Christmas is over already, and I truly hope you had a wonderful time. No matter where, how and with whom you have celebrated it, I especially hope that you have felt grateful, free and happy. That you were able to count all of your blessings, realising that the silver lining is always there, no matter what might have happened this past year.
Italy’s highlights of the year which are amply discussed in news overviews on radio and tv these days, are also my personal highlights. How special is that?
In a few days it will be New Year’s Eve, so it’s a good time to pause for a moment and look back at 2021. The ongoing pandemic aside, one can only say that it has been anything but an unfortunate year for Italy. After 2020 was the equivalent of bizarre for literally every single Italian because of that scary virus that mercilessly struck them as the first in Europe and because of the months of compulsory confinement to their homes that followed, 2021 saw the release of an energy that was second to none. The Italians seemed unstoppable, and I was right in the middle of it. Italy’s highlights of the year which are amply discussed in news overviews on radio and tv these days, are also my personal highlights. How special is that?
Personally, I have merely beautiful and precious memories of this spring lockdown. All the while, the exciting anticipation for the event of the year was swirling through my body, which was going to take place, no matter what
The year started a little particular because, for the second time in less than a year, I couldn’t go back to Italy due to the tightened measures and the lockdown in the Netherlands. It was already February when I got back to Rome on one of the few flights from Amsterdam. For almost two weeks, I stayed in an airBnB in one of the oldest districts of the city centre, a unique experience full of special encounters that I will not easily forget. After having skated on natural ice only a week earlier in the Netherlands – a pure gift in that long winter in lockdown – I was now suddenly sitting in a T-shirt on a Roman piazza, where all the bars and restaurants were open normally. Unfortunately, in March the verdict was “zona rossa” again, regions that got the colour code red, but this lockdown was nothing compared to the apocalyptic situation of the year before. Personally, I have merely beautiful and precious memories of this spring lockdown. It was a time of long and vulnerable phone calls, cappuccinos to-go, lots of time for reflection and personal growth. Plus, all the while, the exciting anticipation for the event of the year was swirling through my body, which was going to take place, no matter what.
Two months later, I stood in the VIP area at Schiphol Airport to welcome them to the Netherlands with a big smile. They were amazed, and asked me if this was some kind of fancy hotel, whereupon I told them that this was only the VIP area at the airport
I am of course talking about the Eurovision Song Contest, where I was to be the Delegation Host for the Italian delegation. I curiously watched the San Remo final in March, the result of which would determine which Italian artists I was going to take under my wings in May. Against all expectations, Måneskin emerged as the winner, four very young Roman rock stars who were planning to shake up the whole of Europe with their song Zitti e Buoni. Two months later, the time had come and together with Alessia, my colleague Delegation Host, I stood in the VIP area at Schiphol Airport to welcome them to the Netherlands with a big smile. They were amazed, had no idea where they were exactly, and on their way to the smoking area – which we immediately headed for of course – they asked me if this was some kind of fancy hotel, whereupon I told them, laughing, that this was only the VIP area at the airport. Their disarming nature, genuine interest – Thomas, the bassist, lost it when we found out that we lived right across each other at the same square in Rome – and the small moments of relaxation in the hammocks between all the hectic activities are my dearest memories of that time. Damiano, Victoria, Thomas and Ethan did what they promised and not only amazed the whole of Europe but amazed the whole world. After thirty years, Italy finally won the Eurovision Song Contest and I was there, that Saturday 22nd of May in Rotterdam. An absolute highlight for the whole of Italy and for me.
I was absolutely convinced that Italy would make it to the finals. I was proved right, and on Sunday the eleventh of July I took off to the typical Italian piazza in Civita Castellana wearing my azzurro-blue dress, where the tricolore flags were waving in the air
After those two weeks of living under pressure and in the highest gear, I longed to return to Rome, where spring had already well and truly arrived. What followed was a month of discovering how my path would further unfold, a trip to the Val D’Orcia in Tuscany with my best friend, and the kick-off of the European Football Championship. The latter would turn out the second big Italian success of the year, and I lived it with all of my being. After the Netherlands was kicked out the tournament rather quickly, my orange heart turned azzurro-blue. I was absolutely convinced that Italy would make it to the finals and proclaimed this loudly to the Italians, who were, of course, rather cynical; “we’ll have to see about that”. But I was proved right, and on Sunday the eleventh of July I took off to the typical Italian piazza in Civita Castellana wearing my azzurro-blue dress, where the tricolore flags were waving in the air and people were taking their seats in front of the big screen in full expectation. After a merciless goal by the English in only the second minute of the match and a series of penalties that made your heart skip a few beats out of anxiety, the Italians did it. For the second time in less than two months, the Italians proved to be the best in Europe. Another highlight for Italy and for me.
As I boarded the plane in Rome that Thursday evening, I read the surreal news headlines about rising water levels, evacuations and how the worst was yet to come
June was also the month in which I made a special prediction. My best friend Anne-Claire was about four months pregnant with a babygirl, and suddenly I got a very strong feeling that she would come into this world on the 29th of October in the early morning. I immediately told her, and this date stayed in the back of our minds in the months that followed. In July, I was in the Netherlands for a few days, and coincidentally this was exactly the time when the worst flood in more than a hundred years happened back home, in the most southern province of the country. As I boarded the plane in Rome that Thursday evening, I read the surreal news headlines about rising water levels, evacuations and how the worst was yet to come. An event that has left a very deep impression on many people.
I wanted to get away from it all, even from Italy as a whole, and before I knew it I found myself on a plane to Andalusia
In August, I arrived at a point I was so done with Rome and its blistering heat, closed restaurants, deserted streets and melting tarmac. I wanted to get away from it all, even from Italy as a whole, and before I knew it I found myself on a plane to Andalusia, another highlight of the year. A week well-spent in the deep south of Spain was followed by a few days in Barcelona, the absolute highlight of which was the big party that my friend threw for her thirtieth birthday. All dressed in white and with long tables full of delicious food prepared by her mother and aunts, we danced to the Spanish music until early morning. Back home in Rome, I felt truly at home again and was pleased to realise that I had missed my Italian life.
The twenty-nineth of October was getting closer and closer and against all medical odds my prediction came true
In September I spent a weekend in the Netherlands for our annual family day, and in October I flew over for a weekend to throw a baby shower for Anne-Claire. The twenty-nineth of October was getting closer and closer and against all medical odds my prediction came true: that Friday early in the morning baby Amelie was born and I became an ‘auntie’ for the second time this year. Another highlight of 2021.
I had been playing with the idea of doing something with public speaking for some time, and only three weeks after I expressed my wish out loud, I found myself on the stage
In November, I did something that meant a lot to me: I was asked to give a kind of TED talk at a conference on inclusiveness at an Italian university. I had been playing with the idea of doing something with public speaking for some time, and only three weeks after I expressed my wish out loud on the phone to a friend, I found myself on the stage. It sparked a desire that I am going to pursue even more in the year to come.
One message asking if he would fancy some pasta carbonara this weekend was all that it took, and without further notice he simply booked a ticket
The last months of the year were full of visitors coming to Rome. I had a wonderful weekend with my old flatmate from Amsterdam with whom I had lost contact years ago and I took a fellow Delegation Host on a tour through the Eternal City. Four of my very best friends from back home visited me in November for a weekend full of love, wine and lots of laughter and a week later Julia and her boyfriend were in Rome. Julia, my Brazilian friend with whom I was together day and night during my exchange in Rome six years ago. It was already December when I went out to dinner with a new Dutch friend whom I had met through Instagram – don’t you just love social media? – and happened to be in Rome for a few days. In the last few days before boarding the plane for the Netherlands, my best friend Lucas dropped by from Paris. One message asking if he would fancy some pasta carbonara this weekend was all that it took, and without further notice he simply booked a ticket.
Two weeks in which I tried on a wedding dress for the first time in my life, finally held my best friend Michelle in my arms again after two years of not seeing each other, and enjoyed a wonderful Christmas with family and friends
By now, I have been in the Netherlands for almost two weeks already. Two weeks in which we might have gone into another lockdown again, but more importantly, two weeks in which I tried on a wedding dress for the first time in my life, finally held my best friend Michelle – who lives in Vietnam – in my arms again after two years of not seeing each other, spontaneously went out for cake and coffee with my cousins, met baby Amelie and enjoyed a wonderful Christmas with family and friends. The very last days of 2021 are now upon us and I am looking forward to the new year to come as I can’t wait to find out what’s in store for me. For now, I want to wish you a fantastic new year full of happiness, love, gratitude and joy. May it be 365 days full of highlights and miracles. Felice anno nuovo!