November kicked off on a high note literally, I officially hit peak homesick mode realizing how much I miss my friends. Therefore my friend came to visit and spend some time with me, after she left; I decided to walk around Milan because, you know, distraction is the best medicine. And that’s when the Christmas spirit slapped me in the face. Walking out of Garibaldi station, I heard Spanish Christmas music coming from underground and thought, “Okay, festive vibes.” But then I surfaced to find Santa himself handing out candy…and dancing. I don’t know if it’s a Milano thing or if I’m just lucky, but hey, that totally did my day.

The cold officially hit, but I had something to look forward; my dad’s visit! I hadn’t seen him since May, so seeing him again felt extra special. He arrived, with the luggage full of Swedish chocolate (he knows me too well). We explored Garibaldi, and lucky for us, there was a Christmas market. My dad was impressed, and honestly, so was I.

We had Spanish food, this time tapas with my cousins and the ham was Devine. Later, my dad wanted a nightlife experience (yes, he’s a party man for sure!), so we ended up in Navigli at a bar with a DJ. We stayed until 3 AM, and when we left, he still had energy to keep going. Me? I was ready to crawl into bed! Role reversal.

Plans to visit Lake Como got iced out literally, too cold but we made the best of it with hot chocolate, chill pasta dinners, and plenty of laughs. Seeing him happy reminded me why these moments are so important, even if they’re short. As the weekend wrapped up, I was already planning my next trip home in my head.

I helped out with a big annual event in Avis Lombardia, the Cristina Rossi Seminario at the Shoah Memorial di Milan. It was a meaningful experience!

I’ll be spending Christmas back home in Sweden! Cue the countdown to family, friends, and mom’s hot soup. But as excited as I am to go back, it’s bittersweet. I realized there are only two months left in this project, and I already feel the tug of missing the people I’ve met here. Leaving feels like closing a chapter, I don’t want to end just yet. 

Still, November taught me a lot. From epic nights out with my dad to fighting off a fever, I’ve realized how much I can handle and how much I value the people around me. And hey, if I can survive November’s storm, December better bring nothing but festive vibes and smooth sailing.