Hi there,

Many of you know by now (at least, I hope so!) that I was born and raised in São Paulo. But what you might not know is that my mother’s family comes from Rondônia, a state in northern Brazil, near the Amazon. They live in a small town about six hours from the state capital. Growing up, this was always a point of humor with my São Paulo friends—the idea that there was this “interior” side to me, tied to a rural, quieter life.

• I didn’t visit often—the last time I was there was in 2017—but every time I did, it felt like home. Maybe it’s because of my mom, or my family, or maybe because it's easy for me to feel at home wherever there’s good food on the table.

Fast forward to my life here in Italy. Whenever someone asks where I live, my answer is always Milan—the Italian São Paulo (according to multiple sources of data). But here’s the thing: just as I have Rondônia in Brazil, I’ve found my Italian version of it, and that’s Molise — the topic of today’s “What About Me.”

One of my closest Italian friends is from Molise (you might have heard me complaining about him at some point of my life), which is how I ended up spending New Year’s there this year with a group of friends. This was my third visit—coincidentally the same number of times I’ve been to Rondônia—and each time I go, I fall in love with it a little more. Honestly, I can’t understand why people don’t visit more often (although I’m not complaining) - Maybe Molise’s biggest flex is the fact that people don’t realize what they’re missing.

• When I was younger, I could never understand why someone would choose to live anywhere but a big city. If you’re ambitious, determined, and want to make it in the world, isn’t it obvious that you should be where everything happens? Why limit yourself to the “small opportunities” of a small town?

But growing up—especially these past few years in Italy—I’ve started to see things differently. I’ve learned to appreciate quality: the quality of the air you breathe, the food you eat, the water you drink, the company you keep. I’ve started to wonder if rushing from one trendy restaurant to the next, always caught in the city’s relentless pace, is really as fulfilling as I once thought. And those “small opportunities”? They’re only small if you can’t see the bigger picture. As we say in Brazil, “In the land of the blind, the one-eyed man is king.”

Molise has become that kind of place for me. It’s where I’ve made some of my best memories in Italy. It’s where I’ve seen the most breathtaking skies, danced at a village-wide party in a tiny borgo, and visited stunning waterfalls. It’s close to the sea, close to the mountains, and, in my opinion, an incredible place to grow old.

Maybe it’s my friend’s family, who is the closest I’ve been to a family since I’ve been here. Or maybe it’s how much Molise reminds me of Rondônia, with its quiet charm and slower pace. Either way, this little region is starting to carve out a big place in me, and I cannot wait to return.

With love,

Micael.