I guess it’s time to catch the world (and future me, who will inevitably look back at this blog/window to the past, heart heavy with saudades) up on the past 5 months of Milan. WOAH what a roller coaster, raga! How the inferno is tomorrow the third month of 2018? Would someone please explain this … More 5 Month Milan Catch Up
This post is available in English, Italian, and Portuguese. Questo post è disponibile in inglese, italiano, e portoghese. Este post é disponível em inglês, italiano, e português. – Love & Light, Isabela Arena Secanechia ENGLISH There I was in a piazza that looked more like a car park than a square, in the middle of Abruzzo. The sun was sweltering and I was nervous … More Chasing my Roots: Meeting my Abruzzese Family
Dear Mom & Dad, I don’t know how to break this to you but…Sorry, uhh, you started it. Yeah, I said it. You started it when you decided to leave Brazil for the States so that our family could have better opportunities, so that I could have a better education, and all that sweet jazz. … More An Open ‘Ciao for Now’ Letter to my Parents
In one way or another — unless we are have pure native roots — we are all immigrants. Especially us North and South Americans. I am Brazilian. I was born in São Paulo, São Paulo. On September 8th, 1998 — when I was just shy of 4 years old — my mother, father, and I, … More Chasing my Roots: My Genealogical Journey
“Maestra, can I go to the toilet please?” There is NOTHING more heart melting than having an itty bitty Italian child call you maestra (teacher). That’s it. That’s the most important thing I learned during my time teaching English in Italy this summer. Fin. Fine, maybe it wasn’t the most important thing, but it was … More The Tutor Becomes the Student: What I Learned teaching English in Italy This Summer
“Isabela, you are living ‘Eat, Pray, Love,’” said a friend of mine this week as a reply to a Whatsapp spam of food photos. Well, it’s more like, “Eat, Speak broken Italian, Drink Wine,” but Sandro was close. This weekend It was essentially my greatly anticipated, impromptu, “Wine 101” workshop. And I loved every second of … More A Weekend of Wine & Sustainability
I have officially embarked on my eight month journey of studying abroad in Italy. I can’t believe I’m already here. Now, the trip to get here was a proper adventure in itself, and as with all adventures, there are lessons to be learned. This post is essentially a guide of “Do’s and Don’t’s” of travel I … More 4 Lessons I Learned On My 24 Hour Trip to Perugia
