This week, I had a very special visitor: my sister Ana came to Milan with her husband, Fabiano. She may look 35 in this photo, but there’s over 25 years between us. Like most of my siblings, we never lived together because of the age difference. When I was born, she was already happily married, and when I was five, she had her first child — (yes, I was a “little uncle” before I could even ride a bike - which as you know, I still can’t).

Seven years waiting for this moment. This was the first time anyone from my family — on either side (except my cousin, who basically has a free pass at this point) — had come to see me. I think it’s normal to want to share your life with the people who mean the most to you: to show them the space you inhabit, the streets you walk, the little corners that make up your everyday. And sometimes, for one reason or another, that moment never comes.

• I’ve been lucky recently — my best friend visited not long ago — but there are still so many friends back in Brazil who know my day-to-day, hear all my stories, yet have never seen my apartment, my Italian friends, or me in my daily life. It’s funny how someone can know so much about you and yet know so little at the same time.

I feel truly blessed to have my siblings. We don’t speak every week — or even every month, to be honest — but all of them are incredible humans, each in their own way showing me what I wanted to become. Fun fact: it was actually Ana’s advice, years ago, that pushed me to come to Italy in the first place — advice I still carry in my heart today. Crazy, right? The butterfly effect.

Seven years later, we spent the day together, talking about life, wandering through the city, and just being together. A simple day, but one of my favorites of the year. I wanted to share this sweet memory with you — and for anyone who wants to visit, the invitation is open.

With love,
Micael