, for sure.”

Since arriving, I’ve found myself reaching out more to my goddaughter than ever before. My family has
become a top priority. I speak with them several times in a week. Video calls with friends remind
me that I’m not really that far away from them. I even have a list of people in my head who I want to
remember with postcards.
I haven’t really felt deep homesickness, just a little, like missing the hugs of my friends. In fact, I find
the feeling of missing someone to be beautiful. It speaks volumes about love and connection.
I’ve also started boxing again for the first time in six years. It’s been such a positive experience. Physical
activity helps release the tension that builds up in a noisy city like Milan. Movement has become
incredibly important to me. Just a little exercise brings a surprising amount of well-being.
On Sundays, I take long walks in the big park behind the residence.  A peaceful place full of squirrels,
rabbits, and others enjoying nature.
Another part of my weekly rhythm is Italian language lessons, which I have three times a week. They’re
definitely challenging. I’m highly motivated to learn and would love to be able to communicate in Italian,
but things like verb forms and the masculine/feminine endings still confuse my Finnish brain. I want to be
good at it right away, which makes language learning a humbling experience. Fortunately, I’m surrounded
by people who are willing to help and teach me, which I find really sweet. Maybe this language will
slowly begin to feel natural too…
This first month has been filled with discovery, coffee, reading, and making my new place feel like home.
The first month has felt surprisingly… normal.
Maybe because there’s been so much newness to keep up with, I’ve had no choice but to stay present.

I’ve realized I need time for myself and I’ve had to actively prioritize that in my daily life.
Some things are still settling in, but I know that once I slow down, everything will eventually fall into
place.

Now, welcoming October see you in a month!
Whit love,
Emmi